Bring on the barbeques, pool parties, and beach days because summer has officially arrived. But before you sneak out of the office for that three day weekend just yet, take a few minutes to make sure your website is in top shape for the season. No site is safe from the danger of online attacks and no summer vacation should be interrupted with a damaged website. Protect your website this summer using our SPF 50 Website Protection.
According to WhiteHat Security’s 2013 Website Security Statistics Report, 86% of websites last year suffered from at least one serious vulnerability. In other words, 65 of the 76 organizations surveyed were victim to one or more of the following: an outside source taking control over at least part of their website, secure data being compromised, or compliance requirements being violated. Don’t let the dangers of the Internet disrupt your summer relaxation; take the first step toward protecting your online presence with our Website SPF.
1. Password Protection – You’ve heard it again and again but they’re no denying the importance of strong passwords. Whether it’s the username and password you use to place files on your web server or the credentials for your social media accounts, every login is an opportunity for someone to gain access to your online presence. Avoid using the same password for multiple profiles and using personal information that others may be able to guess. Microsoft recommends creating passwords that are at least 8 characters long and include a combination of letters, punctuation, and symbols. Test the strength of your passwords using their free online tool.
2. Update – Nearly every website relies on software to provide the features and functionality necessary for a positive user experience. What many do not realize, however, is that outdated software is one of the biggest contributors to malware attacks. Software is continuously being updated by developers to offer improvements and enhance product capabilities. As new versions are released, the old versions begin to become neglected and more vulnerable to attacks. Make sure your website is running the latest version of all software to assure you are armored with the highest level of software security. You can also search known software vulnerabilities using this free tool from The National Vulnerability Database.
3. Backup – If your website does happen to become the target of an online attack, having a current backup of your site is vital to get back up and running. Having a backup assures your ability to restore your site to its correct state and is often easier, safer, and less time consuming for your organization. The sooner you can get your website back to normal, the sooner your brand can continue engaging visitors and helping your business generate leads. All websites should be backed up on a regular basis with the general rule of thumb being that each time an update is made to the site, a corresponding backup should occur. Do not simply rely on your hosting service for this as some online attacks have the power to compromise files and lead to a time-consuming, costly process.
Of course, like any good sunscreen, the key to maximum protection is repetition. It’s important to get into the routine of monitoring your site in order to stay on top of password strength, software updates, and file backups. Use our SPF 50 Website Protection and keep your online presence safe and secure this summer.
