Hackers pose a serious threat to your website and sensitive data, including client information and business goals. This article covers the main security threats and offers effective solutions to prevent and address them.
Key takeaways 👌
Proper web resource protection methods can prevent up to 90% of all attacks on a website
SSL certificates make your website trustworthy, attracting new clients
Regular CMS updates can significantly reduce the possibility of a security breach
Introduction
You wouldn’t leave your house’s doors wide open, right? Leaving all the valuables and important documents on a sidewalk also seems like a bad idea, don’t you think? If you start treating your website as your physical property, then the importance of well-thought protection becomes apparent.
Security isn't something you buy, but something you must practice every day
— Bruce Schneier, cybersecurity expert
Basic security measures
- Secure connection
HTTPS and SSL certificates are absolutely fundamental when it comes to preparing your website for release and must be on the very top of your to-do list. These protocols encrypt and protect all the data transferred between the website itself and each visitor, making it inaccessible to attackers.
So the math here is simple – you require some sensitive information from your clients, such as debit and/or credit card details or personal details – make sure to protect it with your life, and security certificates are the best way to do it.
Levels of protection do vary, though, a basic DV certificate simply proves that you’re really the one owning this particular domain, while an extended EV certificate includes a full-blown company verification, visibly increasing user trust.
- Reliable hosting
What you really should start with, though, is taking some time to choose a well-known and secure hosting service. Some of the best web hosting services include automatic data backup systems, with copies stored on a separate server (the one that’s usually even more protected), as well as proactive DDoS protection systems that can fend off attacks of various complexity.
Picked one? Great. Check how active their monitoring systems are, because if we’re talking perfect scenario, then 24/7. After that, check what kinds of activities they track. Security breaches are not always apparent and can hide behind anomalous activities or unusual traffic patterns.
- Access management
If all the basics like security certificates are met, and your hosting provider is as trusty as it gets, then it’s time to do some fortification from the inside, and the easiest way to do that is by establishing administrative access control.
While it might sound fancy – these are the basics we’re all familiar with: strong password policy, multifactor authentication, regular credential changes, all kinds of captcha, and other nerve-wracking, but efficient methods of protecting your website from intruders. It’s also worth keeping an administration action log to track suspicious log-in attempts and other shady activities.
Regular maintenance
Another part of the successful fortification of your website from hackers is regular maintenance and routine. Let’s talk about this a bit more:
- Security updates
All the installed plugins and parts of a security perimeter must, as basic as it sounds, be updated to the latest version at all times.
Popular plugins are especially vulnerable to attacks, so you might want to keep things as fresh as can be.
FIM (File Integrity Monitoring) is your best tool for that. Not only does it regularly scan your entire infrastructure for vulnerabilities, but also spots any unauthorized changes to the website’s code – a great thing all around.
- Threat monitoring
“Just use an antivirus” might sound a bit stale to most PC users, but when it comes to website protection – there’s no better way to grow some additional armor layers. Modern antivirus software works proactively, allowing you to spot potential attacks before they can even begin.
Set up a detailed logging process using built-in activity scanner tools for good measure. By analyzing it from time to time, you’ll be able to understand what activity spikes are just people rushing to spend their money, and what are potential DDoS attacks. WAF (Web Application Firewall) will help you automate the entire process, making it as efficient as possible.
Learn more about technical aspects in our article What is an SSL certificate and why is it important for your website
Interesting fact 👀
According to research, 98% of hack attempts occur automatically through bots searching for standard vulnerabilities. This means that very basic security measures can stop such attacks with ease
Related articles:
Vaccines are there for a reason – preventing a disease is much cheaper and more efficient in the long run than curing it.
A hacked website can be restored, sure. But all the lost customers will think twice before logging in again.
Conclusion
Website security is all about continuous and well-thought-out actions. Implement everything we’ve talked about above and keep performing regular checks on how efficient it is. New threats appear every day, so being ready for some changes and/or upgrades is also good.
Using modern technologies and best security practices, the Toimi team can provide reliable and sturdy protection systems for all kinds of projects from all kinds of threats. Allow us to help, and we’ll make sure that your website will stay untouched.
Recommended reading 🤓
"The Web Application Hacker's Handbook", Dafydd Stuttard
Fundamental work on web application security.
On Amazon
Artyom Dovgopol
Security isn't a product, but a process. Like regular exercise for health, daily care for protection is essential for your website 😉