Is your website safe? Do you know what security features you need to keep your site protected?
Unfortunately, some website owners don’t think about website security until it’s too late. By then, their site has been hacked and damaged, costing them time, money, and potentially their business.
Don’t let that happen to you.
Website security is important for everyone. Whether you have a website for your business or a personal blog, you need to make sure it’s secure.
In this blog post, we’ll discuss the essential security features every website owner should have in place.
We’ll also provide tips for keeping your site safe and secure.
So, if you’re looking to protect your website, read on!
Why You Should Take Security Measures to Protect Your Website?
There are many benefits to keeping your website secure, including:
- Prevention of data breaches: If your website is breached, your customers’ personal information could be stolen. This could lead to identity theft, fraud, and a loss of customer trust.
- Protection of your reputation: A website security breach can damage your reputation and that of your business.
- Avoidance of website downtime: If your website is hacked, it could be taken down. This would result in lost website visitors and potential customers.
- Prevention of malware: Malware is a type of software that can damage your website or steal information.
What Security Features Do You Need?
Now that we’ve discussed the importance of website security, let’s take a look at the features you need to keep your site safe.
- Secure Your Website with HTTPS / TLS / SSL
- Regularly Back Up Your Website
- Use Strong Passwords
- Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)
- Keep Software Up-to-Date
- Manage User Accounts / Access
Secure Your Website with HTTPS / TLS / SSL
What is Secure Sockets Layer (SSL)?
Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) is a security protocol that helps keep your communications with websites safe and secure. It provides encryption and authentication for your interactions, meaning that the information you send and receive is protected from unauthorised access. This helps to prevent hackers from stealing information, like credit card numbers and passwords.
An SSL certificate is required if you want to use the HTTPS protocol on your website. HTTPS is the secure variation of HTTP, which is used to link web browsers and website servers.
You may have seen a padlock in your browser’s address bar. This indicates that the website is using HTTPS and has an SSL certificate.
You can also tell if a website is using SSL if the website address starts with https://.
An SSL certificate is a must-have for any website. Not only does it protect your website and its visitors, but it also helps to build trust.
What is Transport Layer Security (TLS)?
Transport Layer Security (TLS) is a security protocol that is used to encrypt data between your website and visitors’ browsers. TLS is the successor to SSL, and it offers better security.
Do I Need TLS / SSL?
Yes, you need an TLS / SSL certificate for your website.
If you don’t have a TLS / SSL certificate, your website will display a “Not Secure” warning in Google Chrome. This warning will scare away potential website visitors.
How do I get TLS / SSL?
You can get a free TLS / SSL with LetsEncrypt or purchase one from a certificate authority such as your website hosting company or domain name registrar.
Regularly Back Up Your Website
What are website backups?
A website backup is a copy of your website that you can use to restore your site when it experiences any problems. Website backups are essential because they protect your website from being lost or corrupted. Be sure to create regular backups of your website files and database.
Where should I backup my website?
You should backup your website to a secure off-site location, like a cloud storage service, in case your current web server is inaccessible.
As with any backup, redundant copies are best. This means backing up your website to multiple locations. This is an added extra layer of protection in case one of your website backups becomes corrupt.
How often should I backup my website?
You should backup your website weekly at the very least. However, if you make frequent website updates, you may want to consider backing up your website more often.
Tip: You can automate regular backups of your website to save you time from having to do it manually.
Strong Passwords
Strong passwords are essential for website security. They help to prevent unauthorised access to your website.
What is a strong password?
A strong password is a password that is difficult to guess or crack. The general advice for a strong password should be at least 8 characters, a mix of upper- and lower-case letters, numbers, and special characters.
How do I create a strong password?
You can use a password generator if you need help. Password managers are also helpful in creating and storing strong passwords. Make sure to use different passwords for your different website accounts.
How do I store my passwords?
You should store your passwords in a password manager. This will help you to create secure passwords and keep track of them.
Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)
Two-factor authentication (2FA) is an extra layer of security that you can use when logging into your website. With 2FA, you’ll need two pieces of information to login: your password and a code that is generated by an authentication app.
2FA helps to prevent unauthorised access to your website even if someone knows your password. They would also need to have your phone in order to log in.
Two-factor authentication is not foolproof, but it does make it much harder for someone to access your website.
Keep Software Up-to-Date
Outdated software is one of the most common website security risks. This is because software developers regularly release security updates that patch security vulnerabilities.
What is a security vulnerability?
A security vulnerability is a flaw in the software that can be exploited by attackers. By exploiting these vulnerabilities, attackers can gain access to your website or its data.
That’s why it’s important to keep your website software up-to-date. When a new version of the software is released, update your website as soon as possible (after testing if you can).
Website software includes:
- Website platform / Content Management System (CMS)
- Plugins and themes
- Operating system
- Web server software
- Database software
- Security Patches
How do I update my website software?
The method for updating website software will vary depending on the type of software. Typically, you can do this from within the website administration area.
Manage User Accounts / Access
Restricting website access to certain users can help to improve website security. This is because it limits the number of people who can make changes to your website.
How do I create user accounts, or manage website access?
The process will depend on the website software you are using. Typically, you can do this from within the website administration area.
When creating user accounts, you should assign user roles to each user. This will determine what website functions they have access to. For example, an editor should only have access to website content. They shouldn’t be able to change website settings.
Conclusion: Website Security is Important for Everyone
Whether you have a website for your business or a personal blog, it’s essential to have the proper security features in place to keep it safe and secure. It’s also important to remember that this is an ongoing process.
Performing regular website maintenance can help to keep your website safe. This includes backing up your website and keeping website software up-to-date.
You may also want to consider using two-factor authentication and restricting website access to certain users.
Website security should be regularly reviewed and updated as needed.
By following the tips in this blog post, you can help to keep your website secure.
Recap
- Websites need to be secured to protect data, reputation, and avoid downtime.
- Safety measures include: HTTPS / TLS / SSL, Website Backups, Strong Passwords, Two-Factor Authentication, Software Updates, User Accounts / Access.
- HTTPS provide encryption and authentication for website interactions.
- Website backups should be stored in a secure off-site location.
- Two-factor authentication adds an extra layer of security when logging into a website.
- It is important to regularly update software to patch any security vulnerabilities.
- User accounts should be assigned with roles that limit access to certain functions of the website.
Limitless Networks, A Kerry Web Design Company
If you want to keep your website safe, it’s important to have the proper security features in place. At Limitless Networks, we can help you with that. We offer website maintenance services to help you keep your website safe and up-to-date.
Contact us to find out more!
Not quite ready to contact us? Download our free website maintenance guide. Learn how to secure your website and discover the regular maintenance required to keep your website safe.
