It’s 2024 and the world has drastically transformed into a digital community. As every advantageous opportunity has a setback as well, digital business and data processing websites have a similar threat level.
Website security builds trust with your customers, making them feel comfortable consuming your services. While a website can be a great way to spread the word about your brand and connect with customers easily, security cannot be a reconsideration. If your website feels unsafe, customers might take their business elsewhere. So, prioritize security when building your website, because it’s an investment that will pay off in the long run.
Here’s a list of 10 easy steps that you can take to ensure your website is safe and secure from potential threats and unauthorized access.
1. USE A CAPABLE WEB HOST
The first step in making your website secure is to choose a competent host. There are several web hosting options available and you can choose any of them depending upon your requirements. Learn more about choosing a web hosting provider here. https://comparisongeek.com/blog/how-to-choose-a-web-hosting-provider/
2. KEEP THE SOFTWARE UPDATED
The next step to make your website secure is to constantly update its software. It includes the Content Management System, Plugins, and other system software.
The latest versions of software help your website defend against the latest tricks hackers use to try and break in. Many popular CMS platforms, like Joomla and WordPress, are easy to use and come with built-in security features. This means not only your tech team, but even your marketing folks, can easily install updates and keep your website safe.
3. IMPLEMENT WEB APPLICATION FIREWALL
Web Application Firewalls (WAF) help to filter and monitor HTTP traffic to and from a web application. It helps your website to stay protected against cyber attacks.
You can use a cloud-based WAF service or install a WAF appliance in front of your web server. This step to make your website secure will help you ensure strict security of access and traffic to your site.
4. USE STRONG PASSWORDS AND AUTHENTICATION
Weak passwords are one of the common reasons behind data breaches nowadays. Strong passwords and authentication keeps your website secure and at a safe side from hacking. Experts suggest that your passwords should consist of a combination of letters, numbers, and symbols for additional security.
Multi-factor authentication also helps in keeping the data and privacy of users safe and confidential.
5. ENSURE REGULAR BACKUPS
Regular backups help you recover your website data in case of any security breach or other disaster. To make your website secure, automate backups and store copies in secure off-site locations. You should test backups periodically to ensure that they are functional.
6. LIMIT FILE UPLOAD
Hackers are always looking for ways to sneak in and cause trouble, and one way they do this is through file uploads. To fight back against these online tricksters, website builders use a few smart tactics. First, they act like a security guard, checking the type of file being uploaded. This helps keep out any suspicious files that might be hiding something bad.
Second, website builders act like organizers. It’s like keeping your important documents locked away in a secure drawer, separate from everyday things.
Finally, website builders act like inspectors. This helps ensure that only safe and harmless files make it onto your website, keeping your online store secure and trustworthy for your customers.
7. MONITOR AND AUDIT LOGS
Monitoring logs is like keeping a complete track record of everything happening on your website. It helps to detect any suspicious activity to maladaptively use your website’s data or any other privacy feature.
You can use specific tools such as “Security Information and Event Management” (SIEM) systems. These act like a central command center, gathering all the log information from different parts of your website and making it easier to analyze.
8. USE HTTPS ENCRYPTION
It is important to make sure that your website is HTTPS encrypted. HTTPS encryption helps to keep the data protected between your site and the user’s browser. It helps to restrict any third party from accessing that data. So the chances of data loss or privacy threats are gradually lower because of this security feature.
9. IMPLEMENT CONTENT SECURITY POLICY (CSP)
CSP helps to prevent Cross-Site Scripting attacks by defining the sources from which content can be loaded on your website. you can easily create and enforce a CSP for your website to whitelist trusted sources for scripts, stylesheets, and other resources.
10. EDUCATE YOUR TEAM
The final step for making your website secure is to educate your team. There is always a chance for human error and it can compromise your website’s security. So it’s important to educate your team about the best security practices.
For this purpose, you can conduct regular security training sessions for developers, administrators, and content managers. Emphasize the importance of staying vigilant against phishing and social engineering attacks.
CONCLUSION
Digital platforms such as websites, applications, and others are highly prone to malicious cyber attacks. Although no system is immune to potential threats, these 10 steps to make your website secure will help you keep all the data and privacy features of users safe and confidential.
