Websites have become essential for business but being online-based places them at a higher risk of a cyber attack. A hacked website can lead to financial fraud, data breaches, or downtime which is why taking cybersecurity measures is crucial for website protection.
Check out Sales & Marketing Technologies’ cybersecurity tips for websites so you can better protect your customers, employees, and business operations from hackers.
Hacking Statistics
Having an unprotected website is one of the riskiest things a business can gamble on because data is a valuable commodity. Here are some eye-opening
hacking statistics from DataProt, a cybersecurity online publication.
- More than 1.76 billion corporate records leaked in January 2019 alone.
- Ransomware attacks happen every 14 seconds.
- 43% of cyber attacks are targeted at small businesses.
- The average cost of a corporate data breach in 2020 will exceed $150 million.
- Phishing emails are responsible for about 91 percent of cyber attacks against large corporations.
Although hackers aren’t going anywhere, there are steps you can take to protect your website from a cyberattack.
How to Protect Your Website
A website hack can cause a variety of issues such as financial loss, reputation damage, and regulatory fines. Furthermore, your website may become slower, preventing real customers from accessing all or part of the website. In cybersecurity, this is called a ‘denial of service’ attack (DoS). Not only does a DoS attack affect current customers, but it can also cause prospects to leave your website and go to a competitor.
Here are some ways to protect your website from becoming an easy target for hackers.
1. Stay On Top of Updates
Make sure your
CMS (
content management system) and plugins are always up-to-date. Software updates often deal with security because as hackers find a vulnerability, software developers rush to resolve the threat.
2. Implement Two-Factor Authentication
Two-factor authentication (2FA) strengthens cybersecurity by making it more difficult to gain unauthorized access. You can implement 2FA for your CMS as well as email and social media accounts.
3. Use a Web Application Firewall
A ‘web application firewall’ (WAF) is a protective measure that puts your website behind a virtual wall and inspects traffic going to it so attacks can be blocked. WAF also scans your website for malware or downtime, protecting it from DoS attacks.
4. Install an SSL Certification
‘SSL’ stands for Secure Sockets Layer, a type of digital certificate that enables encrypted communication between a web browser and a web server. An SSL certificate protects information sent and received from unauthorized access.
Having one on your website shows visitors that they can trust your website. Furthermore, it can also help improve your page rankings in search engine results.
5. Have Secure Hosting
If you have an online store or host any kind of private information, secure
web hosting is critical. Not every host offers the same amount of protection so it's important to select your hosting services carefully so your website isn’t more vulnerable to attack.
Conclusion
While you can’t stop hackers from attempting to gain unauthorized access to your website, taking your website’s cybersecurity seriously will make it near impossible for hackers to be successful. Your website is a vital asset for your business which is why Sales & Marketing Technologies offers secure
web development services to ensure your website is protected from cyber attacks.
Call 407.682.2222 or contact us below for a free 30-minute call to discuss your website goals.