If you are running successful small-medium-sized businesses (SMB), you may not always think about website security.
Many SMBs store sensitive data of customers on their websites and are exposed to data leaks and cybersecurity attacks. Regardless of a size of a business, tech leaders know the importance of website security.
If online security is not a priority, a business exposes itself to cyber attacks. Fortunately, there are five simple technologies that business owners or website managers can use to protect their corporate network and prevent an online security breach.
1. Stay up to date with technology
Cloud computing forms a crucial part of SMB technology. However, it is crucial that a business stays up to date with the latest cloud software and online security technology.
Updates to your hosting service, for example, WordPress or Magento, will prevent a cyber-attack and thwart any cyber threats. This is because updates often improve on weak spots and vulnerabilities in the hosting site.
Make sure that any plugins are updated and that the core site version is the latest version.
As your website and business grow, there may be areas of the site that are more vulnerable, such as areas where user input is requested (e.g., registration pages). ETB Tech offers great security solutions.
2. Actively search for malware
Your website will probably notify you if something is wrong. However, the key is to stop a breach of online security even before something happens.
Small businesses depend on online traffic to their sites, and search engines are quick to blacklist a site if any malware is detected.
There are a lot of affordable and easy-to-use tools that business owners can use to scan for malware on their websites.
Some servers have built-in scanning tools, or you can invest in external tools, like Malware Bytes.
Certain malware detection technology offers training courses so that all members of staff can learn how to run regular scans.
Regularly searching for vulnerabilities or malware through an automated system will also increase employee productivity, as it frees time where your employees or IT staff won’t have to spend hours searching for malware and trying to correct any breaches in your cyber security.
3. Use systems to remove threats
As your business grows, you may notice that hackers are sending spam from your website’s domain. If you find any threats, you should also know in-house how to get rid of these threats.
New technology allows website administration to get rid of any threats or malware without disrupting business.
An SMB owner must find a system that works for them and that will keep a secure website while removing threats.
4. Create backup copies
Automatic backups of critical information are vital in case your business undergoes cyber attacks.
By backing up your data, you can rest assured in the case of a security breach that you will be able to restore your website to its original glory once any threats have been removed.
Most servers have automatic backup services that store data and even take snapshots of the website.
5. Automate TLS/SSL Certificates
Your business identity is very important. Visitors to your website must be confident that they are on the correct website and not on a replica or fake site. TLSS/SSL Digital certificates often show up in browsers as a padlock next to the URL and confirm that the website is secure and verified.
Common online negligence
SMB owners have busy schedules, and once they have gotten their website to where they want it to be, they don’t focus on endpoint security. Many owners do not think about online security until it is too late and a security breach occurs.
The reason why the owners of small businesses are lax when it comes to online security is that they are under the impression that their business is too small for hackers to notice.
Sadly, the reality is that any online site or cloud-based data storage system can be used by hackers. Hackers are able to use tools to scan for websites with vulnerabilities and exploit them.
The most common cyber attacks are data breaches, successful unverified login attempts, and injection of malware. The consequences of these on a website can be severe.
It can lead to a loss of income, lower search engine rankings (or complete blacklisting), loss of customers due to spam, and the inability of remote workers to conduct their work. Businesses also risk losing intellectual property.
Despite these risks, it is estimated that only 30% of SMBs are concerned about online security threats. In reality, it is not a matter of “if” an SMB site will be hacked, but rather “when.”
Final Thoughts
Online threats are increasing as more businesses move toward the internet. SMB leaders need to be able to prepare for them by upping their online security, as this will prevent damage to the business’s reputation and revenue.
While there may always be hackers out there who try to exploit vulnerabilities in SMB websites, there is luckily a multitude of tools that can be used to increase security and prevent or detect cyber attacks.
