Best Website Security Practices: An Overview

If you rely on your website as a source of business revenue, its security is always critical. And if you process sensitive personal information, your business could be particularly vulnerable to a myriad of attacks varying in complexity, scale and where they originate from.

Web security is a wide-ranging, constantly changing discipline, but all websites benefit from adopting best practices in this area. If you experience website vulnerabilities, you lose reputation and credibility, as well as trust and money. Potential problems range from data breaches to loss of website availability, ransomware, and more.

So, when it comes to website security, you need to be proactive – but the good news is there are many ways you can thwart hackers before they strike. Here’s an overview of the key measures to adopt:

Software updates

Keeping all your software up to date is an essential element of website security. The reality is that most website attacks start through Content Management Systems (CMS), popular examples of which include WordPress, Shopify and Joomla.

So always sign up for and act on alerts from your software supplier whenever WordPress or anyone else releases a security patch or update. Take swift action – often these releases come in response to a vulnerability which has been freshly identified, meaning time is of the essence.

Add SSL Certificate and HTTPS

Add encryption via Secure Sockets Layer or SSL digital certification to protect financial transactions. These work by encrypting data and verifying a website’s identity. Equally, they enable HTTPS, which you see with the icon of a padlock shown in the browser. HTTPS (hypertext transfer protocol secure) is an encryption solution that safeguards sensitive data such as health or bank records.

Insist on frequently changed, complex passwords and multi-factor authentication

This is an easy, effective website security solution. Secure passwords typically incorporate a combination of capital and lower-case letters, numbers and special characters, none of which should have any connection to the user’s personal details.

If you have multi-factor authentication or MFA, you add another layer of security. It means that, as well as asking for a password, you need to add a QR code one-time password or push notification from a mobile device to access accounts.

File back-up

If you constantly back up your files, you can speedily get over any kind of cybersecurity attack. If there is an option to do this automatically, take it. And remember, of course, to store backup files somewhere safe away from your regular website files. Don’t give hackers the opportunity to access both.

Incorporate a web application firewall

In a nutshell, a firewall acts as a barrier between your web applications and the rest of the web, monitoring HTTP traffic and blocking any attempt to exploit weaknesses. And, particularly if you take cardholder information as an e-commerce website, a firewall can help you comply with some security requirements.

Regular security audits

Finally, it’s not enough just to do all of the above. You also need to monitor and adapt your security strategy constantly to stay ahead of the latest threats. Regular security audits identify the gaps in your tech infrastructure. Look all the time at ways you can make your website more secure for all concerned, and your business therefore more efficient.

Site security from SWSweb

At SWSweb, we’re experts in complete website management including all aspects of securing our clients’ websites. View our packages here – including hourly or daily backs ups, 24/7 uptime monitoring, SSL certification, monthly WordPress core and plug-in updates, real-time malware scanning and a web application firewall, as well as regular reporting.

We’ve been helping all shapes and size of businesses with their websites since 2012 and we could help you, too. Browse our website and get in touch to learn more.