Scott, our Director of Technology, wanted to make sure we shared some critical information about website security – which just happens to be something he specializes in! :)
Website security is the process of protecting your website from unauthorized access, use, disclosure, disruption, modification, or destruction. It is important to have a strong website security system in place to protect your website from potential threats.
There are many different types of website security threats, including:
- Malware attacks: Malware is a type of software that is designed to damage or disable computers and computer systems. Malware can be spread through email attachments, malicious websites, and infected USB drives.
- Hacking attacks: Hacking is the unauthorized access to a computer system or network. Hackers can use a variety of methods to gain access to your website, including exploiting vulnerabilities in your website’s code, using phishing attacks, and brute force attacks.
- Denial-of-service attacks: A denial-of-service attack is an attempt to make a website or service unavailable by overwhelming it with traffic. Denial-of-service attacks can be very disruptive and can cause significant financial losses.
To protect your website from these threats, Scott recommends that you implement the following security measures:
- Use strong passwords: Passwords are the first line of defense against unauthorized access. Make sure to use strong passwords for your website’s login accounts. A strong password is at least 8 characters long and includes a mix of upper and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols.
- Keep your software up to date: Software updates often include security patches that can help to protect your website from known vulnerabilities. Make sure to keep your website’s software up to date, including the operating system, web server software, and any plugins or extensions that you use.
- Use a firewall: A firewall is a security system that can help to protect your website from unauthorized access. A firewall can be used to block traffic from known malicious IP addresses and to prevent unauthorized access to your website’s files.
- Use a web application firewall (WAF): A WAF is a type of firewall that is specifically designed to protect web applications. A WAF can be used to block common web application attacks, such as SQL injection and cross-site scripting.
- Back up your data: Regularly backing up your website’s data will help to protect you from data loss in the event of a security breach. Make sure to store your backups in a secure location.
- Use a security scanner: A security scanner can help to identify vulnerabilities in your website’s code. Security scanners can be used to identify known vulnerabilities, as well as vulnerabilities that are specific to your website’s code.
- Hire a security professional: If you are not comfortable with security yourself, you can hire a security professional to help you secure your website. A security professional can help you to identify and implement security measures that are appropriate for your website.
By following these security measures, you can help to protect your website from potential threats.