Home / Blog / Web Design / What is website security? How to secure your website?

Web Design

What is website security? How to secure your website?

by Make My Website
December 16, 2024
11 Minutes Read

Table of Contents

(Last Updated On: December 16, 2024)

In today’s more digital business world, keeping a website safe is very important for a company’s success. The growing number of tricky cyber problems means we need a smart, all-around way to protect our digital things. Now, cybersecurity isn’t just a nice extra; it’s a must for doing business. Companies have to deal with tricky online attacks that can mess up their work, money, and how people see them. This guide helps us understand and use strong ways to keep websites safe.

Understanding Website Security

Website security involves various methods, tools, and rules meant to keep websites safe from different online dangers.

Imagine a small bakery that just started an online store to sell personalised cakes. Their website, which keeps customers’ names, addresses, and credit card details, is now a main target for cybercriminals.

Potential Attack Scenarios:

Malware Infection: A hacker puts harmful code into the website’s booking system, which starts gathering customers’ credit card information without the bakery knowing.
SQL Injection: By changing the website’s contact form, an attacker might be able to see all the customer information, including personal and financial details.
DDoS Attack: During a busy holiday season, competitors or bad people send lots of traffic to the website, making it stop working and stopping real customers from ordering.
Phishing Attempt: Cybercriminals make a very similar copy of the bakery’s website, fooling customers into giving their login and payment details on a fake site.

The impact of such a security failure could be severe:

Money lost due to stolen customer information
Serious harm to the company’s reputation
Possible legal problems
Customers losing faith in the company
Expensive fixes to the website and increased security measures

Websites that are not very big are more likely to be attacked by hackers, who think these sites might have weaker security. In our bakery example, just one security problem could cause the business to fail or shut down for good.

Use SSL and HTTPS

In the online world, data transmission is essential for all internet activities. Every piece of information sent from a user’s device to a website—such as login information, personal data, or financial details—could be at risk. Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) and Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure (HTTPS) are vital tools that guarantee these data exchanges stay safe and encrypted.

Real-World Example:

Think about a website like Amazon. Upon entering your payment details, the padlock symbol in your web browser and the “https://” prefix signal that your credit card information is safe. In the absence of SSL, a malicious individual could potentially intercept your payment details during transmission.

Implementation Tip:

You can utilise complimentary services such as Let’s Encrypt for SSL certificates or purchase them from providers like Comodo or DigiCert. For a WordPress website, tools like Really Simple SSL can effortlessly configure HTTPS for you.

Use strong passwords

Passcodes serve as the primary method for safeguarding our digital accounts, functioning as the initial barrier against unauthorised access. Despite significant advancements in enhancing the security of our online environment, weak passcodes remain a considerable issue that malicious individuals frequently exploit to infiltrate our accounts. The manner in which we select passcodes—often opting for memorable yet easily guessed terms—renders our accounts more vulnerable and may even jeopardise the entire online landscape.

Real-World Example:

Rather than relying on basic passwords such as “password123” or “admin2024”, consider adopting a robust password like “T3ch$ecurity2024!EcommerceSite”. This type of password incorporates a combination of uppercase and lowercase letters, digits, and unique characters, significantly increasing the difficulty for anyone attempting to decipher it.

Practical Implementation:

You may also utilise applications such as LastPass or 1Password to generate and monitor robust passwords. Numerous sites, such as WordPress, now offer features that indicate the strength of your password as you create it.

Use two-factor authentication (2FA)

In the modern era, as cyber threats become increasingly sophisticated, relying solely on a password is akin to attempting to protect a vault with merely one potentially flimsy lock. Two-factor authentication (2FA) offers a more robust approach by introducing an additional layer for identity verification, significantly complicating access for unauthorised individuals. By requiring a secondary method of verification, 2FA substantially diminishes the likelihood of someone infiltrating your account without consent.

Real-World Example:

For example, Google’s two-step verification process not only needs your password but also a six-digit code that is either delivered to your mobile device or generated by an app. Even if someone possesses your password, they cannot enter your account without this extra code.

Implementation Strategy:

For WordPress sites, you can use plugins like Wordfence or Google Authenticator. For custom websites, you can integrate services like Authy or use SMS-based verification through services like Twilio.

Update software and security patches

Digital environments are like living systems that keep changing with new features, functions, and possible weak spots. Software updates are not just small improvements; they are important actions that fix known weak spots, prevent potential attacks, and protect digital systems from new threats. Ignoring these updates is like leaving important doors open in a more complex security world.

Real-World Example:

In 2017, a problem with the “Revolution Slider” WordPress plugin put more than 100,000 websites at risk, exposing them to hacking threats. Websites that quickly updated the plugin avoided this security problem.

Update Best Practice:

Set up automatic updates for your CMS (like WordPress), plugins, and server software. Use services like ManageWP for WordPress sites to manage and automate updates in one place.

Limit administrative privileges

Managing access in an organisation requires a careful balance between making things run smoothly and keeping everything secure. The idea of “least privilege” is a smart way to handle this, making sure people only have the access they need for their jobs. This reduces the chances of security problems by limiting the areas that could be attacked in a company’s digital systems.

