Yes, your website is at risk of security breaches and needs to be protected. You’re not alone. In fact, research shows that an estimated 30,000 new websites are hacked each day and the FBI reported a 300% increase in the number of cybercrime cases during COVID-19. You owe it to yourself and your clients to protect your site to the best of your abilities.
If you do not have a company that is providing monthly management of your website, it’s time to consider making that investment. If you’re considering building a new website, make sure the company you hire goes through a comprehensive security checklist like the one we use below:
Create a strong password and update it regularly
Try to stay away from family birthdays or frequently used passwords such as “123456”, “123123” and “password” which are all too easy for hackers. Also, avoid reusing passwords across different websites and services. You should update your password once every month or quarter. If you have difficulty coming up with unique passwords consider using a password generator such as LastPass.
Install an SSL certificate
There is an extra charge to add this to your website but you can’t afford not to. This is what provides an extra layer of trust and security for those visiting or making a transaction on your website. It makes the transfer of data and sensitive information safe. You know when a site has this extra layer of security because the web address starts with HTTPS rather than HTTP. Without it, browsers such as Google Chrome display a warning and text that says, “not secure”. With SSL installed, a padlock appears before the start of your URL. You can purchase this certificate with companies such as GoDaddy and Symantec.
Conduct regular website backups
This is something that will provide you with peace of mind. If your site does go down or experiences a security breach, your developer will have everything he/she needs to bring your website back up. The more often you update or add content to your website, the more often you should perform a backup.
Limit user permissions
Only you and your web developer should have full access to your website. If you have several people logging in to make updates, set them up a separate login and password. Remember to remove users who no longer need access.
Secure online checkouts
If you take payments on your website, be sure to include an Address Verification Service (AVS) as well as require a Credit Card Verification Value (CVV) to help safeguard against fraudulent charges, which can be costly.
Update plugins and CMS
Once your website has been developed and launched, the worst thing you could do is not update it monthly. The software used for your Content Management Systems, plugins and add-ons that comprise your website have frequent updates. If these are not updated monthly the integrity of your site can become compromised and create security issues.
Invest in anti-malware software
Protect your business, brand and customers by using malware detector software. Malware infections can result in stolen data and money.
If you are building a new website, use a reputable company that specializes in development, design, content and IT security. Leave nothing to chance. Contact our team at CONRIC pr + marketing to schedule a website evaluation.
