Self-host Checklist

Use this checklist to ensure that the key stakeholders in your deployment of Bitwarden in a self-hosted environment are aware of the critical stages and timelines. Reduce the risk of delays and miscommunication by aligning on these topics.

Stakeholders

Role Assigned team or member
Self-host project lead
Executive sponsor
Server (Windows or Linux) admin Docker or Kubernetes admin Network admin Firewall admin Database admin (optional)
Identity Provider & Single Sign-On admin
SMTP admin
Security & Compliance lead Backups admin
Business continuity Disaster recovery
Device management admin Support or Help Desk admin

Deployment stages

Server preparation

Address the following key decisions before deploying your Bitwarden server:

Key decision Description Assigned team or member Support links
Deployment method Will you deploy in the Bitwarden US or EU cloud? Or self-host with Docker on Linux or Windows, or Kubernetes? Self-host Bitwarden
Server configuration What environment variables will you leverage on your server to meet organizational security requirements? Will you place your server behind a firewall or proxy? Configure Environment Variables
Database selection Will your server use the packaged MSSQL database or will connect to a separate MSSQL database? If Lite, will you use a different database platform? Database Options
Certificate selection Which certificate option will you use to secure data in-transit? Certificate Options

Rollout preparation

Address the following key decisions before onboarding users to your server:

Key decision Description Assigned team or member Support links
Administration team Who are the administrators who will manage and maintain your server? Administer a Server
Maintenance plan What is your strategy for executing updates, and performing security audits to keep Bitwarden secure and up-to-date? Update a Server
Backup plan What are your processes for taking and automating regular backups of the server, virtual machine, and other services? Will you take user-level backups, hypervisor backups, and database snapshots? Backup Server Data
Disaster recovery plan What is your strategy for disaster recovery and how will you enumerate and test DR scenarios? Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery
Testing How will you test server-client connections, server performance, and maintenance, backup, and DR plans?
Compliance & integration plan How will you ensure your setup meets regulatory compliance requirements and integrates with your existing IT infrastructure?