With 1 in 4 Americans working remotely at least some of the time since the pandemic hit, small businesses are still adjusting their workflows and practices to keep everyone safe. One of the most important changes has been ensuring that their websites are as secure as possible.
If you’ve been struggling with website security issues in your business or just wondering how to keep your data secure, keep reading for our advice.
Why Website Security is Important?
There are many reasons why website security should be a top priority for small businesses, but here are three of the most important:
Protect Your Customers’ Information
If your website handles any sensitive customer information – such as credit card numbers or addresses – it’s vital that you take steps to protect that data. A data breach could not only damage your reputation but could also result in hefty fines from regulatory bodies.
Keep Your Website Up and Running
Downtime can be costly for any business, but it can be especially damaging for small businesses. If your website is hacked or taken down by a denial-of-service attack, you could lose out on valuable sales and opportunities. If you have remote workers, you lose out on their productivity if they need to access your website to complete their work.
Prevent Malware and Phishing Attacks
Malware and phishing attacks are becoming increasingly common. They can have serious consequences for small businesses. As part of your routine website maintenance, it’s important to perform a website security check to find malware and any other types of attacks.
How to Improve Website Security?
A few ways to publish a more secure website include:
Install an SSL Certificate
One of the best things you can do to improve website security is to install an SSL certificate. SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) is a protocol that provides a secure connection between a web server and a web browser.
When you install an SSL certificate on your website, it enables HTTPS, which encrypts all data that is exchanged between your website and its visitors. This makes it much more difficult for hackers to intercept and steal sensitive information.
Use Strong Passwords
Another important step you can take to improve website security is to use strong passwords. A strong password should be at least eight characters long and include a mix of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols. It’s also important to avoid using easily guessed words or phrases like “password” or “123456”.
Keep Your Software Up to Date
One of the easiest ways for hackers to gain access to your website is through outdated software. That’s why it’s important to keep all the software on your website – including your content management system (CMS) and plugins – up to date. Most software updates include security patches that can help protect your website from vulnerabilities.
Engage Website Security Experts
Our website support services help you to implement the latest security measures to keep your website safe. Our team of experts can also monitor your website for threats and take action to prevent attacks.
For more information on how we can improve your website security, request a consultation here.