---
title: "How to Manage ConfigServer Security & Firewall (CSF) Profiles"
description: "It behooves managed VPS with cPanel (or unmanaged VPS) and Dedicated server administrators to understand backup options available within WebHost Manager (WHM): cPanel, website, database,..."
url: https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/security/how-to-manage-configserver-security-firewall-csf-profiles/
date: 2019-10-04
modified: 2026-06-09
author: "InMotion Hosting Contributor"
categories: ["Security"]
type: post
lang: en
---

# How to Manage ConfigServer Security & Firewall (CSF) Profiles

It behooves [managed VPS with cPanel](https://www.inmotionhosting.com/vps-hosting) (or unmanaged VPS) and Dedicated server administrators to understand backup options available within WebHost Manager (WHM): [cPanel, website, database](/support/edu/cpanel/cpanel-backups/#wizard), [WHM-scheduled backups](/support/edu/cpanel/setup-scheduled-cpanel-backups/), and [Softaculous backups](/support/product-guides/softaculous/create-backup/). There are also [Snapshots in your Account Management Panel (AMP)](/support/product-guides/vps-hosting/snapshots/). If you’re auditing logs to assess how well your security has improved over time, you may want to compare your current ConfigServer Security & Firewall (CSF) configurations.

If you have Advanced Policy Firewall (APF), [upgrade to ](/support/security/install-csf/)[CSF](/support/security/install-csf/) today.

CSF has seven (7) preconfigured configuration files, called profiles, available for usage and comparison.

Below, we’ll cover how to back up, restore, and compare CSF profiles.

## Backup

CSF creates backups automatically during upgrades. But if you want to backup your current configuration before trying some new settings, it’s helpful to create a backup beforehand.

1. [Log in to WHM](/support/edu/whm/log-into-whm/).
2. Select **ConfigServer Security & Firewall** on the left.
3. Select **Firewall Profiles**.
4. Under *Backup csf.conf*, click **Create Backup**.
5. When the backup completes, you’ll see the backup file name and path. Click **Return** to exit.

## Restore a Profile

You can easily restore an older csf.conf file after any testing within the same section.

1. From the CSF page, select **Firewall Profiles**.
2. Under *Restore Backup Of csf.conf*, select a backup to restore.
3. Click **Restore Backup**.

![](https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/csf-backup-restore-1024x358.png)*Backup and Restore CSF Profiles*

## Compare Configurations

If you’ve been working on server hardening for a while, but this is the first time you’ve seen these features, you can compare your current configuration to other preconfigured profiles – e.g. **protection_medium** and **protection_high**.

1. From the CSF page, select **Firewall Profiles**.
2. Under *Compare Configurations*, select two configurations to compare. Your current configuration is the second configuration by default.
3. Click **Compare Config/Backup/Profile Settings**.
4. The next page will show three columns – setting name and each configuration.

![](https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/csf-compare-configs.png)*Compare CSF Configurations*

Enhance your VPS security with another CSF monitoring feature – [checking for open ports](/support/security/how-to-view-listening-ports-with-configserver-security-firewall-csf/). Need help? Contact our [](https://www.inmotionhosting.com/managed-hosting)[InMotion Solutions](https://www.inmotionhosting.com/solutions/inmotion-solutions) team today.