When dealing with website security, you need to attack it on four fronts. A multi-pronged approach gives you the best protection against both bot and human breaches. As IT experts, we recommend a four-step approach to cyber security that includes regular backups, security updates, detection and removal. Here’s a breakdown of how that would look in your business.
Step 1: Back up the website on a regular basis
Do you believe that the worst thing that can happen is that your business website is hacked? In reality, there’s a far worse scenario. That scenario is when your company hasn’t performed regular backups of your website.
You see, without backing up your site on a regular basis, losing your site to a hacker is far worse. Your site won’t be available again until and unless you can troubleshoot the problem and wrangle your site from the grips of the hacker. In the meantime, current and potential clients are trying to visit your site and either getting redirected or getting hacked themselves. That’s bad business even if it’s not your fault.
But when you have a recent backup to restore your site with, your IT team can typically get your site up and running again in a matter of hours, saving your business thousands of dollars in lost revenue and bad reputation.
Step 2. Perform regular security updates
No one is perfect—including the people who wrote your operating system. Security updates fix computer bugs, plug security holes (also known as security vulnerabilities), and improve the functionality and performance of your computer.
Hackers quickly become aware of and target security holes, writing malware that can steal your data or give them control of your computer. Security updates provide patches that protect both your data and your customers who may receive viruses from you without your ever realizing it.
Poorly managed patches—those Installed late or out of order or when the installation process is interrupted—can actually introduce new problems, even disabling the device. It is important to develop a patch management system that includes regular updates and professional help when needed.
Step 3: Detect anomalies and suspicious files
Restoring a backup is a means to recover after you’ve been hacked. It doesn’t address the core issue of hacking. That’s why step three in web security is detection. Detection discovers a problem before it’s had a chance to negatively impact your site. Detection includes scanning, monitoring for unusual or suspicious activity and reviewing files in depth to ensure that nothing is there that shouldn’t be.
The detection process is very involved; threats are often very sneaky, and they hide in ways that are not easily found. That’s just one reason why we highly recommend hiring a professional IT company to take care of this for your business.
Step 4: Remove the signs of infiltration
When you think about removing a hack or a virus that’s infected your website, you may think it’s the most straightforward step. However, it’s not as simple as it sounds. Proper removal requires identifying which files are native; that is, which belong to the website and which do not. This entails a very detailed process that is definitely best left to the experts. One wrong removal and your entire website could go down in flames.
Once a site has been compromised, the removal process must be done even if you’ve successfully restored a backup. Why? Because there might be a Trojan file that opens a back door where your site could be hacked again. The removal process ensures that your site contains only the correct files.
Finally, taking care of your website is a game plan that entails a multi-pronged approach. Strong firewalls and web security help prevent breaches. Regular backups help ensure fast recoveries from a hacked situation. Detection and removal help secure your website against existing and future threats.
Don’t take chances with your business website. Comprehensive website security requires 4-step professional measures that stand up to the sophisticated methods of modern hackers. To learn more about protecting the online presence of your business, contact us today.