Web Hosting Security Best Practices Every Website Owner Should Know
4 min read
As a website owner, you should always be mindful of the security of your site. Since websites typically contain sensitive information, such as customer data or financial records, you must always take measures to ensure that this data is protected from hackers and other malicious actors.
Web hosting is one of the most critical areas of website security. Selecting the best web hosting provider, configuring the correct security settings, and using the proper techniques can all help keep your site safe. Here are some of the best practices you should follow to ensure website security:
Select a Secure Web Hosting Provider
The first thing to check when looking for a web hosting provider is the security measures it provides. Make sure that the provider has firewalls and anti-malware software in place. These measures will protect your website from malicious attacks. Check for SSL certificates, which will also help encrypt data traveling between your server and the user’s browsers.
There are many web hosting providers available today, but selecting the one that provides the best security measures is essential. Additionally, ensure that your provider has a good reputation and hasn’t been targeted in any past attacks. You can do this by checking reviews, asking for referrals, and doing your research.
Configure the Right Security Settings
Once you’ve chosen a secure web hosting provider, you must configure it correctly to ensure maximum security for your website. This includes setting up firewalls, enabling two-factor authentication, and configuring user access control lists. Permissions must be set correctly so that only authorized users can access them. Additionally, ensure that all software is kept up to date so that any security patches or updates can be applied quickly.
Implement SSL/TLS Certificates
Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) or Transport Layer Security (TLS) certificates are used to secure the connection between a web server and a browser, encrypting all data transferred. Implementing these certificates ensures that any data sent to or from your website is kept secure. Most web hosting providers offer these certificates and are generally easy to set up.
Use Secure File Transfer Protocols
Secure File Transfer Protocol (SFTP) ensures that all transfers between a web server and clients are encrypted. Make sure to use SFTP instead of regular FTP when transferring sensitive data. If you do so, you can be sure that your data cannot easily be accessed even when malware enters the system.
Use Secure Passwords
You should always use strong passwords when accessing your web hosting account and other protected areas of your website. Make sure that passwords are at least eight characters in length and contain a mixture of upper- and lower-case letters, numbers, and special characters. Using long and complex passwords is crucial in protecting your website, and you can further boost your web hosting security by implementing two-factor authentication as well.
Monitor Traffic and Activity
Regularly monitor your web traffic to detect any suspicious activity or malicious attempts to gain access to your website. Always keep an eye on server logs, as well as any changes to file permissions. Through constant monitoring, you can immediately boost your security and take action to deter any malicious activities. You must also monitor your website’s performance to detect any unusual behavior that could indicate a security breach.
Protect from DDoS attacks
Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) is a type of attack where large amounts of traffic are sent to a web server, causing it to crash due to the high load. Many hackers use this type of attack to try to gain access to a website, especially those containing large amounts of sensitive data. Make sure that your host protects against DDoS attacks, as well as other types of malicious activities.
Scan Your System
Use a vulnerability scanner to detect any security flaws in the source code of your web pages and applications. Make sure you scan for malware at regular intervals to ensure that malicious actors haven’t infected your site. Many web hosting providers come with built-in scanning tools, but you can also use third-party services for a more thorough scan.
Backup Your Website Regularly
In case of a security breach or data loss, backing up your website regularly is essential. You must ensure that all important files and databases are backed up regularly so that you can quickly recover in case of an attack. Additionally, make sure that you store your backups in secure offsite locations so that they cannot be easily accessed by malicious actors.
Final Word
Web hosting security has become a significant concern in the digital age, as hackers are continually looking for ways to gain access to websites and steal valuable data. Fortunately, you can apply these best practices to keep your website and data secure. Don’t wait for your website to come under attack – implement these security measures today to protect your website!
Binary Blogger has spent 20 years in the Information Security space currently providing security solutions and evangelism to clients. From early web application programming, system administration, senior management to enterprise consulting I provide practical security analysis and solutions to help companies and individuals figure out HOW to be secure every day.
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