Keep Your Website Safe From a Cyber Attack

Your website is one of the most valuable online properties your business has — the last thing you need is to spend a lot of time and expense in the aftermath of a cyber attack.
Have you taken the right steps to safeguard your business online from cyber attack lately?
Knowledge is power! You can greatly improve your security and even prevent an attack from happening with the right tools and steps in place.
Installing a security plugin for WordPress alone is not enough to prevent a security incident that has the potential to harm your business visibility, reputation and sales. You need to have the right hosting company in place along with connections to a solid developer who can help you troubleshoot any potential issues.
If it’s been a while since you’ve taken a look at your website then it’s time to find what’s a potential threat and what’s not in order to avoid becoming the next cyber crime victim.
It only takes a few holes in the cracks to get inside your server and compromise your data. This means you need to be one step ahead of online criminals before they have a chance to gain access.
There are several ways you can protect your website and safeguard your brand.

Check with your current host provider

A security breach can come as a big surprise for site owners. That is why it is important to have a long history of logs included with your hosting package. While some may only keep these for shorter periods of time others may have a more detailed history of the activity going on with your website. Ask your current provider how they capture and track your logs. And whether this is affected by the type of business you have or the region that you live in. This is especially critical to check into if you are running on a shared hosting package. Make sure you can retain and track your logs!

Perform regular backups

Do not assume that your website is being automatically backed up by your hosting company. Invest in solid website backup tools such as BackupBuddy or BackWPUp in order to save your valuable content, images, and installations. It’s important to do these at least once a month. As plugins and themes are constantly being upgraded along with database information. Follow the basic rule of saving your data both online and offline on a separate disk. So that you’re completely covered.

Install updates as they come in

As you log into your WordPress dashboard each time it’s a good practice to first take a look at any theme or plugin updates and to keep those up to date. Many of these have enhanced security functionality that helps protect your website from malware and viruses. If you are finding a particular plugin is outdated and causing issues then it may be time to replace it in order to close any security loopholes.

Have a security plan available

Whether your are a solo business owner or work with a team you need to have an action plan ready and available in the case of any security breaches. It’s easy to get into a panic when something like this takes place. Having the right steps to take in front of you will provide clarity and minimize mistakes. This could be printed or provided as a .pdf document with logins, illustrations, and a how-to guide on procedure. Include any important contacts such as the website developer and those in charge of handling online security issues.

Track daily activity

Checking your website at least once a day is important when protecting your business brand online. Save both time and money by working with a company that provides both website monitoring and development services. Along with a thorough knowledge of database protection.
Remember that regularly checking under the hood is ultimately your business’s responsibility. And needs to be done by a trusted IT professional.  If there is anything that is outdated or has too many spam messages and comments coming in, you’re most likely open to the next cyber attack.

What to do if you found criminal activity during an audit

If you find something has been compromised you should contact your web developer.  And contact the host provider immediately to assess the situation.  Avoid taking matters into your hands and rely on expert advice to navigate the problem.
Are you looking to update your current website or create a fresh one with the latest security and technology?
I can help you today — just send me a quick email by clicking here: Contact Susan