Information security is on the forefront of everyone’s mind these days. As technology becomes more sophisticated, so do hackers and other ne’er-do-wells who want nothing more than to steal people’s personal data to use for nefarious purposes. To keep your data safe, you must implement develop and implement a security program that stops intruders in their tracks.
The first step is to invest in secure hosting services. While shared hosting is cheaper and easier to manage, the risk of unwanted intrusions is higher on a shared server. You are sharing space with 50 other people who may not be as concerned with security as you are. One hacked account can lead to a system-wide breach that leaves your account exposed.
If you have an ecommerce site, it’s best to invest in a dedicated server or VPS hosting. With a dedicated server, you are the only account on the machine. This minimizes the risk of unwanted intrusions. VPS (virtual private servers) are shared servers that contain only a few accounts (4 to 6) separated by an impenetrable firewall that prevents the accounts from affecting each other in any way. A compromised account on this type of server will have no affect on your site.
After investing in secure hosting services, the next step is to ensure the software you use to run your website is up to date. Many hackers gain access to websites because of known vulnerabilities in outdated software. Always update to the latest version of any program you use. Additionally, minimize access to the back end of your site. For example, if you have a WordPress blog and you’re the only one updating it, you can IP lock the admin interface to prevent unauthorized access.
Last, but not least, always use secure passwords on your sites. Passwords should be longer than 11 characters and a mix of lower and uppercase letters, numbers, and symbols. Do not use the same password on multiple sites. This minimizes the risk of having all of your accounts hacked if one site is breached. Keep passwords in a secure place that’s only accessible by you.