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Do you think cyberattacks only happen to other websites, especially the big ones? Well, you are wrong! In fact, statistics show that 43% of hacks were done on small, local businesses. Protecting websites from cyberattacks is challenging and requires the knowledge of cybersecurity experts. In this article, we outline the importance of website maintenance services and introduce the best practices to protect from cyber threats in 2024.
5 Importance of Website Security
Imagine a website that’s been repeatedly hacked and its data has been breached. Would you trust it to make a purchase? Definitely not. That’s why protecting systems, networks, and programs is important for a business, regardless of its size and fame. Here are some key importance of website security.
It Protects Your Sensitive Information.
Websites often hold personal, financial, and login information of their customers. Even a tiny breach in any of this data can have devastating results on the reputation of the brand. Therefore, having a secure website prevents identity theft, financial loss, and legal consequences.
It Increases Your Credibility.
Users expect the websites they visit to be safe. If they assume that their data will be in the hands of hackers, they will not trust the business, even if it is a reputable one. A secure website gives credibility to the business and gains customers’ trust.
It Prevents Loss of Revenue.
If your website is compromised, it may become unavailable to users. This will lead to a loss of sales, especially for e-commerce sites. If the site is down for a long time, you will lose lots of revenue. A secure website ensures continuous sales, even during the peak seasons.
It Helps Meeting Industry Standards.
In some industries, maintaining a certain level of website security is not just recommended but required. If your website is under regular cyberattacks, you don’t meet industry standards and will lose the market soon. Therefore, make sure that you comply with industry standards (like PCI-DSS) to avoid penalties.
It Improves SEO and Search Engine Ranking.
Search engines, like Google and Bing, prioritize websites that begin with HTTPS, not HTTP. A non-secure website will have lower search rankings and less organic traffic compared to safe websites. Therefore, if you have prioritized the design and content of your website over its security, you will not have a chance in search engine ranking.
How to Protect Websites from Cyber Attacks
Now, let’s check out website security best practices in 2024.
Use a Web Application Firewall (WAF)
A web application firewall protects your website from HTTP traffic. It acts as a sift that reads all the data entering the site and filters the suspicious ones. One advantage of WAF is its customizability. You can define custom rules based on your specific needs and preferences. The firewall then blocks or allows certain types of traffic accordingly. If you want to safeguard your website using WAF, you should choose between its three types:
Network-based: it is an expensive option and requires physical equipment. It is locally installed on the network to reduce latency.
Host-based: it is installed on web servers to protect the websites working on it. It is software and is quite cheaper than the network-based one.
Cloud-based: also called firewall-as-a-service (FWaaS), it is installed on the cloud to protect the applications and data from cyber threats.
Get Regular Backup from Your Data
Backing up your data is crucial for ensuring its security and availability. Here are the best 4 techniques for getting backups from the online data that might save you from a disaster.
Full backup: copy all your information and save it on both local and external hard drives. If possible, you need to have a copy of them on your cloud storage as well. This method is the safest, but it is time-consuming and requires large storage space.
Incremental backup: it is used to store data that has been added or changed since the last backup. This method is faster and requires less storage space than full backups, but you need to do it daily or weekly.
Continuous data protection: CDP is the best method for companies with real-time databases. In this technique, you back up your data as soon as the changes are made.
Hybrid backup: it combines both local and online (cloud) backups. In this method, the data is first saved on local storage and then transferred to the cloud for long-term storage.
Use Secure Hosts for Your Website
Thanks to website builders, who need no coding knowledge, creating a modern, well-designed website is now easy. However, what’s the use of an attractive website with low security? Absolutely nothing. Therefore, if you need a website for your business, make sure that its host follows security standards. This will keep your website’s payment gateways and sensitive data safe from hackers.
Secure hosting has the following features:
It offers SSL/TLS certificates to encrypt the data and protect users’ login information and payment details.
It backs up your data regularly and automatically. If your website is hacked, you can restore your data and prevent more trouble.
It has firewalls to detect, prevent, and remove suspicious traffic before it enters your website and steals your data.
It has a DDoS protection system that prevents traffic flooding. Such attacks overwhelm your website and cause it to go offline, resulting in loss of revenue and losing customers’ trust.
It offers two-factor authentication to prevent unauthorized access and strengthen your users’ security.
Get a Secure Antivirus and Update it Regularly
Do you know what the hackers hate the most? Updated antivirus software and programs. It is the easiest way to keep them away from your website and applications. A good antivirus has a “Quick Scan” option, publishes updates frequently, and is compatible with your system. Here are some of the best antiviruses for PCs in 2024.
Delete Suspicious Links and Emails
Whether you are a large company or an individual, hackers can rub you with a fake link or email in the blink of an eye. As soon as you click on an unknown link, the hackers download your sensitive information and use it against you. To protect your data from phishing, delete suspicious links and emails without opening them. Remember that hackers can manipulate you and make you open the link voluntarily.
Use Strong Passwords and Keep Them Updated
If you are dealing with sensitive data (like customers’ financial details), it is urgent to use strong passwords and keep them updated. Educate your employees about cyber threats and how a string password helps protect the data. If you use website maintenance services, the agency will store your passwords somewhere safe and update them regularly to protect you from potential hacks.
The Last Words
Safeguarding the data of your business is an important factor. Choosing the right security technique for your website or social media depends on the platform you use and the level of security you need. In any case, you can use the following checklist or explore our website maintenance services to protect your site from cyber threats. 1st Class Agency helps businesses of all sizes have a secure website that no hacker or malware link can penetrate. Contact us for a free website security consultation.
FAQs
What is website maintenance service cost?
The answer to this question depends on the size, level of protection, and history of your website. Here at 1st Class, the price of website maintenance services matches their quality.
How do you secure your website from hackers?
Using strong passwords, antivirus software, and firewalls can safeguard your website from hackers.
What are the types of website security?
Web application firewalls, SSL certificates, DDoS, login two-factor authentication, etc. are some types of website security.
What are the top 10 cyber security websites?
You can get valuable information about new cyber threats and how to deal with them from these websites: The Hacker News, SecurityWeek, Dark Reading, Threatpost, Cybersecurity Insiders, CSO Online, Infosecurity Magazine, Adam Shostack & Friends, Security Weekly, and Hack Read.
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