Owners of business websites should all be concerned about having optimal cybersecurity today. Even if you have a small online company or have just launched a web-based start-up business, acquiring good web security should be on your list of top priorities. Many online business owners assume that their companies are too small to be targeted by hackers.
However, no online commercial site today is immune to this ever-present hazard, not even the smallest ones. In fact, 67 percent of online SMBs were under attack by hackers during 2018, although 82 percent of these sites were using antivirus software on their systems. In addition, 72 percent were using intrusion detection systems.
In reality, the majority of small online business owners lack good website security because they think the cost will deplete their company budgets. Some also assume that their company staffs are too small to manage security for their sites. Still other business website owners admit their lack of understanding of cybersecurity, including where and how to obtain it.
Securing an SSL Certificate: a Necessity for Business Website Security
Every online business website must have an SSL Certificate today in order to ensure site security and prevent site intrusion and hacking. Only by obtaining this certificate can you have the assurance of a safe, secure online business that can grow and thrive without the constant threat of setbacks from online targeting for attacks.
Without adequate website security today, your online company could experience serious damage, including stolen records, a tainted reputation and Google blacklisting. If you have not yet obtained good security measures for your site, the following are simple steps to follow for doing so:
• Locate a Secure Web Host. When seeking top-quality web security, using a shared hosting plan is not the best decision since any site attack on your shared server could affect your site as well. Look for a web host that places high priority on optimal cybersecurity measures. Before choosing a web host for your business site, determine the level of security the host provides, such as how they secure assets and to what degree they provide facility monitoring and server firewalls. Decide on a web hosting plan that offers built-in security measures for best results.
• Obtain an SSL Certificate. You need to obtain an SSL Certificate for your site if it is not provided by your web host. This is a type of encryption that gives your website an added level of protection. Sites with these certificates have an HTTPS URL. Web addresses for sites without an SSL Certificate will still begin with HTTP in the address bar. These sites have a “Not Secure” label, and secure HTTPS addresses have either a green label or a lock symbol as a mark of trust.
• Choose Well-Coded Software. Make careful choices for your website builder, content management system and any extensions or plugins. If you cannot review the integrity of the code used for this software, check user reviews for reported problems. Unless you see periodic update alerts for correcting bugs or performance issues, consider using different software.
• Use Strong Passwords. Make sure that you and your company staff use only strong passwords that include letters, numbers and symbols. This will help prevent site intruders and hackers from accessing your site by acquiring your login data. Also, use a different password for every application included in your workflow. You may also want to use two-factor authentication for accessing your company site.
• Choose a Spam Blocker. You can safeguard your comment and contact forms from spam by using a spam-blocker plugin or a reCAPTCHA. You can also use a honeypot, which is a hidden input field that only spam bots can detect and fill out.
• Use an All-in-One Security Plugin. These all-inclusive security plugins include brute force protection, a firewall, database and file security, spam prevention and limitations for user registration and access. These plugins should also have built-in monitoring features to detect suspicious activity.
• Backup All Files. Have a good backup system for your website. This will ensure a backup of your site content for restoring your domain just in case all security measures for your site fail to protect it. Your web hosting plan may provide backups, but having a backup plugin will ensure extra file security.
