diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 6322429..5876f77 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@
 - [rustdesk](roles/rustdesk/README.md)
 - [sftp_share](roles/sftp_share/README.md)
 - [smartctl_exporter](roles/smartctl_exporter/README.md)
+- [sshd](roles/sshd/README.md)
 - [swapfile](roles/swapfile/README.md)
 - [ufw](roles/ufw/README.md)
 - [users](roles/users/README.md)
diff --git a/roles/sshd/README.md b/roles/sshd/README.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3f3962d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/roles/sshd/README.md
@@ -0,0 +1,37 @@
+ansible-sshd
+=========
+
+Deploy a hardened sshd server
+
+Requirements
+------------
+
+None
+
+Role Variables
+--------------
+
+None
+
+Dependencies
+------------
+
+None
+
+Example Playbook
+----------------
+
+```yaml
+roles:
+    - role: genlab.common.sshd
+```
+
+License
+-------
+
+BSD
+
+Author Information
+------------------
+
+corvus-migratorius@proton.me
diff --git a/roles/sshd/defaults/main.yml b/roles/sshd/defaults/main.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5354282
--- /dev/null
+++ b/roles/sshd/defaults/main.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+---
+sshd_disable_pam: false
+sshd_password_auth: false
+sshd_challenge_response_auth: false
+sshd_gss_api_auth: false
diff --git a/roles/sshd/handlers/main.yml b/roles/sshd/handlers/main.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9f08055
--- /dev/null
+++ b/roles/sshd/handlers/main.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+---
+- name: "Restart sshd"
+  ansible.builtin.service:
+    name: ssh
+    state: restarted
+    enabled: true
+    daemon_reload: true
diff --git a/roles/sshd/meta/main.yml b/roles/sshd/meta/main.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a365305
--- /dev/null
+++ b/roles/sshd/meta/main.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+---
+galaxy_info:
+  role_name: sshd
+  namespace: genlab
+  author: "Alexander Gorelyshev"
+  company: "Genlab, LLC"
+  description: "Deploy a hardened sshd server"
+  license: "MIT"
+  min_ansible_version: "2.1"
+
+  platforms:
+    - name: "Ubuntu"
+      versions: ["jammy", "noble"]
+
+  galaxy_tags: []
+
+dependencies: []
diff --git a/roles/sshd/molecule/default/converge.yml b/roles/sshd/molecule/default/converge.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..bea06f8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/roles/sshd/molecule/default/converge.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+---
+- name: Converge
+  hosts: all
+  roles:
+    - role: "genlab.common.sshd"
diff --git a/roles/sshd/molecule/default/molecule.yml b/roles/sshd/molecule/default/molecule.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d82158e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/roles/sshd/molecule/default/molecule.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+---
+dependency:
+  name: galaxy
+
+driver:
+  name: docker
+
+platforms:
+  - name: ubuntu
+    image: geerlingguy/docker-${MOLECULE_DISTRO:-ubuntu2404}-ansible:latest
+    pre_build_image: true
+    command: ${MOLECULE_DOCKER_COMMAND:-""}
+    volumes:
+      - /sys/fs/cgroup:/sys/fs/cgroup:rw
+    cgroupns_mode: host
+    privileged: true
+
+provisioner:
+  name: ansible
+
+verifier:
+  name: ansible
+
+lint: |
+  set -e
+  yamllint .
+  ansible-lint .
