Many developers new to deployment wonder: ports like 8028 and 8035 are just TCP ports, same as 80 and 443. So why do production environments typically only open 80 and 443, and advise against exposing high ports directly to the internet? The answer lies not in the ports themselves, but in security architecture and operational governance. Exposing high ports increases the attack surface, complicates firewall rules, makes compliance audits harder, and often bypasses centralized security controls like WAFs and reverse proxies. This article breaks down the reasoning with practical examples, making a strong case for the 80/443-only rule. It's a must-read for DevOps engineers, system administrators, and anyone responsible for deploying internet-facing services. The principle is timeless and applies to cloud, on-premise, and hybrid environments alike.
A clear explanation of why production systems should only expose ports 80 and 443, covering security, compliance, and operational benefits.