How to Stay Secure Online With Web Hosting Security Measures

Cyber threats are becoming increasingly sophisticated due to hackers finding new ways to compromise valuable data, meaning it is crucial for businesses to proactively safeguard their online presence and assets. While there are many factors that contribute to a secure website, web hosting plays a significant role in ensuring the protection of your data and information. In this blog post, we will explain how to stay secure online with web hosting security measures.

Understanding Web Hosting

Before we can discuss how to stay secure on these platforms, let’s first understand what web hosting is. Web hosting is a digital service that enables individuals or organisations to launch their websites or web applications online by storing the website on their server.

A server acts as a mediator, processing requests from the user’s computer and delivering the appropriate responses. Without a server, the user’s computer would not be able to establish a connection with your website and, therefore, would not be able to access its content.

If you are looking for effective and secure web hosting services, contact our experts at Appoly.

Staying Secure with Web Hosting Security Measures

If you are using a web hosting service, it is crucial to take necessary security measures to ensure the safety of your website and its data. Here are some security tips that you should follow to prevent potential security breaches and keep your website protected:

Keep Your Software and Applications Up-to-Date

Outdated software and applications are one of the primary targets for cybercriminals. They often exploit vulnerabilities in outdated versions of software to gain access to a website’s backend. This can result in data breaches, website defacement, or even complete loss of control over the website.

Therefore, it is crucial to regularly update your software and applications to the latest versions. This includes your content management system (CMS), plugins, themes, and any other third-party tools that you use on your website.

Use HTTPS Encryption

Using Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure (HTTPS) encryption is another key element of web hosting security. HTTPS uses Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) or Transport Layer Security (TLS) to encrypt the data transmitted between the website and its visitors’ browsers. This ensures that any sensitive information, such as login credentials or credit card details, are protected from interception by third parties.

Most reputable web hosting service providers offer free SSL certificates, making it easier for website owners to secure their websites with HTTPS.

Implement Strong Password Policies

Weak passwords are one of the easiest ways for cybercriminals to gain access to your website. Therefore, it is essential to implement strong password policies and encourage users to use complex and unique passwords. This can be done by setting minimum length requirements, enforcing the use of special characters, and implementing multi-factor authentication.

Regularly Back Up Your Website

No matter how secure your web hosting service provider’s servers are, there is always a risk of data loss due to unforeseen events such as natural disasters or hardware failures. That’s why it is crucial to regularly back up your website’s files and databases. This ensures that you have a recent copy of your website that can be restored in case of any data loss.

Most web hosting service providers offer automated backup solutions, making it easier for website owners to schedule regular backups.

Enable Firewall Protection

Firewalls are a crucial line of defence against cyber attacks, as they constantly monitor network traffic and block any suspicious activity. Most reputable web hosting service providers offer firewall protection as part of their security measures. However, it is always a good idea to check if your web hosting service provider has this feature enabled and if you can configure it according to your needs.

Use a Web Application Firewall (WAF)

A Web Application Firewall (WAF) is specifically designed to protect websites from common web-based attacks such as SQL injection, cross-site scripting, and cross-site request forgery. It acts as an additional layer of security between your website and the internet, filtering out malicious traffic before it reaches your server.

Monitor Your Website for Suspicious Activity

Regular monitoring is crucial in detecting any suspicious activity on your website. This includes checking for unusual login attempts, changes to files or databases, and unusual spikes in website traffic. Some web hosting service providers offer website monitoring tools as part of their security measures, but it is always a good idea to keep an eye on your website yourself as well.

Contact Appoly for App Development

If you are looking to develop a web or mobile app or have an idea that you’d like to discuss, then get in touch and speak to one of our expert UK-based development team members.

We’re always happy to discuss new projects, whether big or small. You can get in touch via 01926 520 052, email, or using the contact form on our contact page.