diff --git a/roles/sshd/molecule/default/verify.yml b/roles/sshd/molecule/default/verify.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..29b09d7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/roles/sshd/molecule/default/verify.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,76 @@
+---
+
+- name: Verify
+  hosts: all
+  gather_facts: false
+  any_errors_fatal: true
+
+  tasks:
+    - name: Gather service facts
+      ansible.builtin.service_facts:
+
+    - name: Ensure sshd is running
+      ansible.builtin.assert:
+        that:
+          - ansible_facts.services['ssh.service'].state == 'running'
+
+    - name: Ensure sshd_config syntax is OK
+      ansible.builtin.command: sshd -t -f /etc/ssh/sshd_config
+      changed_when: false
+
+    - name: Ensure main parameteres are applied
+      ansible.builtin.shell: |
+        set -o pipefail ;
+        sshd -T | egrep -i '
+          ^protocol 2|
+          ^permitrootlogin no|
+          ^passwordauthentication no|
+          ^pubkeyauthentication yes
+        '
+      args:
+        executable: /bin/bash
+      changed_when: false
+
+    - name: Get sshd_config stats
+      ansible.builtin.stat:
+        path: /etc/ssh/sshd_config
+      register: sshd_conf
+
+    - name: Ensure sshd_config file is secure
+      ansible.builtin.assert:
+        that:
+          - sshd_conf.stat.uid == 0
+          - sshd_conf.stat.gid == 0
+          - sshd_conf.stat.mode == '0600'
+
+    - name: Create test user
+      ansible.builtin.user:
+        name: test
+        create_home: true
+        shell: /bin/bash
+
+    - name: Create .ssh directory
+      ansible.builtin.file:
+        path: /home/test/.ssh/
+        state: directory
+        mode: '0700'
+        owner: test
+        group: test
+
+    - name: Generate ssh keys
+      community.crypto.openssh_keypair:
+        path: /home/test/.ssh/id_rsa
+        owner: test
+        group: test
+        mode: '0600'
+      register: sshd_key_result
+
+    - name: Put public key to test user
+      ansible.posix.authorized_key:
+        user: test
+        key: "{{ sshd_key_result.public_key }}"
+        state: present
+
+    - name: Test ssh connection
+      ansible.builtin.command: ssh -o StrictHostKeyChecking=no -o UserKnownHostsFile=/dev/null -i /home/test/.ssh/id_rsa test@localhost hostname
+      changed_when: false
diff --git a/roles/sshd/tasks/algorithms.yml b/roles/sshd/tasks/algorithms.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a43581d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/roles/sshd/tasks/algorithms.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,42 @@
+---
+# next task requires this directory to exist for sshd -t flag
+- name: Ensure /run/sshd exists
+  ansible.builtin.file:
+    path: /run/sshd
+    state: directory
+    owner: root
+    group: root
+    mode: '0755'
+
+# NOTE: order of preference for openssh-server ed25519 -> rsa
+- name: "Algorithms | enable ed25519 authentication algorithm"
+  notify: Restart sshd
+  ansible.builtin.lineinfile:
+    path: /etc/ssh/sshd_config
+    regexp: '^HostKey /etc/ssh/ssh_host_ed25519_key'
+    line: 'HostKey /etc/ssh/ssh_host_ed25519_key'
+    validate: sshd -f %s -t
+
+- name: "Algorithms | enable the RSA authentication algorithm"
+  notify: Restart sshd
+  ansible.builtin.lineinfile:
+    path: /etc/ssh/sshd_config
+    regexp: '^HostKey /etc/ssh/ssh_host_rsa_key'
+    line: 'HostKey /etc/ssh/ssh_host_rsa_key'
+    validate: sshd -f %s -t
+
+- name: "Algorithms | disable the ECDSA algorithm (deemed to be less safe)"
+  notify: Restart sshd
+  ansible.builtin.lineinfile:
+    path: /etc/ssh/sshd_config
+    regexp: '^HostKey /etc/ssh/ssh_host_ecdsa_key'
+    state: absent
+    validate: sshd -f %s -t
+
+- name: "Algorithms | disable the DSA algorithm (considered to be defunct)"
+  notify: Restart sshd
+  ansible.builtin.lineinfile:
+    path: /etc/ssh/sshd_config
+    regexp: '^HostKey /etc/ssh/ssh_host_dsa_key'
+    state: absent
+    validate: sshd -f %s -t
diff --git a/roles/sshd/tasks/authentication.yml b/roles/sshd/tasks/authentication.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8b4e63b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/roles/sshd/tasks/authentication.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+---
+- name: "Authentication | Configure SSH authentication settings"
+  notify: Restart sshd
+  loop:
+    - { regexp: '^#?\s*PubkeyAuthentication\s+', line: 'PubkeyAuthentication yes' }
+    - { regexp: '^#?\s*PasswordAuthentication\s+', line: 'PasswordAuthentication {{ sshd_password_auth | ternary("yes", "no") }}' }
+    - { regexp: '^#?\s*PermitEmptyPasswords\s+', line: 'PermitEmptyPasswords no' }
