5 easy and comprehensive steps to help you secure your website.

 

5 easy and comprehensive steps to help you secure your website.

 

Here are five simple yet thorough procedures to help you secure your website, each of which focuses on crucial components to shield it from frequent threats:


1. Use an SSL/TLS certificate to enable HTTPS.

Why: HTTPS protects users' privacy by encrypting the connection between your website and them.


Actions to take:
Get a certificate for SSL/TLS: Use a free solution like Let's Encrypt or buy from a reputable supplier.

On your server, install the certificate: Observe your hosting provider's installation guidelines.

Make HTTPS mandatory: Use an.htaccess rule (if using Apache) or configure your web server to reroute all HTTP traffic to HTTPS.

 

2. Update Plugins and Software

Why: Because outdated software, plugins, and themes may have known vulnerabilities, they are often the focus of assaults.

Actions to take: Update your content management system (such as WordPress or Joomla) and any installed plugins or themes on a regular basis.

If at all possible, enable auto-updates for minor updates.
To lessen potential vulnerabilities, remove any plugins or themes that aren't being used.

Look for any updates: If auto-updates are not available, manually review updates every few weeks.

 

3. Make use of multi-factor authentication (MFA) and create strong passwords.

Why? MFA provides an additional layer of protection by requiring a second form of authentication, as weak passwords are a prevalent weakness.

Actions to take: Make secure passwords by combining capital and lowercase letters, digits, and special characters. Steer clear of employing passwords that are too simple or obvious.

To create and save secure passwords, use a password manager.

Turn on MFA: Use programs like Authy or Google Authenticator to turn on multi-factor authentication (MFA) for all admin accounts.

You can use Wordfence or Two Factor Authentication as WordPress plugins.

 

4.A Web Application Firewall (WAF) to be installed.

Why: By screening and keeping an eye on incoming traffic, a WAF helps stop typical threats like SQL injection, cross-site scripting (XSS), and DDoS attacks.

Actions to take: Selecting a WAF service: Employ a cloud-based solution, such as Sucuri or Cloudflare, to defend your website against attacks.

Set up the WAF: After creating a WAF account, set it up to track and filter traffic. The majority of services will walk you through the setup.

Keep an eye on alerts: Check for records or notifications regarding blocked attacks or questionable activities on a regular basis.

 

5. Regularly Backup Your Website Why:

 

Having regular backups guarantees that you can promptly restore your website without losing important data in the event of a breach, server failure, or other calamity.

Actions to take: Make backups automatically: Create automated backups of your database and website files.

Safely store backups: Utilize cloud storage services like Dropbox, Google Drive, or Amazon S3, and store backups on external drives.
Test backups: To make sure a backup is operational and dependable in an emergency, restore it on a regular basis.

 

An overview of the steps:

Turn on HTTPS: To secure data, use SSL/TLS encryption.

Update Software: Make sure you update themes, plugins, and CMS on a regular basis.

Strong Passwords & MFA: For extra security, use strong passwords and turn on MFA.

Install a WAF: To stop malicious traffic, use a Web Application Firewall.

Frequent Backups: To guarantee that you can recover your website, automate and safely store backups.

You may significantly improve your website's security and defend it against numerous frequent online dangers by adhering to these five easy yet essential procedures.