Risks

You may have a friend or relative offering to create your website for free. If they are an experienced web developer, this can be a great opportunity. However, building in proper website security measures should not be taken lightly. While your site may look fabulous on the front end—with a great user experience, beautiful graphics, photographs, and an elegant shopping cart—what about the back end? A poorly secured backend can leave your website vulnerable to opportunistic hackers.

Understanding Website Security

Website security is relative to the service or product your business provides. There are two main areas to consider: the public area (front end) and the internal area (admin or back end). Your website security is relatively high if:

• You have few or no network resources of financial value
• The company and website are not controversial in any way
• Your network is set up with strict, solid permissions
• Your web server is continually patched and kept up-to-date
• All applications on your web server are patched and updated
• Your website code follows strict standards, with redundant or unsupported software removed
• All passwords are unique, long, and contain no dictionary words in any language
• Passwords do not contain dates or initials, are alphanumerical, and include uppercase, lowercase, and symbols
• All usernames are created using the same method as passwords
• You never access the backend on publicly accessible computers
• You use an SSL certificate to encrypt data transfer such as online forms and emails

The Importance of Website Security

Choose a website designer who places security as a top priority. Even when using a secure platform, backend configuration plays a key role. A poorly configured backend can lead to security breaches. Always work with an expert to ensure your website is as secure as possible.

For all my WordPress and Joomla websites, I use a two-pronged approach: securing against attacks and adding safeguards, including an SSL certificate. SSL not only encrypts the connection between your website and visitors but also improves Google search rankings.

Should You Be Worried About Website Security?

Poorly written software creates vulnerabilities. Websites with important assets or public visibility are especially at risk. Even large companies have experienced data loss due to security weaknesses. All complex programs can have vulnerabilities, and web servers and websites are inherently complex systems.

Website visitors are also at risk. A common attack involves silently installing code that exploits visitors’ browsers. This means the end target is not your site but your visitors. Many website owners are unaware that their sites have been compromised, putting their own users at risk.

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