Web Hosting Security

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One of the biggest concerns surrounding the internet has always been security. Shopping, banking, communicating, and so much more is done online every day. And with every click and download, danger is lurking. In order to have a safe presence online, you must make security a top priority. When it comes to web hosting, there are 10 tried and true ways to improve your security and create a safer space for yourself, and your clients, online.

Stick with a Reputable Web Hosting Provider

With so many web hosting providers, it can be tough to know which one is the right one for your website. When choosing a web hosting provider, you’ll want to do your homework. Spend time looking over the best options, exploring their features, identifying which servers they support and reading reviews from tech experts and customers. Some offer CDN, SSL certificates, and more, while others simply offer web hosting services with select servers.

Use a CDN

A CDN, or content delivery network, is an important part of web hosting security. So important, in fact, that some web hosting sites include CDNs in their services. CDNs serve as a sort of middle-man storage for internet content, allowing for quicker upload speeds, no matter how far away the person accessing the data is from the original server. CDNs can also help to protect sites from malicious attacks and hacking threats.

Always Use SSL Certificates

SSL certificates are very important when trying to keep sensitive information private. SSL certificates work to encrypt transferred data, only allowing the intended recipient to view the unencrypted information. SSLs can also help protect you from sending information to hackers via imposter servers. They do this by authenticating that the servers are valid, allowing you to breathe easily after putting your information out there.

Always Keep Backups

If you’ve used technology of any kind, you’ve surely felt the panic of losing valuable work that took you countless hours to complete. Be it a word document or a website, opening a project to find that your hard work has disappeared is a gut-wrenching experience. When it comes to web hosting security, having backups will mean that, if a server goes down, a site experiences prolonged technical issues, or your site’s security measures are called into question, having a backup will protect you and get you back to operating online more quickly.

Strengthen Passwords

Are you Still using Password1 as your password? Or do you have the same password for all of your accounts? You aren’t alone, but if you want to be secure online, you’ll need to change your password practices. Just because a site requires a password that has a capital letter and a number doesn’t mean you should stop there. Use a combination of lowercase and capital letters, numbers, and special characters to make up a password that is at least 12 characters long. Also, make sure that your password for each site, especially ones that hold sensitive information, all have unique passwords.

Encrypt Your Own Connection

Encryption involves using secret keys to make basic words from searches, logins, and other communications impossible for outside sources to understand. Encrypted data will look like nonsensical gibberish to outside sources, but for the intended recipients, it will make perfect sense. When you encrypt your connection, you are safeguarding yourself from unwanted or corrupt sources accessing your information.

Though it sounds difficult, encrypting your connection is easy. For text messages, emails, and browsing, there are many different apps that can be downloaded and easily used. For other encryption needs, the use of DNS servers and VPNs are great ways to keep prying eyes from your information.

Keep Things Updated

Everything online changes at lightning speed, so you’ll need to update your information to keep your online presence as up-to-date as possible. If you frequently go through your site and update important information, check security settings, verify file permissions, and double-check any other possible weak spots, you will create a more secure web hosting site.

Make Use of Server Configuration Files

Server configuration files are a great way to ensure the security of your web hosting site. You can customize these files to suit your site’s individual needs. Using config files will allow you to have more control over how your site is run, what users will be able to do, and much more.

Pay attention to File Permissions

File permissions are basically the access and limitations applied to different users when accessing a site. The most common file system permissions are Unix and ACLs, though there are others, they are far less common. When you aren’t aware of your file permissions and who you’re allowing to access important parts of files, your site and information could be in peril. The best thing to do is to lock down permissions to be as conservative as possible from the start. If, as things progress, you need to allow access to certain people or groups, then you can go in and change those when the need arises.

Use Two-Factor Authentication

Perhaps the best way to protect yourself from unauthorized logins, two-factor authentication will require you to authenticate from two different sources, greatly reducing the chance of getting hacked. Upon logging in, two-factor authentication will require the user to confirm that they are the ones trying to access the site. This is usually done over two different devices. For example, if you are attempting to login to a site on your laptop, an alert could be sent to your phone, requiring you to verify that you are trying to gain access. Once you have verified using the second type of authentication, you will be granted access.

Enjoy the Benefits of Web Hosting Security

By creating a secure online space, you will be able to enjoy the online experience without the constant worry of your data being stolen and used maliciously. This will allow you to focus on the success and opportunities web hosting will open up for you.

Sources

https://www.webopedia.com/TERM/C/CDN.html

https://www.sslshopper.com/why-ssl-the-purpose-of-using-ssl-certificates.html

http://linuxcommand.org/lc3_lts0090.php

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