As hackers grow faster, more numerous, and more effective, many companies are scrambling to protect their websites from cyber threats. The statistics are not related:
• More than 360,000 new malicious files are detected every day
• There were 1,188,728,338 known attacks on computers in 2017
• Business damage from cybercrime is expected to reach $6 trillion by 2021
• Global cybersecurity spending is likely to exceed $1 trillion between 2017 and 2021
These staggering numbers clearly demonstrate why organizations must make website security a top priority. There are several types of cyber attacks and malicious programs. It is crucial that all IT departments understand the following risks: viruses and worms, trojan programs, suspicious packers, malicious tools, adware, malware, ransomware, denial of service, phishing, cross-site scripting (SQL injection), password attack brute force, and session hijacking. When these cyber breach attempts are successful (which is often the case), the following can occur:
• Website defacement – unwanted content placed on your website
• Websites go offline (your site goes down)
• Data is stolen from websites, databases, financial systems, etc.
• Data is encrypted and held for ransom (ransomware attack)
• Server abuse: Relaying webmail spam to serve illegal files
• Server misuse – part of a distributed denial of service attack
• Embezzled servers to mine Bitcoin, etc.
While some attacks present only minor threats, such as a slow website, many attacks have serious repercussions, such as significant theft of sensitive data or indefinite website failure due to ransomware. With that in mind, here are 15 best practices your IT department should take advantage of to protect your organization from malware and hacking.
1. Keep your software up to date.
It is critical that you keep your operating system, general applications, anti-malware, and website security programs up-to-date with the latest patches and definitions. If your website is hosted by a third party, make sure your host is reputable and also keep your software up to date.
2. Protect against cross-site scripting (XSS) attacks.
Hackers can steal users’ login credentials and cookies when they sign up or register by inserting malicious JavaScript into their encoding. Install firewalls and active JavaScript injection protections on your pages.
3. Protect against SQL attacks.
To defend against hackers injecting malicious code into your site, you should always use parameterized queries and avoid standard Transact SQL.
4. Double data validation.
Protect your subscribers by requiring both browser and server-side validation. A double validation process will help block the insertion of malicious scripts through form fields that accept data.
5. Do not allow file uploads on your website.
Some companies require users to upload files or images to their server. This presents significant security risks, as hackers can upload malicious content that will compromise your website. Remove executable permissions for files and find another way for users to share information and images.
6. Maintain a robust firewall.
Use a robust firewall and restrict external access to ports 80 and 443 only.
7. Keep a separate database server.
Keep separate servers for your data and web servers to better protect your digital assets.
8. Implement a Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) protocol.
Always buy an SSL certificate that will maintain a trusted environment. SSL certificates create a foundation of trust by establishing a secure and encrypted connection to your website. This will protect your site from fraudulent servers.
9. Establish a password policy.
Implement rigorous password policies and ensure they are enforced. Educate all users on the importance of strong passwords. In essence, it requires that all passwords meet these standards:
• The length is at least 8 characters
• At least one capital letter, one number, and one special character
• Do not use words that can be found in the dictionary
• The longer the password, the stronger the security of the website.
10. Use website security tools.
Website security tools are essential for internet security. There are many options, both free and paid. In addition to software, there are also software-as-a-service (SaaS) models that offer comprehensive website security tools.
11. Create a hacker response plan.
Sometimes security systems are warned despite the best attempts at protection. If that happens, you’ll need to implement a response plan that includes audit logs, server backups, and contact information for your IT support staff.
12. Set up a back-end activity logging system.
To track the entry point of a malware incident, be sure to track and record relevant data such as login attempts, page updates, coding changes, and plugin updates and installations.
13. Keep a fail-safe backup plan.
Your data should be backed up regularly, depending on how often it is updated. Ideally, daily, weekly, and monthly backups are available. Create a disaster recovery plan appropriate for your type and size of business. Be sure to keep a copy of your backup locally and offsite (there are many good cloud-based solutions out there), which will allow you to quickly recover a tampered version of your data.
14. Train your staff.
It is imperative that everyone is trained on the policies and procedures that your company has developed to keep your website and data safe and prevent cyber attacks. It only takes one employee to click on a malicious file to create the opportunity for a breach. Make sure everyone understands the response plan and has a copy of it that is easily accessible.
15. Make sure your partners and vendors are safe.
Your company may share data and access with many partners and vendors. This is another potential source of non-compliance. Make sure your partners and vendors follow your web security best practices to help protect your website and data. This can be done using your own auditing process, or you can subscribe to software security companies that offer this service.
Even a high-end computer system can be quickly brought down by nefarious malware. Don’t put off implementing previous security strategies. Consider investing in cyber insurance to protect your organization in the event of a serious breach. Protecting your website from hacking and cyber attacks is an important part of keeping your website safe and your business protected.