Gone are the days when thieves used to unlock the shop and aim for its safe where we used to keep all the money.
Nowadays, thieves rely on online mediums to do so. Stealing website information such as customer data is much easier in cyberspace. No one can catch them red-handed.
Most people won’t be able to recognize who you are.
So, how do you protect your business website against such cybercriminals?
Well, just like you install CCTV cameras, digital locking systems and alarm systems in your physical shop, your online shop would need fairly the same treatment.
Here are 7 tips that will help protect your website against cyberattacks:
#1 Install an SSL certificate
SSL or Secure Socket Layer certificate is a security technology used to encrypt your website’s connection and pass all the data on a secure network.
Data gets passed through different computers to reach one end from another. If the connection is unencrypted, all the computers through which data is passed can view the information.
Data can comprise customers’ debit/credit card numbers, addresses phone numbers, email addresses, and passwords, etc.
SSL helps protect all this sensitive information. Google also values SSL and considers it an important factor in scoring high search rankings.
SSL comes in multiple types and choosing the one that works best for you is the task at hand.
A single domain SSL can only protect your single domain or subdomain. However, its wildcard variant can also protect a single primary domain and an unlimited number of subdomains to the first level.
On the other hand, a multi-domain SSL can protect multiple domains and subdomains up to 250 FQDNs.
But now you must be wondering, well, which type of SSL should I buy?
Well, depending upon your need, if you have a single domain to protect then, a single domain SSL will be enough but, if you want to protect multiple domains, then even the most cost-effective cheapest multi domain SSL can work best for you.
#2 Install updates
Updates are an integral part of a software’s security. If you want to run the software smoothly and safely then, you need to update it regularly.
CMS updates like WordPress and Joomla are important to ensure that hackers cannot compromise your website’s data.
CMS platforms employ quality developers and cyber experts who constantly watch what’s buzzing on the internet.
They are capable of repelling any incoming cyberattacks, too, which is why their updates need to be taken seriously.
#3 Keep the access control confined to certain people only.
Since it contains sensitive data of businesses and customers, you don’t want everyone to access your website.
So, it is best not for everyone to access your admin panel, and you must share your website’s username and passwords only with a handful of people who are in constant touch with you.
Limit your login attempts to 3 only so that no person can repeatedly try out various combinations of your password.
#4 Install a WAF
A WAF or Web Application Firewall is a security technology that sets itself between your website’s server and connection.
It monitors all the data that comes in and detects all suspicious activities. If it finds a problem, it immediately quarantines the threat and sends a report across to you.
So, a WAF does not allow any hacker to creep into your system.
Wondering where to buy It from?
Well, WAF has become cloud based. Today if you want to buy a firewall, you can hop on to any of the sites selling it and get yourself a plug-and-play WAF system.
#5 Disallow direct file uploads
Cybercriminals can upload codes that can deceive your security systems and enter your website through the file upload option.
The first thing to do is disallow the entire process. Moreover, ensure that the files uploaded are stored outside the root directory and not inside it.
If files are stored inside the root directory, cybercriminals can directly get to the realm of your website and can gain complete access.
Moreover, each time you access the files, ensure that you use a script for that.
#6 Disable auto-form fill
Auto form-fill could be catastrophic if one of the users of your website lost their device in the hands of a cybercriminal.
They can access your website on your customer’s behalf and steal their information.
Moreover, they will also get a chance to creep into your system. This is because they can now easily pick out the vulnerabilities on your site and coordinate a cyberattack accordingly.
So, always ask your users to re-fill the form when they are logged out. You cannot blame any person for a stolen device.
Thus, it is best to ensure safety at your end.
#7 Backup on multiple locations
If you are a business owner, you must already know the importance of creating data backups.
But, just making a backup is not done.
It would be best if you create them both off-site and on-site. You must store your files in multiple locations, such as hard drives and cloud-based servers.
It is best not to rely on your hard drives for your data completely. They, too, have a life after which they start to function abnormally.
So, always assume that hard drives are bound to fail, and you need to find better ways to back up your data.
To Conclude
In 2021, protecting your website is one of the biggest concerns out there. Though there are many ways you can do it, the ones we talked about today are a must-have for every website.
As website owners, we tend to think that the online world is much safer than the real world, but that is untrue in all respects.
More data breaching attempts are made every day than actual robberies. Even the most protected institutions like banks are more concerned about data breaches than actual robbery.
So, follow these seven tips above and create a safe space for your business to operate smoothly.