Discord Server Security: Essential Moderation Settings You Must Enable Today

Your Discord server is only as safe as your security settings. This guide covers the essential moderation and security configurations every server admin should enable—before it's too late.

1. Verification Level

Verification level controls who can send messages in your server. Find it in Server Settings → Safety Setup → Verification Level.

Recommendation: Use Medium or High for public servers.

2. Explicit Content Filter

Discord can automatically scan and block explicit images. Find it in Server Settings → Safety Setup → Media Content Filter.

• Don't scan any media content — No filtering
• Scan media content from members without roles — Filters unverified members
• Scan media content from all members — Maximum protection

Recommendation: Enable for all members unless your server requires explicit content.

3. AutoMod (Built-in)

Discord's AutoMod can automatically filter harmful content. Set it up in Server Settings → Safety Setup → AutoMod.

Block Harmful Links

• Enable to block known phishing and malware links
• Low false-positive rate
• Always enable this

Block Spam Content

• Blocks messages that look like spam
• Catches mass-mentions and repetitive messages
• Recommended for public servers

Block Commonly Flagged Words

• Filters slurs and severe profanity
• Customize with your own blocked words
• Set to alert, timeout, or block messages

Block Mention Spam

• Block messages with excessive mentions
• Set threshold (e.g., 5+ mentions)
• Prevents @everyone spam raids

4. Essential Permission Settings

Disable @everyone Mentions

Prevent regular members from pinging everyone:

1. Go to Server Settings → Roles → @everyone
2. Disable "Mention @everyone, @here, and All Roles"

Restrict Invite Creation

Control who can create server invites:

1. Go to Server Settings → Roles → @everyone
2. Disable "Create Invite"
3. Only enable for trusted roles

Manage Nickname Permissions

Prevent members from using misleading nicknames:

1. Disable "Change Nickname" for @everyone
2. Enable "Manage Nicknames" for moderators

5. Two-Factor Authentication Requirement

Require 2FA for moderator actions to prevent hijacked accounts from doing damage.

1. Go to Server Settings → Safety Setup
2. Enable "Require 2FA for moderator actions"

This protects against: Compromised moderator accounts being used for mass bans, channel deletions, etc.

6. Raid Protection Settings

DM Spam Protection

Enable in Server Settings → Safety Setup → DM and Spam Protection

• Filters suspicious DMs from new members
• Alerts moderators to potential spam

Anti-Raid Bot Configuration

Consider adding a dedicated anti-raid bot that can:

• Detect mass joins (raid detection)
• Auto-kick accounts under X days old
• Temporarily lock down the server
• Log all join/leave events

7. Channel-Level Security

Slow Mode

Prevent message flooding:

• Set slow mode on high-traffic channels
• 5-30 seconds is typical
• Doesn't affect users with "Manage Messages" permission

Media-Only Channels

For image/video channels:

• Enable "Require Tag" or media requirements
• Prevents text spam in showcase channels

8. Use the Audit Log

The audit log (Server Settings → Audit Log) tracks all moderation actions:

• Who banned/kicked members
• Channel creation/deletion
• Role changes
• Permission modifications

Review it regularly to catch unauthorized changes or compromised accounts.

Security Checklist

• ☐ Verification level set to Medium or higher
• ☐ Explicit content filter enabled
• ☐ AutoMod rules configured (harmful links, spam, profanity)
• ☐ @everyone mentions disabled for regular members
• ☐ Invite creation restricted
• ☐ 2FA required for moderator actions
• ☐ Slow mode on busy channels
• ☐ Anti-raid bot installed
• ☐ Audit log reviewed weekly

Automate Your Security

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• Auto-moderate based on your rules
• Warn, mute, kick, or ban automatically
• Log all actions to a mod channel
• Detect and respond to raids

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