The internet has helped to make our lives more efficient and connected. But it’s also created a new risk: cyber-attacks. In the past few years, there have been some massive data breaches that have affected millions of people — and your website is no exception. Security maintenance is essential for keeping your website safe from hackers. Here are some best practices you can follow to keep your site protected from cyber criminals:
Perform regular backups
When you perform regular backups, you’re able to restore your website to a previous version if something goes wrong. This can be done automatically or manually.
Backups that are performed automatically are more convenient, but they may not happen at the right time and you might lose data if there’s an issue with system resources or connectivity. Manual backups are more reliable because they are done when you want them to be done, they require more effort from you!
Keep operating systems updated
Keeping your operating system updated is one of the best ways to keep your website secure. The same goes for web server software updates and database management systems. You should also make sure that any plugins or extensions on your site are kept up-to-date, as these can be vulnerable to security issues as well.
As an example: In July 2017, a serious vulnerability in WordPress was discovered in versions 4 through 4.7 (including the latest version at the time). This allowed hackers to embed malicious code into comments on posts or pages. If you were running an older version of WordPress that hadn’t been patched yet, your system would have been vulnerable.
Regularly review all plugins
Plugins are a great way to add functionality to your website, but they can also introduce security risks. Before installing any plugin, make sure you review it thoroughly.
Install only plugins from reputable sources and read the reviews of other users. If you’re still concerned about safety issues with a particular plugin, ask an expert for help in making sure your site stays secure.
Secure and update your CMS
A CMS, or content management system, is a software program that helps you create and manage websites. There are many different types of CMSs and they can be used for different purposes. For example, if you want to build a blog or news site then WordPress would be an appropriate choice; if you need an ecommerce platform then Magento might suit your needs better than Shopify (and vice versa).
When updates become available for your chosen CMS, it’s important that they’re installed as soon as possible so that any vulnerabilities in the previous version are fixed and new features are added. The downside here is that these updates may break any customizations made by third-party developers who’ve built plugins specifically for your website – so check with them first before updating!
Security isn’t just about installing updates – there are many other things which should also form part of good web security maintenance practice as well such as keeping track of what permissions each user has been given, checking whether there are any default admin accounts still enabled on newly created sites etc.
Use multi-factor authentication (MFA)
Multi-factor authentication (MFA) is a security feature that requires you to use more than one method to verify your identity. It’s an extra layer of protection, and it’s highly recommended for any online service that stores sensitive data or information.
For example, if you use Gmail as your email provider and need to log in from another device or location–like when traveling–you’ll need MFA enabled so that Google can confirm it’s really you before granting access. MFA accomplishes this by requiring two separate pieces of information: something you know (like a password), plus something new (for example, an SMS code sent via text message).
Scan your website for any security issues
The first step in keeping your website secure is to scan it for any security issues. You can do this manually or automatically, depending on the size and complexity of your site. If you have a small business or personal blog, manual scanning may be a good option because it allows you to be more thorough with each section of code. However, if your website has many pages and features that require frequent updates (such as an ecommerce store), then automatic scanning might be better suited for its needs.
Regardless of how often you choose to perform scans and whether they’re automated or done manually by human eyesight alone–the important thing here is that they happen regularly so that any potential problems can be identified before they cause damage!
Take care of your website security for the best results.
As a website owner, you should be aware of the importance of maintaining your site’s security. This can be done by keeping backups and updating plugins regularly. You should also scan for any vulnerabilities and make sure that you use MFA wherever possible.
Security is a constant battle for websites, but you can win it by following these tips. If you want more information about how we can help with your website security needs, contact us today!
