Your website is like your home. The longer you own it the more the data that you collect on it. If you don’t want all this data to reach the wrong hands, you will have to take the necessary measures to secure your website. Thankfully, there are some simple ways to increase the safety of your website. Here are a few:
#1. Make sure your software is always up-to-date
Hackers are always targeting security flaws in web software. If you don’t want your website to be hacked, you will have to make sure you update all the platforms and the scripts that you have installed on your website. Make sure all the programs are up-to-date and the security holes are all patched up. Keep track of the software products that you have used and update them regularly. if you use Sudo, verify it works on Linux before you switch OS. Learn more in this article about Linux what is sudo
#2. Encourage the use of strong passwords
Most hackers make use of sophisticated software to crack passwords through brute force. The only way you can stop this from happening is by using complex passwords. Encourage users to formulate strong passwords that contain uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters. The minimum length of a password should be 10 characters. Enforce a strong password policy and make sure everyone in your organization follows it.
#3. Make use of SSL encryption
By encrypting your login pages through SSL you can make sure sensitive information such as login credentials, social security numbers, and credit card numbers are transmitted securely. Once encrypted, the information entered on a page would seem meaningless to a hacker who might try to intercept it. This will help you secure private data and keep your login credentials safe from prying eyes.
#4. Choose a reputable and secure hosting company
You will have to be very careful while choosing your web hosting company if you want to keep your website secure. The host that you choose should have a policy of backing up all your data to a remote server so that you can access it whenever necessary. You should have access to ongoing technical support whenever you are in need.
#5. Take regular backups of your website files
Taking regular backups of your files is a good practice even if your web host provider provides backup facility. Make sure you use a proper plugin or extension that will backup your site automatically. The databases and content might have to be backed up manually.
#6. Perform web security scans regularly
Performing web security scans as per schedule can help you check for vulnerabilities, if any. Such a scan has to be performed every time you make a change to any of your web components. You can use the security tools available on the net; but they may not detect all the security flaws in your site. A wiser thing to do would be to hire a professional to get your website scanned.
There are many small things that you can take care of when it comes to protecting your website. Nevertheless, once in a while it is important to hire a professional to do a complete security audit and monitor your website for malicious activities if any.
