Securing your website is the most important digital concern, even more than engaging with readers or ranking on Google. Many businesses only take security seriously after being hacked, losing valuable data, money, and clients. To mitigate the threat of these attacks, you need to perform website security audits as part of website maintenance and build an online security infrastructure.
This guide will explore the ultimate website security checklist, detailing how you can avoid these cyberattacks and data thefts to ensure your website is safe and secure. For a solid foundation in hosting, consider our article on How to Choose a Scalable Website Hosting Solution for Your Business Growth
Use Strong Passwords
Passwords should be the first line of defense. More than 80% of confirmed breaches are related to stolen, or weak passwords. It’s crucial to have a strong password, especially those related to administrative accounts. A strong password should have a mix of upper case letters, lower case letters, numbers, and special characters. Consider using a password manager to keep track of complex passwords.
Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)
Two-Factor Authentication adds an extra layer of security. With 2FA, users need to provide two forms of identification before accessing their accounts. This can be something they know (a password) and something they have (a mobile phone). Many platforms offer built-in 2FA options, making it easy to implement.
Invest in anti-malware software
Malware is a serious website security problem. Every day, more than 350,000 malicious programs get discovered, which is why anti-malware software is vital to protect your company and your customers by using malware detector softwares. While you will find some free anti-malware software, you’ll likely need a paid program to give your website complete coverage. Consider this cost an investment, as it’ll protect your business, brand, and clients.
Keep Your Software Up to Date
Ensure that your website’s CMS (Content Management System), plugins, and themes are always up to date. Developers regularly release updates to patch security vulnerabilities. Ignoring these updates can leave your website exposed to attacks.
Use HTTPS
Obtain an SSL certificate for your website to switch from HTTP to HTTPS. Additionally, if you’re looking for a hosting provider that offers strong security features, check out our comprehensive guide on the Best Hosting Site for Small Business: A Comprehensive Guide
Regular Backups
Regularly backup your website to prevent data loss. In case of a cyberattack, you can respond to a range of issues fast, whether it’s a broken page or a hacked website. The problem, however, is that many businesses fail to back up their sites on a regular schedule. It’s easy to solve this issue, though. Automate your website backups.
A few tools that can take care of backing up your site at regular intervals include:
If you use a CMS like WordPress, you can automate website backups with a plugin, like UpdraftPlus, Total Upkeep, and VaultPress. Should you use any of these plugins, keep them updated to the latest version.
Install Security Plugins and Employ Secure Cookies
To enhance website security, install plugins like Wordfence, or Sucuri for malware scanning, firewall protection, and login security. Additionally, ensure cookies are set with the Secure attribute to transmit only via HTTPS, protecting them from interception. Detailed information on secure cookies can be found here.
Limit Login Attempts
Limit the number of login attempts to prevent brute force attacks. Brute force attacks involve repeated attempts to guess passwords. By limiting login attempts, you can reduce the risk of unauthorized access.
Make your admin area more secure
The default URL of the admin area could be the key to protecting your website. If you run a website on WordPress, it would be good to remove that mode through which people log in to the administrative section in ‘wp-admin’ and replace it with something unique. Also, make sure to add IP-based limits to the access of your admin area.
Run malware scans frequently.
Scan your website for malware and vulnerabilities as frequently as possible. Most of the security plugins available provide scheduling an automated scan. Other free tools, like Google’s Safe Browsing portal, enable a user to check a website for malware.
Monitor Your Website Activity
Be vigilant in the activities of your website. Using a plugin, you can monitor the activities of your website to detect suspicious behaviour, for example, multiple failed logins or if someone has made an unauthorised modification. Many security plugins offer activity monitoring and logging features.
Secure Your Database
Your website’s database stores sensitive information, making it a prime target for attackers. Secure your database by changing the default database prefix, using strong database passwords, and restricting database access.
Implement Content Security Policy (CSP)
A Content Security Policy helps prevent cross-site scripting (XSS) attacks by specifying which content is allowed to load on your website. Implementing CSP can mitigate the risk of malicious code execution.
Review User Permissions
Periodically re-examine and grant permissions to ensure that each user can access only the areas and features needed for their position. Remove unused user accounts and reduce the risk of insider threats.
Final Thoughts
By abiding by this website safety list, beginners can eliminate most of the shortcomings of their site and thus be protected from common cyber dangers. Additionally, ensuring you have a reliable hosting solution plays a vital role in your overall website security strategy
