What are the Top 10 Ways to Protect My Website?

Website security breaches are becoming increasingly intelligent in the ways they approach an attack. Here are the top ten ways to prevent your site from common website security threats:

1. Use a Secure Web Server 

Your website should be hosted on a secure web server that is regularly maintained and up to date. Ensure the server has all of the necessary security patches and updates installed to ensure it's as secure as possible.   

2. Install Web Application Firewall (WAF)

A WAF works by monitoring all incoming traffic to your website and blocking any malicious attempts. It also helps protect against cross-site scripting (XSS) attacks, SQL injection attacks, and other types of malicious activity.   

 3. Regularly Monitor Your Website for Vulnerabilities

New vulnerabilities are discovered every day, and it's essential to keep up with them so you can patch them before attackers can exploit them. Use automated web security tools like QualysGuard or Nessus to scan your website for common vulnerabilities and then patch them immediately if they are found. 

4. Utilize SSL Encryption

SSL encryption helps protect data that is sent between users and your website, such as login information or credit card numbers. Make sure to install an SSL certificate on your website, so visitors know their information is safe when they visit your site.   

5. Change Passwords Regularly

Make sure to change passwords regularly, especially those associated with administrative accounts and databases containing sensitive information. You should also consider using two-factor authentication whenever possible to add an extra layer of security for logins or other sensitive transactions on your site.   

5. Setup File Permissions Properly

Setting proper file permissions ensures that only authorized people have access to specific files or folders on your web server and will help prevent attackers from being able to modify or delete important files on your site without permission.   

 7. Utilize Security Plugins/Software 

Security plugins such as Wordfence can help automatically detect malicious activity on your website, while software like SecuriScan can help detect malware before it gets installed onto your web server in the first place. Utilizing these types of tools will help protect against hackers trying to get into your system through vulnerabilities or weaknesses in third-party software that may be running on it (such as WordPress).   

8. Regularly Back Up Your Website

Many hosting providers offer automatic backups of websites but if you don't have this feature enabled, make sure you manually back up everything at least once a week (or more often if necessary). This way, if something goes wrong, you'll always have a recent backup available that can restore everything quickly and easily without having to start from scratch again.   

 9. Limit Access to Sensitive Data

 If you're storing sensitive customer data such as payment details or personal information, make sure you limit who has access to this data by setting up appropriate user roles and permissions within the system. This will ensure that only those who absolutely need access can view it, reducing the risk of someone else obtaining this private information.   

 10. Monitor Network Traffic & Logs 

Finally, make sure you regularly monitor network traffic coming in and out of your web server, as well as logs generated by the system itself, so you can quickly identify any suspicious activity that may be occurring. This will give you an early warning system so you can immediately take action if anything nefarious happens behind the scenes.   

At Grab The Axe, we are committed to helping individuals and businesses lock their digital doors. If you’re concerned or have experienced website security threats, schedule a cyber security assessment with Grab The Axe, your total security solutions provider. You’ll receive a comprehensive analysis and plan to strengthen your website and cyber security posture.