significant incoming SSH volume

[Justin Sipher <jsipher () SKIDMORE EDU>]

Hello all.  We have seen a drastic uptick in recent days for inbound SSH connections to many of our servers.  These 
connection are attempting to connect to our servers as ROOT and are coming from IP addressed appearing to be mostly 
overseas.  They number in the thousands of connections.  While we are confident in the strength of our passwords, as 
you know with enough effort.......

My questions to this group are:

Is anyone else seeing this?

Are you doing anything to address this?  We are contemplating blocking SSH inbound on our firewall and requiring any 
external SSH connection to first connect to our VPN.  In some ways it seems excessive and maybe even unsustainable.  On 
the other hand, protecting our servers is important as you well know.

Any advice, feedback, or suggestion of best practice is welcome.

Best & thanks!
...Justin
________________________
  Justin Sipher
  Chief Technology Officer
  Skidmore College
  Saratoga Springs, NY
  jsipher () skidmore edu
  518-580-5909