It’s not just enough to have an attractive, functional website—you also need to make sure it’s secure. By prioritizing security with your website, you’ll be able to keep your clients’ information private, and will also avoid issues with downtime and malicious attacks.

Here are a few of the most important security features to prioritize when building or upgrading your website.

• SSL certificates: An SSL certificate is a security feature that authenticates your website’s identity, and ensures any information sent to the server is encrypted. More simply put, by using an SSL certificate you ensure that any user sending personal information through forms on your website (such as a name, contact information or payment information) will have that information encrypted and protected so it can’t be accessed by would-be hackers. You can tell if a website has an SSL certificate by checking the URL box. If you see a padlock to the left of the URL, that means the site is secured with an SSL certificate.
• Web Application Firewall (WAF): Implementing a Web Application Firewall (WAF) offers a reliable way to protect your website from various threats. A WAF filters and monitors HTTP traffic, shielding your web applications from attacks such as SQL injection and cross-site scripting.

  By blocking malicious traffic before it reaches your server, a WAF secures your data and maintains site functionality. Services like Cloudflare and Amazon Web Services provide comprehensive WAF solutions that adapt to emerging threats, ensuring ongoing protection for your digital presence.

• Data backups: Regularly backing up your data is crucial to ensuring the safety of your digital files. Certain development platforms have auto-backup technology, meaning it will save all of the files that make up your website at regular intervals. In case something goes wrong, you can restore the latest backup in little time at all, rather than losing all that information.
• Content Delivery Network (CDN) for Enhanced Security: Integrating a Content Delivery Network (CDN) not only boosts website performance by reducing loading times but also enhances security. CDNs distribute site traffic across multiple servers, mitigating risks from Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks.

  They add an extra layer of defense by filtering malicious traffic before it reaches your server, thus preserving your website’s integrity and uptime. Employing a CDN is a strategic move that balances performance and security for an optimal user experience.

• Updates: You must stay on top of regular updates to your website software. These updates usually include important security patches that address known issues, such as viruses and malware vulnerabilities. If you fall behind on your software updates, it could open you up to potential attacks and data breaches.
• Importance of Website Security Audits: Conducting regular security audits is an integral part of maintaining a secure website. These audits help identify vulnerabilities and verify that security measures are effective.

  They can involve evaluating the website’s configuration, reviewing access logs, and ensuring compliance with security best practices. Online tools and professional services are available to assist in performing these audits efficiently.

  By identifying potential issues early, security audits enable you to apply timely solutions, reducing the risk of data breaches and attacks.

• Strong passwords: Any password you use should follow the rules for password strength, including length (at least eight characters), use of numerals and letters (both capital and lower), and special characters. Avoid using any words, or any passwords that might have special meaning to you that could be figured out by others. You should also avoid using the same password for many different websites and accounts.
• Two-Factor Authentication: Implementing two-factor authentication (2FA) adds a layer of security by requiring an additional verification step to user logins. This can involve inputting a code sent to a smartphone or using an authenticator app, helping to confirm user identity beyond a password.

  2FA significantly decreases the likelihood of unauthorized access, even when passwords are compromised. By integrating 2FA, you increase account protection and fortify your website against hacking attempts.

• Security Plugins for Content Management Systems: For websites built on content management systems like WordPress, employing security plugins enhances protection against cyber threats. Plugins such as Wordfence and Sucuri Security offer features like firewall protection, malware scanning, and login security.

  These tools help safeguard your website by automatically applying security patches and monitoring for suspicious activity. Keeping plugins up-to-date ensures that your site benefits from the latest security advancements, reducing vulnerabilities associated with outdated software.

• Accessibility: Be sure you limit access to the back-end of your website. Even users who do have access to the back end can have that access limited by placing certain “roles” on what they’re able to do. Not every user should be able to fundamentally change the design of the site if all they need to be able to do is post blogs, for example.

Contact us today for more tips about how you can beef up your website security with some essential tools!