Carolyn J. Braden • 2 Minute Read
What You Need to Know About Securing Your Website
Now that your new website is live and operating, congratulations. Unfortunately, security should never be overlooked, as cyber threats pose risks all too frequently if left unsecured. The internet can be an unpredictable place, requiring your website to have a strong defense system against threats such as cyber attacks. Ensuring its security should not just be seen as a technical necessity, it's an important business move. In this blog, we'll go over some key elements that must be protected so both visitors and you stay safe in cyberspace.
Look for this LOCK symbol when you are about to make a purchase on a website…you want the lock to be there!
Secure Socket Layer (SSL) Certificates
Remember the good old days when padlocks were enough to protect you from intruders? Well, in the digital realm, SSL certificates serve as modern-day padlocks. Lacking one is like opening your store without doors, it doesn't inspire trust from customers or confidence from employees. SSL certificates encrypt data between a browser and server and ensure malicious entities cannot intercept sensitive information such as credit card numbers or personal details being transferred between these parties. It is an absolute must if you value trust on both sides.
A strong password keeps unwanted visitors out
Strong Password Policies
Let's be real about passwords, they still matter. A weak password is like leaving your spare key under the doormat, therefore, developing and implementing strong password policies are essential to safeguarding user accounts and administrative areas. Aim for complex combinations of letters, numbers, and special characters when choosing passwords that offer extra layers of protection, such as two-factor authentication (2FA). Unfortunately, "123456" should no longer be considered acceptable.
Software updates can help maintain your site
Regular Software Updates
Failing to update software regularly can be likened to failing to change the oil in your car, eventually things will break down. Make sure your content management system (CMS), plugins, and themes are regularly updated by developers as they release patches to patch vulnerabilities and enhance security. Otherwise hackers have an open invitation for entry.
Check for that lock again on all sites before making purchases
Secure Payment Processing API
When it comes to financial transactions, security must always come first. A secure payment processing API (Application Programming Interface) ensures that customer payment information is encrypted and safely transmitted. Look for one that meets PCI-DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards) compliance, an industry standard designed to safeguard cardholder data, for enhanced cardholder data protection.
Also look out for features such as tokenization, which replaces sensitive payment details with unique identifiers, and end-to-end encryption, which give your customers peace of mind as well as safeguard your business against potential breaches. By incorporating such an API into your financial transactions, both parties involved will enjoy peace of mind while simultaneously offering peace of mind from potential breaches.
While you are thinking about money, check out our cute tutorial for an origami money plant below or via our YouTube channel @carolynjbraden. It won’t keep your money safer, but it’s a great money gift tutorial that’s here on our website too.
Think about having backup data for your website
Data Backup Plans
Imagine spending months working to develop your website only for it all to disappear without warning due to cyber attacks, hardware failures, or human error. It would certainly be a nightmare! Automated backup solutions work wonders at making life simpler by sparing you the hassle and anxiety associated with manual backup solutions.
Conclusion
With cyber attacks becoming ever more sophisticated, website security shouldn't be left to chance. From installing SSL certificates and setting strong passwords to regular backups and the installation of secure payment processing APIs on websites to employing an army of digital knights defending your site from cyber threats, these measures serve as both fortifications and digital guards that ensure your visitors trust you as they browse your content online. An effective and trusted website will offer peace of mind both for itself and visitors.
If you loved this article, we know you’ll love this one too: How To Make Money Online
Carolyn J. (C.J.) Braden is the owner of Carolyn’s Blooming Creations is a regular contributor and editor for CBC. She has been featured in numerous media publications such as InStyle Magazine, on HGTV, on Bustle.com, and more. She is the author of the books Georgia McMasters in Amethyst Lake Cemetery, How To Be Yourself: 3 Ways To Help You Being You, and the illustrator for the children’s book Bridging Connections. She is a former classroom teacher that now dedicates her life to educating others on how to live their most healthy, creative and happy life. Learn more about her visiting our About Us page.
This is a collaborative post and may contain affiliate links. All opinions and ideas expressed in this post, however, are based on my personal point of view.