Over the last few years, websites have become non-negotiable when it comes to running a business. A website is an important marketing tool that can represent a business online. It provides a means for companies to maintain a 24/7 presence and an avenue for consumers to connect with brands without picking up the phone or leaving the comforts of their homes. With this shift, it is only natural that you start asking how to make your website secure.

Developing a website for your business is an investment. On average, a simple informational website for a small business cost at least $2000. More than the upfront expense, the concern over cyberattacks remains pertinent. A successful data breach can cost a company upwards of $200,000. 

Attacks are becoming more sophisticated. Therefore, protecting your digital from threats is all the more critical, especially in 2021. Here is how to make your website secure amidst constant malicious risks. 

How to Make Your Website Secure in 2021

When it comes to securing your website, imbibing a multi-step approach is ideal. After all, attackers have their choice of attacks to choose from. Therefore, thinking like a threat and anticipating all possible avenues is key on how to make your website secure. 

  • Install SSL

With the constant threat of cyberattacks, installing SSL on your website is a must. SSL, otherwise known as Secure Sockets Layer, is the easiest and simplest form of protection websites have against hackers. SSL protects a site by encrypting information that passes from the website to the users. SSL is particularly important for websites capable of taking payments or requiring the input of sensitive information. 

  • Opt for an Anti-Malware Software

Like installing an SSL, anti-malware software is non-negotiable when we’re talking about how to make your website secure. There are plenty of anti-malware options available in the market today. Some of these options are free to download. That said, the scope of service depends on the software that you opt for. Full-service software offers website scanning, malware removal, firewall, DDoS protection, vulnerability patching, and PCI compliance. 

  • Sanitize Contact Forms and Other Input Fields

More often than not, hackers use the information available to gain access and control over a website. That said, input fields like contact forms are weak points that malicious individuals can use to infiltrate a network. Therefore, it is an excellent idea to pre-set the information users can input in a field to prevent a successful attack. 

  • Use Strong Uncrackable Passwords

Passwords might seemingly play an innocuous role in website protection, but they are a website’s first line of defense against hackers. They are easy to overlook, but more often than not, passwords are the only thing standing between a hacker and a trove of personal information. 

Choosing a strong password is important in deterring an attack and is a straightforward answer on how to make your website secure. Likewise, updating your passcodes regularly is also key to safeguarding your website. 

  • Maintain an Updated Website

Keeping your website’s content fresh is a good SEO practice. Nevertheless, this step pertains to maintaining your website’s software up to date. Outdated software is vulnerable to bugs and malware. This step is especially crucial for companies that forgo a website builder. Make sure to update not only the core software but installed plug-ins as well. 

  • Use a Firewall

A firewall can provide an extra level of protection for your website. Web application firewalls or WAFs monitor both incoming and outgoing traffic to any given website. Installing this form of cyber protection provides a means for your website to block unwanted traffic, suspicious users, malicious bots, and various other cyber threats. 

  • Secure Back-ups

Attacks can still happen despite diligence from you and your cybersecurity team. To mitigate the effects of a successful attack and prevent downtime, securing back-ups regularly should be part of cybersecurity policy. Back-ups are essentially a copy of the data necessary to build your website from the ground up; it’s not just part of how to make your website secure but also a great way to recover it in case a successful attack happens.

  • Educate Your Employees

The greatest threat to your website is often internal. Failing to educate your employees with the basic knowledge on corporate cybersecurity risks and how to prevent them makes your website vulnerable to attacks. It is an excellent idea to provide cybersecurity training to your workers to fully understand the scope of a possible attack and equip them with actionable steps that they can take in case they suspect a threat. In addition, training turns vulnerabilities into potential cybersecurity allies. 

Common Website Security Threats 

A crucial step in how to secure a site involves learning the weapons in a hacker’s arsenal. Through this information, you and your cybersecurity team can anticipate and prepare for attacks even before they happen. This step can minimize the effects or prevent the success of an attack altogether:

  • Spam

Getting spam on your website blog’s comment section might not seem like anything more than a nuisance, but they can cause severe damage to the integrity of your company’s online home. For one, spam can tarnish your reputation with both potential customers and loyal patrons. In addition, they can contain phishing links that can harm your website’s users. Likewise, Google can identify spam comments. As a result, the search engine penalizes websites that host spam. This can affect your overall SEO score. 

  • Malware

Malware comes in different shapes and sizes. Likewise, they can inflict damage on a website in various ways. Malware not only puts your online home at risk but also endangers the information surrendered by your users. Therefore, choosing to invest in means to protect your website from malware should be a priority. 

  • DDoS Attacks

In DDoS attacks, hackers use spoof IP addresses to overload a website’s servers with traffic. By spamming your site with traffic, the hacker renders your website offline. This prevents real users from accessing information that they need to make purchase decisions. This type of attack can render a website vulnerable to malware and cause a loss in revenue for the company in question. 

Conclusion

Every 39 seconds, a website gets attacked by hackers. Your business’s website could be next. The steps above can minimize threats and mitigate the effects of a successful attack. 

To truly safeguard the integrity of your company’s website, partnering with professionals like SecureBrain can give you a level of protection like no other. Our tech-based products are specifically designed to provide our clients with a complete view of their website’s status in real-time. In addition, we offer an utterly cloud-based website scanner and vulnerability assessment tool for maximum security at minimal human dependency. Reach out to us today to learn more about what we have to offer.