Are you trying to avoid website security issues? Consider these helpful tips when trying to keep hackers at bay.
If you’re operating in the online space, then your business is at risk.
Cybersecurity incidents are set to cost businesses over $6 trillion per year by 2021. Yet many businesses could improve their security with some forethought. There are no watertight solutions to online security, but some basic preparations can greatly reduce the risk of a cybersecurity incident hitting your site.
Below, we’ve put together 9 tips to avoid website security issues.
Update Often
Software security is a head-to-head race between security architects and criminal elements. As hackers discover software vulnerabilities, developers rush to fix them. With the vulnerability fixed, hackers set out looking for the next one.
One of the main functions of software patches is to fix these vulnerabilities as they occur. But many end users see software updates as a lot of hassle for little reward.
In truth, the reward for keeping your software up to date is the greatly reduced risk of a web security incident. As the WannaCry virus showed, hackers love nothing more than an obsolete system.
Multi-Factor Authentication
Multi-factor authentication has experienced rapid uptake in the last few years, in everything from banking services to online gaming. With MFA, you greatly reduce the risk of bad actors gaining access to protected user accounts.
MFA works in concert with a password system, requiring users to complete another level of authentication. One of the most popular options for authentication is text messaging, as most users own a cell phone. It’s unlikely a hacker will have access to both the account data and the authentication device, making the account much more secure than with a password alone.
Control Internal Access
We like to imagine that threats always come from outside, but accidental and intentional leaks pose just as much risk.
This is why your web server security should operate on a need-to-know basis. If all your employees have top-level administrative access to your site, you’re increasing the risk of a security breach.
Instead, consider limiting user rights to those who need them to do their jobs. Creating multiple tiers of user account can help you control access while also allowing key permissions for various staff roles.
Read the News
One of the most overlooked internet security tips is to pay attention to the world around you.
You won’t often be in the first wave of hacks simply due to the size of the online world. By paying attention to the news, you can find out about major security incidents affecting any of the technology you might use.
If your software does happen to be out of date, this will also serve as a good wake-up call to update your systems.
Use Strong Passwords
This might be the most basic and yet overlooked tenet of internet security.
Even after decades of PSAs telling users and administrators to deploy strong passwords, people still overwhelmingly make bad decisions. Common stock phrases like “password123” or “123456” lead the field of password choices.
Experts still say a strong password comes from combining complexity and length. Longer passwords with a greater variety of characters, including numeric characters and symbols, are the strongest choice.
Encourage both your employees and site visitors to use strong passwords. Many sites display the strength of a user’s password to them. You should also consider setting a required password strength.
Secure servers
Ultimately, your web security can only be as strong as the security of your host. If someone goes after your host’s servers, they could cause significant damage no matter what security you have in place.
If you’re concerned about web security issues, it might be time to upgrade from a cheap host to one who offers improved security. Sites experiencing an uptick in popularity are also more likely to attract the attention of hackers, so your need for a secure web host can change over time.
Use HTTPS
HTTPS is a widespread protocol used to prevent malicious parties from intercepting a request to a server.
The famous green padlock is the universal symbol of an HTTPS-protected site. It’s most common uptake is among sites dealing with private data, such as credit card info or user accounts. But its popularity is growing as a more general solution to web security issues.
Many users are now familiar with HTTPS and expect to see it on any site where they might be sharing personal information. If you’re not using HTTPS already, you could even be scaring these customers away.
Limit Uploads
It’s well-known that opening email attachments is a risky prospect. But the same risk applies to any files from an unknown source.
If you allow your users to upload files, you’re also inviting bad actors to deploy their malicious code through these files. You need to consider if that’s a risk worth taking.
Perhaps allowing users to upload files is vital to your user experience. If so, you should control the file types users can upload, and ensure your security features are strong enough to receive them.
Hire Someone
Is this starting to sound like a full-time job?
It’s true that securing your website can take time away from your core business. And even if you do manage to take it all on, there’s no guarantee you’ll get it right.
This is why many businesses turn to managed services for site security. What they spend on managed services, they save on their ability to focus on their core business – and a reduced chance of a security breach.
These services let you tap into expert knowledge without having to make expensive hires. That means you get access to expert security without losing sight of your core business.
Preventing Web Security Issues
Prevention is the watchword of web security. No site is 100% safe, but a site taking preventative measures can enjoy a greatly reduced risk of security issues capable of crippling a business. By following these simple tips, you can consider yourself prepared.
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