Investing time in website security may not seem like a high priority, especially if you're not collecting payment information, but if you're site is not secure you could risk hackers, viruses or malware. If your site is compromised, you risk exposing your users to these maladies, a crashed site or even income loss. Here are a few tips to ensure that your site is safe:
Always update your site software - any add-ons or content management systems must be kept up-to-date to prevent bugs and vulnerabilities
Use anti-malware software - much like your home computer, your site should always have a trusted anti-malware program installed that has a high detection rate
Back-up your site - in case anything goes awry, it's always a good idea to regularly back-up data, especially if you collect any login or personal data
Use an SSL Certificate - SSL encrypts any data that is transmitted to and from your website. Depending on your needs, these certificate costs can range from free to $200 per year; a relatively low cost for the benefit
Use complex passwords - a password generator is highly recommended for websites; using your birthday is not a great idea, but a complex combination of letters, numbers and symbols definitely is!
Need some help securing your site? We can do that! To speak to one of our web design experts, come see us in-store at 1257 Marine Drive in North Vancouver or give us a call at 604-986-7680.
keywords: do i need a secure website?, how do i make my website secure?, what is an ssl certificate?, do i need to back-up my website?, how to prevent website hackers