Data theft is more common than it’s ever been, with plenty of high-profile hacks finding their way into the news. Compromised data is a big concern for customers and online businesses alike. If your website isn’t secure, hackers will find a way in, and your customer’s private data might be at risk. Here are some simple tips to bolster your defenses.
#1 Choose the right security protocols
Security protocols are you and your customer’s first line of defense. You’ve probably noticed secure retailers using the extension “HTTPS” rather than the more traditional “HTTP.” The additional “s” stands for security. It’s the benchmark for online safety. HTTPS provides a layer of security that encrypts data as it passes between a customer and your servers. This, in turn, means that hackers can’t interrupt the connection to steal said data.
Alongside HTTPS, any website that handles sensitive information like credit card details should also use SSL certification. This stands for Secure Sockets Layer and further helps to encrypt the transfer of data between servers. These two protocols give both you and your customers security. They’re so essential that many people simply won’t make payments via your website without them.
#2 Remove unnecessary features
Generally speaking, the more features that your website uses (plugins and comments sections, for example), the more vulnerable it is to attack. On the other hand, the simpler the website, the more secure it tends to be. A web agency will be able to design a streamlined, clean website free of unnecessary features, and they’ll also be aware of which features pose the biggest risk. Outdated plugins, for example, are extremely vulnerable.
Even more dangerous is anything that allows users to upload files to a web server via your site. This is how the majority of hacks unfold, so you should be extremely wary of opening any files with an unfamiliar extension. It’s useful to disable uploads altogether. Even mail to email links can be compromised. Look through your site and consider its features carefully. If you don’t need it, disable it.
#3 Choose a secure host
Any measures you take are undermined if your website is hosted on a flimsy platform. Most web hosts promise high levels of security, but it pays to delve deeper and do some research for yourself. A compromised web host means lost data on a large scale, sometimes with devastating consequences. Any host should have a secure data center and should offer both HTTPS and SSL certification. These are only minimum requirements, though.
Backups and restores should be offered as standard along with DDoS attack mitigation, malware scanning, and a robust, high-quality firewall from a recognizable industry name. Hosts should be upfront about the kinds of protection that they offer. If these details aren’t immediately or easily available, presume that they’re lacking altogether and look elsewhere. A secure host is the backbone of any online infrastructure. It will protect you, your customers and give your online business the best chance to flourish.
