There are billions of websites today as companies, small and large, seek online presence. However, this surge in website design and development is confronted by a rise in cyber attacks, prompting a need for cybersecurity.
The sophistication of the internet can be rewarding; however, it can also be weaponized by hackers for illegal benefits. Your website has to be security-conscious to stay ahead of cyber threats. If you’re unsure how to go about this, this article will show how.
Cyber Threats And Cybersecurity
Cyber threats are malicious attacks on a website or any digital infrastructure that seek to damage, steal, and disrupt data and digital life. Threats can include computer viruses, data breaches, and Denial of Service (DoS). They can originate from hackers, including hacktivists, terrorist groups, criminal organizations, spies, and hostile nations.
Online threats have been prevalent in recent times, making it difficult to classify the several cyberattacks on websites. However, high-profile attacks have led to an emphasis on cybersecurity. It is also known as computer security, simply the protection of digital infrastructure against these cyberattacks.
As there’s a rise in cyber threats, efforts on cybersecurity are also intensifying. Regardless, website owners need to operate their websites with security in mind or find the right services like Toronto IT consulting services to support their entire infrastructure. It also would be helpful if they’re familiar with some of the most common cyberattacks on websites:
- Malware: Software that performs a malicious attack to harm or exploit data contained in any device, service, or network. Malware cracks the weak passwords infringes the privacy of a system and spreads through the networks.
- Phishing: A type of impersonation attack by hackers who pretends to be someone else or something else via email, text, or advertisements to gain illegal access to any digital infrastructure. By nature, phishing can be spear, whaling, or vishing.
- Trojans: Familiar with the Greek Trojan horse? This cyber threat works the same way as a Trojan; it’s like an unwanted gift. It’s a type of malware that looks perfect at the surface level but lets out its malicious intent once inside a system.
- Ransomware: This form of malware encrypts data into a website and requests payment before decrypting. If a website is encrypted, only the hacker inside has the code while the website owner stays locked outside. The hacker requests payment to provide the owner access.
Website Design And Security
The modern design of any website should embrace the practices and methods of cybersecurity to avoid cyber threats. Today, there are several ways website owners can design with security in mind. If they’re hiring seasoned web developers, no doubt the developer would know some of these methods listed below:
1. Choose A Secure Host
Before you begin website design, you have several hosting options to consider. While most hosting providers claim to offer secure hosts, you need to confirm this yourself. How can you do this? Check if hosting features come with a web application firewall (WAF) and protection against Denial of Service (DoS).
2. Include Secure Socket Layers
While this depends on the type of website you’re building and its purpose, it should generally include secure socket layers (SSL) certificates. This consideration is essential if you’re building a website for e-commerce. No online shoppers will trust an e-commerce website without SSL certificates. The reason is that without the certificate, your website finds it difficult to encrypt the connection for online transactions.
3. Select The Right CMS
If you’re not hiring a web developer, then you’re building the website yourself. Before testing your web design skills, ensure you’ve selected the right content management system (CMS). The right one will manage your web content, advance your security, and oversee the frontend and backend activities of your website.
4. Manage Add-ons And Plug-ins
Add-ons and plug-ins are some of the most attractive elements of design trends for your website. Why? They enhance web operations and improve speed and accuracy. Add-ons and plug-ins do most of the work you’d instead code on your website. That way, they save time and effort.
But here’s the catch: don’t overburden your website with add-ons and plug-ins, and don’t oversimplify. When overused, they slow down the responsiveness of your website and can reduce the likelihood of identifying cyber threats. So, always review the details and history of any add-on or plug-in before using it.
5. Review Access Levels
You can’t be the only one with a pass to your website, even if you’re a geek. Sometimes, you’d need someone to get one or two tasks done on your website. So, you have to ensure your website design reviews the access levels. While some areas can be granted public view, access to vital areas should be restricted to you. Do this by creating different logins for workers (if any), guests, admins, and yourself.
6. Use Strong Passwords
Passwords are keys to the doors of your website. If these keys are general to everyone, accessibility is public. If the keys are unique and exclusive, only the genius ones get to navigate the doors. In short, while passwords cannot entirely protect you against cyberattacks, you should, at least, make your website difficult to access.
Although passwords can be hell, especially if they’re combinations of letters, symbols, some tools can help you create and remember passwords. A technological world offers several options, remember. It’s your choice to leverage tools for website security.
7. Create Automatic Backups
If your web design does not consider automatic backups, then you’re no believer in risk management. The ability to build websites, design them, and still leave room for risks is what makes a great web design. Servers can fail, but your backup can help. They work as firefighters during a fire accident, which in this case are cyberattacks.
8. Perform Regular Assessment
When it comes to security, you cannot be too sure that everything is in place. You need to regularly review and assess your website if there are any glitches. It’s like wearing a bullet-proof on an already security-conscious website. Nothing beats the thrills and satisfaction that come with you serving as a regular patrol for your website.
Final Thoughts
Don’t ignore the need to build a website with security in mind. Whether you operate a small or large business, website security is essential to avoid costly cyber threats and attacks. You can take basic severity steps and perform a regular review and assessment of security measures taken regarding your website.
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