As an internet user, you may have encountered terms such as “data security” and “data breach.” Understanding these concepts is especially important if you run an online business and want to grow it safely. Online attacks continue to evolve, so information-security systems must evolve as well. Although protection technologies are improving, the amount of available information can make it difficult to understand which risks matter most. Small and medium-sized businesses are frequently targeted by automated and opportunistic attacks, yet security is still often ignored until a serious incident occurs. The resulting damage can consume both time and financial resources and, in severe cases, can threaten the survival of a business.
Data security
As a web-hosting provider, SERVER1 understands its role in helping customers protect their websites. Hosting security typically combines multiple technologies and practices, such as malware scanning, vulnerability detection, Web Application Firewall rules, account isolation, monitoring and automated response. In addition to server-side protection, there are several fundamental steps that every website owner should take to improve data security.
What is data security?
Data security includes the standards, technologies and processes organizations use to collect, store, create, receive, process and transfer sensitive information safely. It includes methods designed to protect digital data against corruption, cyberattacks, data breaches and unauthorized access.
Every business holds some information that should be protected. This applies to large financial organizations processing personal and financial records as well as small businesses storing customer contact details. When you collect or process personal information, you also take on responsibilities regarding how that information is secured and used.
Encrypt data
Encryption protects information by transforming it into a form that cannot be understood without the appropriate key or decryption process. Properly encrypted data is unreadable to unauthorized users, which reduces the impact of interception or storage compromise.
Use HTTPS protected by SSL/TLS
SSL/TLS is the cryptographic technology used to protect data sent across computer networks, for example between a browser and a server. Configuring your website to use secure HTTPS is one of the fundamental requirements of modern web security. We have already published several blog articles about SSL certificates where you can learn more about the different types.
Because security is one of our main priorities, we support secure hosting configurations and certificate-based HTTPS for websites and services.
Enable two-factor authentication
Two-factor authentication (2FA) is an authentication method that requires an additional verification factor before access is granted to a website, application or account. You may already use 2FA with banks, email services or social-media applications.
In many cases, 2FA uses a one-time code or approval sent to another device or generated by an authenticator application. Its purpose is to protect the account even if the password is exposed. An attacker would still need the additional factor, which significantly reduces the risk of a simple password compromise.
Some users avoid 2FA because it adds an extra step to login, but if security is important to your online business, enabling it for administrative and sensitive accounts is strongly recommended.
Password practices
Pay attention to password strength and never use the same password across all services. Use unique passwords for important systems and store them in a reputable password manager rather than relying on repeated or easily guessed credentials. Reusing weak passwords can turn a compromise on one service into a compromise across many accounts.
Secure passwords
Treat passwords and authentication secrets as sensitive information and make sure employees understand their importance.
Passwords should be changed when there is evidence of compromise or when organizational policy requires it. More importantly, use unique strong passwords, multi-factor authentication and secure credential storage.
The internet contains automated bots, fraudsters and attackers who continuously look for vulnerable systems. No organization can guarantee absolute protection, but every business should continuously improve its information-security standards. The measures described here are only a fundamental introduction; there are many additional ways to strengthen application, account and infrastructure security.