Running your own business is not an easy task. In 2021 every company should have its own website to attract new customers and grow steadily. However, many possible threats can compromise your digital assets. According to a Thales Group research, over 7 million data records are compromised every day. That’s why every website owner needs to be in touch with IT security consulting companies and have the knowledge on how to protect their site.
Fortunately, below, you can find 8 easy steps to secure your website. You may read all about regular back-ups, SSL/TLS certifications, using Captcha and spam filters, and many more. Read on and make sure your website is secure!
Back-ups
There are two types of back-ups: local and remote. In the first case, both your website files and database are being backed up locally, whereas in the latter case, the files are stored in a remote server. Both these options have their pros and cons. So, which one is better for you?
Local back-ups are more secure as they require physical access to your computer. Also, local systems can be kept offline, and a security breach is highly unlikely. On the downside, both you and your IT team will need to spend time on creating and maintaining local backups.
Remote back-ups take less time to create as they can be done automatically. They also can be accessed from anywhere in the world, but unfortunately, the likelihood of a security breach will be higher.
Use SSL/TLS Certificates
SSL/TLS certificates encrypt the data transmitted between your website, server, and the browser of the visitors. In other words, HTTPS ensures that all information is secure and cannot be intercepted. If you don’t use an encrypted connection, malicious users can easily steal your customers’ private information, such as credit card numbers, passwords, email addresses, and so on. So, why not add TLS to your website and protect your business against potential losses?
Use HSTS Protocol
HSTS protocol is a security protocol established by the Internet Engineering Task Force. It is used to improve the security and privacy of your site visitors by reducing the risk of attack through content hijacking. HSTS requires that all communication between your web server and web browser should be done through an encrypted connection.
Make Sure Your Website Is Protected Against DDoS Attacks
Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) is a cyber-attack, in which the victim’s network is flooded with a large volume of illegitimate requests, thus making it unavailable for genuine users. In other words, the DDoS attack is aimed at bringing down the website and server by sending a high number of traffic requests, such as page view requests, search queries on a database, etc.
Monitor Your Website Activity Regularly
If you want to know what’s going on with your website, you need to monitor your site activity. There are various tools that can help you do this: Google Analytics, Piwik, HubSpot, Webmaster Tools, etc. These apps not only log website traffic but also provide useful information on what keywords people use to find your site or where they are coming from, etc. If you want to get every bit of information on your website activity, you should definitely check out these tools.
You also need to check your website performance. This can help you detect major issues and keep your site up and running at all times. If you don’t monitor your performance, you will never know if there is an error on the server or if the server itself is overloaded.
Use Spam Filters
It is rather difficult to avoid spam, but you can definitely cut down the number of unsolicited emails that land in your inbox. The best way to do this is to use spam filters, which are designed to sort and organize your emails. There are various tools for this: SpamAssassin, Amavis, Razor, etc. You can also configure your email server to block suspicious emails before they get into your inbox.
Use Two-Factor Authentication
Two-factor authentication is a method of confirming identity by using two different components. Each of these components should be unique and difficult to guess. For example, if you want to log in to your account, you will have to provide a password and a token.
The token is usually sent to your mobile phone via text message, and you must enter it on the log-in page. If someone tries to log in without the token, he or she will not be able to access the account. Two-factor authentication protects your website against brute force attacks as well as various other cyber threats.
Use Captcha
Captcha is an acronym for “Completely Automated Public Turing test to tell Computers and Humans Apart.” It is used to distinguish humans from automated algorithms. This can be done by presenting users with a test that’s easy for humans to solve but difficult for computers.
Although Captcha might seem to be nothing but a minor inconvenience, it is an extremely effective tool for protecting your website against bots and spam.
Conclusion
As you may see, there are plenty of things that you need to do in order to secure your website. Some of them take a lot of work but are indispensable when it comes to keeping your website safe and sound. There are plenty of backup options that can be chosen depending on the budget and preferences of each business.
If you want to make sure your site is 100% secure, backup all your data regularly in 2 or more places. Don’t forget about regular testing of your website and its performance. Also, it is essential to use SSL/TLS certificates, HSTS protocol, Captcha, spam filters, etc. Use DDoS protection to keep your site online and monitor your website activity regularly. Keep in mind that you can always hire professionals to help you out!