+    - { regexp: '^#?\s*ChallengeResponseAuthentication\s+', line: 'ChallengeResponseAuthentication {{ sshd_challenge_response_auth | ternary("yes", "no") }}' }
+    - { regexp: '^#?\s*GSSAPIAuthentication\s+', line: 'GSSAPIAuthentication {{ sshd_gss_api_auth | ternary("yes", "no") }}' }
+    - {
+      regexp: '^#?\s*AuthenticationMethods\s+',
+      line: "{{ 'AuthenticationMethods publickey password' if sshd_password_auth else 'AuthenticationMethods publickey' }}"
+    }
+  ansible.builtin.lineinfile:
+    path: /etc/ssh/sshd_config
+    regexp: "{{ item.regexp }}"
+    line: "{{ item.line }}"
+    validate: /usr/sbin/sshd -t -f %s
+
+- name: "Check if there is an SSH config forced by cloud-init"
+  register: sshd_cloud_init
+  ansible.builtin.stat:
+    path: "/etc/ssh/sshd_config.d/50-cloud-init.conf"
+
+- name: "Authentication | override password authentication by cloud-init to '{{ sshd_password_auth | ternary('yes', 'no') }}'"
+  when: sshd_cloud_init.stat.exists
+  notify: Restart sshd
+  ansible.builtin.lineinfile:
+    path: "/etc/ssh/sshd_config.d/50-cloud-init.conf"
+    regexp: '^#?PasswordAuthentication'
+    line: 'PasswordAuthentication {{ sshd_password_auth | ternary("yes", "no") }}'
diff --git a/roles/sshd/tasks/encryption.yml b/roles/sshd/tasks/encryption.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..660a369
--- /dev/null
+++ b/roles/sshd/tasks/encryption.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+---
+- name: "Encryption | remove unsafe host keys"
+  loop:
+    - /etc/ssh/ssh_host_ecdsa_key
+    - /etc/ssh/ssh_host_ecdsa_key.pub
+    - /etc/ssh/ssh_host_dsa_key
+    - /etc/ssh/ssh_host_dsa_key.pub
+  notify: Restart sshd
+  ansible.builtin.file:
+    path: "{{ item }}"
+    state: absent
diff --git a/roles/sshd/tasks/install.yml b/roles/sshd/tasks/install.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ff03595
--- /dev/null
+++ b/roles/sshd/tasks/install.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+---
+- name: "Install | install OpenSSH (RHEL flavours)"
+  when: ansible_os_family == "RHEL"
+  ansible.builtin.dnf:
+    name: openssh
+    state: installed
+
+- name: "Install | Install OpenSSH (Debian flavours)"
+  when: ansible_os_family == "Debian"
+  ansible.builtin.apt:
+    name: openssh-server
+    state: present
+    update_cache: true
diff --git a/roles/sshd/tasks/main.yml b/roles/sshd/tasks/main.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d35222a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/roles/sshd/tasks/main.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+---
+- name: "Install an OpenSSH server"
+  ansible.builtin.include_tasks: "install.yml"
+
+- name: "Configure SSH algorithms"
+  ansible.builtin.include_tasks: "algorithms.yml"
+
+- name: "Configure authentication methods"
+  ansible.builtin.include_tasks: "authentication.yml"
+
+- name: "Configure SSH encryption keys"
+  ansible.builtin.include_tasks: "encryption.yml"
+
+- name: "Configure additional restrictions"
+  ansible.builtin.include_tasks: "restrictions.yml"
+
+- name: "Log at VERBOSE level"
+  notify: Restart sshd
+  ansible.builtin.lineinfile:
+    path: /etc/ssh/sshd_config
+    regexp: '^#?LogLevel'
+    line: 'LogLevel VERBOSE'
+    validate: sshd -f %s -t
diff --git a/roles/sshd/tasks/restrictions.yml b/roles/sshd/tasks/restrictions.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6d14920
--- /dev/null
+++ b/roles/sshd/tasks/restrictions.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,30 @@
+---
+- name: "Restrictions | Configure SSH security restrictions"
+  loop:
+    - { regexp: '^#?Protocol\s+', line: 'Protocol 2' }
+    - { regexp: '^PermitRootLogin yes', line: 'PermitRootLogin no' }
+    - { regexp: '^#?X11Forwarding', line: 'X11Forwarding no' }
+    - { regexp: '^#?IgnoreRhosts', line: 'IgnoreRhosts yes' }
+    - { regexp: '^#?DebianBanner\s+', line: 'DebianBanner no' }
+  notify: Restart sshd
+  ansible.builtin.lineinfile:
+    path: /etc/ssh/sshd_config
+    regexp: "{{ item.regexp }}"
+    line: "{{ item.line }}"
+    validate: /usr/sbin/sshd -t -f %s
+
+- name: "Restrictions | toggle PAM"
+  notify: Restart sshd
+  ansible.builtin.lineinfile:
+    path: /etc/ssh/sshd_config
+    regexp: '^#?UsePAM'
+    line: "UsePAM {{ sshd_disable_pam | ternary('no', 'yes') }}"
+    validate: sshd -f %s -t
+
+- name: "Restrictions | ensure the SSHD config is restricted to the root user"
+  notify: Restart sshd
+  ansible.builtin.file:
+    path: /etc/ssh/sshd_config
+    owner: root
+    group: root
+    mode: "0600"
diff --git a/roles/sshd/vars/main.yml b/roles/sshd/vars/main.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ed97d53
--- /dev/null
+++ b/roles/sshd/vars/main.yml
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+---