The Ultimate Discord Server Security Checklist

Discord server security isn't a single tool or setting — it's a series of layers that work together. Each layer you add reduces your risk. This checklist is organized from most critical (do these first) to advanced (add these as your server grows), so you can work through it at your own pace.

Every item on this list addresses a real attack vector that has been used against real servers. None of it is theoretical.

Level 1: Permission Hygiene (Do This Today)

Permission misconfiguration is the #1 cause of Discord server compromises. Most nukes happen because someone had permissions they didn't need.

• Audit who has Administrator permission — this should be the server owner and nobody else. Administrator bypasses every other permission check. If a moderator with Admin gets compromised, the attacker has full control
• Follow the principle of least privilege — give each role only the permissions it actually needs. Moderators need Ban Members and Manage Messages, not Manage Server or Manage Roles
• Separate staff roles by function — create distinct roles (e.g., Chat Moderator, Channel Manager, Event Staff) with specific permissions rather than one all-powerful “Staff” role
• Review bot permissions — bots with Administrator permission are a common attack vector. Remove Admin from every bot that doesn't absolutely require it. Most bots work with specific permissions listed in their documentation
• Lock the @everyone role — make sure @everyone has minimal permissions. No Send Messages in announcement channels, no Manage Messages, no Add Reactions in restricted channels
• Disable “Allow anyone to @mention this role” for staff roles — prevents non-staff from pinging your moderation team in a raid
• Set channel-level overrides carefully — check that private channels don't accidentally grant access through role inheritance

Level 2: Authentication and Access Control

Securing who can access your server and what they can do once inside.

• Enable 2FA requirement for moderator actions — Server Settings → Safety Setup → require phone or authenticator for all mod actions. This is the single most impactful setting you can enable
• Set the verification level to at least “Medium” — Server Settings → Safety Setup → require members to have a verified email on their Discord account. “High” (10-minute server membership before chatting) is recommended for larger servers
• Enable the explicit content filter — scan messages from all members (not just those without roles)
• Add an OAuth2 verification bot — services like RestoreCord require members to verify through Discord's OAuth system before accessing the server. This creates a verified member base and enables member recovery if something goes wrong
• Use a holding channel — new members should land in a limited channel (e.g., #verify) with instructions, not in your main chat. Grant access to the rest of the server only after verification
• Require all staff to use 2FA on their Discord accounts — make this a non-negotiable team policy, not just a server setting

Level 3: Backup and Recovery

Prevention is never 100% effective. Backups ensure you can recover when prevention fails.

• Set up automated server snapshots — tools like RestoreCord can capture your server structure (channels, roles, permissions, settings) on a regular schedule
• Enable member recovery — an OAuth2 verification service stores member authorization tokens, allowing you to pull members back into a restored server. Without this, a nuke means losing your entire community
• Back up important messages — if your server has valuable content (guides, resources, announcements), make sure message backup is enabled. RestoreCord's Business plan includes message backup in snapshots
• Save a server template — Server Settings → Server Template → create a template. This gives you a basic structure restore even without external tools
• Document your server structure externally — keep a simple document listing your channels, roles, and key permissions. If everything else fails, this lets you rebuild manually
• Test your recovery process — don't wait for an emergency. Verify that your backup service works by checking snapshots and confirming member recovery is functional

Level 4: Anti-Raid and Anti-Nuke

Active defense tools that detect and stop attacks in real time.

• Add an anti-nuke bot — Wick Bot or Security Bot monitor for dangerous admin actions (mass channel deletion, mass role deletion, mass banning) and can automatically lock down or restore the server. Free tiers are effective
• Add an anti-raid bot — Beemo provides zero-config raid detection for free. It distinguishes between real growth spikes and coordinated raids
• Enable VPN/proxy detection — block users connecting through VPNs or proxies during verification. This catches a large percentage of alt accounts and ban evaders. Available through RestoreCord (Premium+) and Double Counter
• Set up alt account detection — tools like Double Counter's DC Fingerprinting or RestoreCord's alt detection can identify users with multiple accounts
• Configure auto-moderation — Discord's built-in AutoMod can catch common spam patterns, slurs, and invite links. Set it up in Server Settings → AutoMod
• Set a slow mode in high-traffic channels — even 5-10 seconds of slow mode significantly reduces the impact of spam raids

Level 5: Advanced Firewall and Filtering

For larger or high-profile servers that face targeted attacks.

• Set up IP-based filtering — RestoreCord's advanced firewall (Business+) lets you block specific IPs, IP ranges, or entire countries at the verification stage
• Configure ASN filtering — block traffic from specific ISPs or hosting providers commonly used for bot accounts
• Add user-agent rules — detect and block automated tools that use non-standard user agents during verification
• Set up a firewall password bypass — allow trusted users who trigger firewall rules (e.g., legitimate VPN users) to bypass with a password
• Enable webhook logging — log all verification events, firewall triggers, and member actions to a private logging channel or external system
• Use custom branded bots — custom bots look more trustworthy to members than generic third-party bots, increasing verification completion rates

Level 6: Ongoing Monitoring and Maintenance

Security isn't a one-time setup. These are recurring tasks to keep your server protected.

• Monthly permission audit — review who has admin, mod, and bot permissions. Remove access from inactive or departed team members
• Review the audit log weekly — check for unusual admin actions, especially role changes, channel modifications, and bot installations
• Keep bots updated — outdated bots may have known vulnerabilities. Remove bots you no longer use
• Monitor invite link usage — track which invite links are being used and from where. Unexplained spikes may indicate a raid in progress
• Review verification analytics — if you use RestoreCord or similar, check verification rates, blocked users, and firewall triggers for unusual patterns
• Update your recovery plan — as your server grows, make sure your backup schedule and recovery process scale with it
• Train new staff on security practices — every new moderator should understand the permission model, 2FA requirements, and what to do during an incident

Quick Reference: Priority by Server Size

Small Servers (under 500 members)

Focus on Levels 1-3: clean up permissions, enable 2FA for mods, set up basic verification and backup. Add Beemo for free raid detection. Total cost: free.

Medium Servers (500-5,000 members)

Complete Levels 1-4: add an anti-nuke bot (Wick), enable VPN detection and alt detection, set up automated snapshots. Recommended: RestoreCord Premium (€5/mo) + Wick Free.

Large Servers (5,000+ members)

Complete all 6 levels: advanced firewall, ASN filtering, custom bots, webhook logging, and dedicated monitoring. Recommended: RestoreCord Business (€10/mo) + Wick Premium ($5/mo) + Double Counter Pro (~$3/mo).

Frequently Asked Questions

Server security is a spectrum, not a binary. Every item you check off this list makes your community meaningfully safer. Start with the basics, add layers as you grow, and always make sure you have a recovery plan in place.

Set up RestoreCord for free to add verification, member recovery, and server backups to your security stack, or check our pricing page for advanced features like the firewall engine and automated snapshots.