With so much business done online nowadays, virtually all companies are at risk of cyber crime.
While it’s universally accepted that you should keep your money locked away in a bank or safe, it’s also just as important to ensure your website is secure and protected at all times. Here are a few tips on how to do just that.
1. Complex passwords
It’s become a cliche to use your mother’s maiden name as a password, yet you’d be surprised how many still use such easily decipherable combinations. Doing so allows anyone a decent chance of accessing your account with minimal research and effort, so make sure your website’s password has a mixture of obscure letters and numbers.
2. Keeping your site up-to-date
When you get busy, it’s tempting to leave the website dormant once the software is initially installed. The problem is that websites which haven’t been updated with the latest software are often more vulnerable to attack. Make sure yours is up to date with the latest version.
3. Using a virus scanner
There are countless ways to pick up a computer virus, from opening an email to clicking on a link. You won’t be able to prepare for everything, yet virus software is designed to do just that. Make sure you download it as soon as your website is set up.
4. Use secure FTP
If you’re moving lots of documents onto your website, it’s most likely you’re doing so with a File Transfer Protocol. This allows you to easily move lots of files from one computer to another. Make sure the one you use is secure, otherwise you risk picking up unwanted collateral on the way.
5. Change default settings for installed software
Every time you install software, it will come with standard default settings. Anyone trying to hack into your system will have extensively researched what these settings are, so make sure you change them once the program is installed.
6. Use an SSL to encrypt data
A Secure Sockets Layer refers to an encrypted link between a browser and a web server. It enables your customers to pass data to your system privately. Not only does this ensure that your transactions are carried out safely, but your SSL Certificate will be of great comfort to customers.
7. Be careful where you put any upload scripts
Although all sections of your website should be secure, you still need to double-check where you’re uploading content to before going ahead with the process. There’s no point having a secure system in place only to accidentally put all your accounting figures into the public domain.
