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Regardless of what information your website currently holds, hackers are probably interested in it; even if it’s just an attempt to use your server as an email relay for spam or hit you with ransomware, or even mine for Bitcoin. Here are our top 3 tips for keeping you safe online:
- Ensure Software is Up to Date
Ensuring you have the latest version of all your software is vital for safety. This includes everything from your operating system to your CMS.
Once hackers find holes in software, they’re quick to exploit them. If you’re using third party software, security updates can protect you against these flaws, applying patches to prevent the problem. Always make sure you download these updates. It should be easy to spot when they’re available, and you should be notified as soon as you log in.
If you use a managed hosting solution, there’s no need to worry about security updates, as the hosting company should take care of this on your behalf. However, if you’re unsure, it wouldn’t hurt to check.
- HTTPS
This is a protocol used to provide internet security. The display of the HTTPS mark guarantees that the user is speaking to the server they expect to be speaking to, and that nobody can intercept this communication.
If your site holds customer data, including payment information, then you should only use HTTPS to deliver it. It’s best to use it for your entire site rather than just payment pages to ensure sessions cannot be hijacked by cookies.
Using HTTPS isn’t expensive, either. You can get free automated certificates, so all you’ll need to do is enable HTTPS on your site. You can even use community tools to automatically set everything up for you.
You may require an even greater level of security if you’re using a Cisco network or Cisco products. However, if you’re currently using a network like this, there’s no ned to panic, as there are courses you can take to upskill yourself on the necessary requirements.
- Web Security Tools
If you think your site’s secure, then it’s a good idea to test it before it goes live. This can be done through something called penetration testing. Penetration testing, also known as pen testing essentially involves website security tools which will attempt to find and exploit flaws in your website’s security system. There are a number of free tools to do this, and some are listed here.
Follow these tips and you should have no trouble keeping your site safe and secure.