Real-World Example:

For example, in a marketing team, a content writer should be able to create and change posts but shouldn’t be able to change major site settings or add new features. Only special accounts should be used for important management tasks.

Access Management Approach:

On WordPress or your content management system, use role-based access control. Set up roles like “Editor”, “Author”, and “Contributor” with different levels of access. This way, each person has just the right amount of access they need.

Back up your files

Data is an organisation’s most important digital asset, including customer details, operational records, creative content, and strategic insights. A good backup plan is not just a technical safeguard but a key part of business continuity. It acts as a safety net for the organisation, ensuring quick recovery and minimal disruption if data is lost, systems fail, or there are security issues.

Real-World Example:

When a well-known travel blog was hacked, their thorough backup plan let them restore the entire website in just a few hours, reducing downtime and data loss.

Backup Implementation:

Use tools like UpdraftPlus for WordPress or set up automatic backups through your hosting provider. Keep backups in different places, like cloud storage (Google Drive, Dropbox) and an external hard drive.

Use a web application firewall (WAF)

Today’s websites face constant threats from automated bots, harmful scripts, and advanced cyberattacks. A Web Application Firewall acts like a smart, flexible guard, watching, filtering, and stopping possible dangers before they can harm your online systems. It offers a more active way to protect your site than older security methods.

Real-World Example:

Cloudflare, a well-known WAF, stops millions of harmful requests every day. For a small online store, this could prevent serious DDoS attacks that might shut down the site.

WAF Selection:

Think about using services like Cloudflare, Sucuri, or ModSecurity. Many hosting companies also provide built-in WAF solutions.

Monitor logs and conduct security audits

Cybersecurity is not a fixed situation but an ongoing, ever-changing process of evaluation, identification, and protection. By actively monitoring and regularly checking security, organisations can turn passive defences into smart, proactive security measures. By constantly examining how systems work, how data moves, and any possible weaknesses, companies can predict and stop problems before they become major security issues.

Real-World Example:

The big data breach at Target in 2013 could have been avoided with better security monitoring. Regular checks can help find unusual activities before they get worse.

Monitoring Tools:

Use tools like Sucuri SiteCheck, Wordfence Security Scan, or professional security services that thoroughly check for weaknesses.

Choose a trustworthy registrar

A domain registration service goes beyond being merely a provider; it plays a crucial role in your digital persona and safety. When choosing a registrar, it’s vital to evaluate factors like their security protocols, the reliability of their services, and how well they protect your domain. Your registrar serves as a fundamental guardian of your internet presence, significantly influencing the overall security of your website.

Real-World Example:

Domain registrars such as Namecheap and Google Domains provide advanced security features, including two-factor authentication and domain privacy, which lower the chances of unauthorised access to your domain.

Selection Criteria:

When evaluating registrars, consider their security measures, client support, and their reputation within the industry.

Lock your domain name

Web domain names serve a purpose beyond merely being addresses for websites; they represent digital assets, brand identities, and crucial access points to an organisation’s online offerings. Domain theft is a deceptive tactic employed by malicious individuals seeking to seize control of domain names unlawfully. To keep everything safe and running smoothly online, it’s important to have strong domain protection plans.

Real-World Example:

In 2009, the prominent website TechCrunch temporarily surrendered control of its domain due to an issue with its domain registrar, highlighting the significance of domain security.

Protection Strategies:

To safeguard your domain, activate the registrar lock, which prevents anyone from transferring your domain without your consent. Additionally, utilise domain privacy services to conceal your details from public WHOIS listings.

Use anti-malware software

The world of malware is constantly changing, with complex digital threats like data-stealing programs and harmful ransomware. Anti-malware tools offer strong, multi-level protection to find, stop, and remove harmful software before it can damage a system. These tools are very important for keeping digital systems safe and working well.

Real-World Example:

A modest commercial site that became compromised by malicious software experienced a 60% decline in traffic and was briefly excluded from Google search outcomes. Regular malware checks could have stopped this.

Malware Protection Approach:

Utilise tools such as Sucuri, Wordfence, or SiteLock that offer immediate scanning and elimination of malware.

Test your website

In the rapidly evolving landscape of online dangers, safety isn’t an accomplishment that you reach and then disregard; it’s an ongoing journey of evaluating, modifying, and improving. Regular security testing turns theoretical safety plans into real, proven protection methods. By finding and fixing weaknesses early, businesses can stay ahead of possible cyber threats.

Real-World Example:

Big companies like Facebook and Google have ongoing “bug bounty” programs, where they pay ethical hackers to find and report weaknesses, showing how important it is to keep testing.

Testing Methodologies:

Use automated tools like OWASP ZAP or hire experts in security testing to do a thorough check of your systems.

Conclusion: Your Pathway to Digital Security

Understanding website security can be challenging due to its complexity. This guide offers a thorough introduction, but putting it into practice demands professional skills, ongoing attention, and specific expertise.

Connect with Make My Website: Your Cybersecurity Partner

At Make My Website, we simplify website security, turning it from a difficult task into a smooth, professional service. Our team of cybersecurity specialists provides the following: