By: Bash Sarmiento
The advancement of technology has led to countless innovations over the years. As a result, the majority of businesses are pushed to undergo a digital transformation to keep up with their competitors, and possibly get ahead of the field. Digitalization has led to businesses changing the way they operate and offer their services, which has had a profound effect on customers as well.
However, digitalization has also made businesses more vulnerable to being targeted by hackers, causing security breaches and data leaks. As most businesses now store the majority of their data online, technically anyone with an internet connection can launch an attack!
Thus, businesses need to implement security measures to protect their website, and by extension, their customer data. Keep reading to learn more.
What will happen if my business website is hacked?
The time it takes to develop a website can be quite significant – especially for small businesses. Precious resources are allocated for web development as your website often determines how you introduce your business and interact with potential customers. So, the last thing you want is for your site to be hacked and data to be leaked.
A hacked website can lose all of the data that was inputted into it. This can include customer contact information, usernames, passwords, financial data, and more. In some cases, hackers will also insert malicious code into a website to redirect visitors to a different site!
Not only will a hacked website result in lost customers and revenue, but your reputation will also be damaged - a deadly combination for startups and small businesses. In the worst cases, businesses never recover from a major security breach and are forced to close down.
Security Strategies for Business Websites
The best way to protect your business website is to implement multiple security measures. By doing so, you can make it much more difficult for hackers to gain access to your site – and if they do manage to get through one layer of security, there will be others in place to stop them. Here are some effective security tips to help keep your website safe from hackers:
1. Choose your passwords wisely and use two-factor authentication.
One of the best ways to keep your website safe from hackers is to use strong passwords and enable two-factor authentication. Two-factor authentication adds an extra layer of security to your website by requiring a second form of verification, such as a code sent to your phone, before you can log in.
Aside from selecting strong passwords, you must also ensure to change them regularly. You can set your passwords to expire every few months or weeks to ensure that hackers will not be able to use the same password for a long period.
2. Install security plugins and a web application firewall.
Another great way to keep your website safe is by using various security software. Security plugins can block malicious traffic, scan for malware, and prevent brute-force attacks. Meanwhile, a web application firewall (WAF) can also be effective to deter hackers. This firewall is capable of filtering and blocking access requests that contain malicious code. Thus, it provides additional security while preventing hackers from stealing your website's data.
3. Always keep your website and software up-to-date.
A lot of business owners assume that building a website and launching it to the public is the end goal of digitalization. Although a website launch is a huge step, it is not the final step of the process! Keeping the website secure is a continuous process, as software and plugins must be regularly updated with their latest versions.
Note that hackers often exploit security vulnerabilities in outdated software to gain access to websites. By keeping everything up-to-date, you will make it much harder for these hackers to attack your website. Plus, updating your website provides a better customer experience in terms of the user interface, speed, and efficiency of each page.
4. Use a secure hosting provider.
There are a lot of web hosting providers today, but you must select the company that offers secure hosting. This means that your website will be hosted on a server that is protected from malware and other security threats. Although most companies already offer secure hosting in their basic packages, it is still important to check. Additionally, you should look for a host that offers regular backups, so you can restore your website if it is ever hacked.
5. Implement an SSL certificate.
An SSL certificate is a digital certificate that encrypts information transferred between your website and its visitors. This prevents hackers from intercepting and reading the data. Businesses that accept digital payments need an SSL certificate to secure sensitive information such as credit card details. However, even if you do not accept payments on your website, an SSL certificate can still be beneficial in deterring hackers and protecting your users' data.
6. Educate yourself about cybersecurity.
Last but not least, keep in mind that if the technical strategies aren't properly implemented, you are still as vulnerable to hackers as ever. And so, you need to ensure the proper implementation of security measures on your website!
Take the time to learn about cybersecurity. This will equip you to identify and protect your website from potential threats. Also, even if the technology is there, keep in mind that there is always a human factor in every business. You and your employees are a potential weak link in your security. So, it is important to make sure everyone is aware of the risks. These include clicking links and opening attachments from unknown sources, among others.
The Bottom Line
These strategies will help secure your website and improve customer trust in your business. Implementing any - or all - of these strategies will automatically add a layer of protection to your website and reduce the chances of getting targeted by hackers.