TL;DR
DigitalOcean is a secure cloud provider with SOC 2 certification and solid infrastructure security. App Platform offers managed deployments with good defaults, while Droplets give you full control (and responsibility). For PaaS-style deployments, App Platform is secure by default. For Droplets, security depends on your configuration.
What is DigitalOcean?
DigitalOcean is a cloud infrastructure provider offering virtual machines (Droplets), managed Kubernetes, App Platform (PaaS), managed databases, and object storage (Spaces). Known for simplicity, good documentation, and competitive pricing.
Our Verdict
What's Good
- SOC 2 Type II certified
- VPC private networking
- Managed databases secure
- Cloud Firewalls available
- App Platform good defaults
What to Watch
- Droplets: you manage security
- Spaces: configure access carefully
- SSH key management
App Platform vs Droplets
App Platform: Managed PaaS with automatic HTTPS, encrypted env vars, and isolated builds. Similar to Heroku/Render. Secure by default.
| Aspect | App Platform | Droplets |
|---|---|---|
| Security management | Managed by DO | Your responsibility |
| OS updates | Automatic | Manual |
| HTTPS | Automatic | Configure yourself |
| Firewall | Managed | Cloud Firewall or iptables |
| Control | Limited | Full |
VPC & Networking
DigitalOcean VPC provides private networking:
- Private IPs: Resources communicate privately within VPC
- No internet exposure: Internal services stay internal
- Cross-resource: Droplets, databases, Kubernetes in same VPC
- Cloud Firewalls: Stateful firewall rules for Droplets
Best Practice: Put databases in VPC with no public IP. Access only from your application Droplets/App Platform services over private network.
Managed Database Security
| Feature | Status |
|---|---|
| Encryption at rest | Enabled |
| TLS connections | Required |
| Automatic backups | Daily |
| Trusted sources | IP/resource allowlisting |
| Private networking | VPC support |
Droplet Security Checklist
If using Droplets, you're responsible for:
- SSH key authentication (disable password login)
- Regular OS and package updates
- Firewall configuration (Cloud Firewall or iptables)
- Fail2ban or similar for brute force protection
- Monitoring and log management
Is DigitalOcean safe for production?
Yes, DigitalOcean is SOC 2 certified and used for production by many companies. App Platform is secure by default. For Droplets, security depends on your configuration-treat them like any VPS.
Should I use App Platform or Droplets?
Use App Platform for web apps if you want managed security and simplicity. Use Droplets if you need full control, specific software, or are comfortable managing servers.
Are managed databases secure?
Yes, DO managed databases have encryption, required TLS, automatic backups, and trusted sources (IP allowlisting). They're more secure than self-managed databases for most users.