As the world fights the wrath of the COVID-19, we realize how a meager virus can destroy generations in an instant. Similar is the case with a data breach! Cybersecurity attacks can destroy enterprises within seconds and leave them with nothing but a thought – “what just happened?”

One doesn’t need to be a cybersecurity expert to understand these attacks’ severity for businesses. Keeping in mind that the most vulnerable entrance towards a successful data breach is through your website. Don’t forget that your website is exposed to the world, including hackers. So, let’s learn how an attack prone web hosting server can lead to an enterprise’s downfall.

Overlooked Importance in a Dangerous World of Innovation

It’s not always the victims who suffer at the hands of infiltrators. Sometimes, even the most powerful becomes helpless. Such was the case with Equifax, the credit report giant. In 2017, they witnessed an attack that destroyed their previous reputation with no trouble whatsoever. The attackers ripped apart the credit information of over 145.5 million Americans in just a few months.

The hackers exposed loopholes on the company’s website and entered through it. In the course of time, they acquired important credit information, which made the company drop from the heights of glory to nothing. So, if you think a robust IT infrastructure may stop an incoming cyberattack, think again!

Elements to Look For

Several other examples like Equifax had to start from scratch just because they lost to a cyberattack. So, before you become comfortable with your network security measures, look at these potential loopholes, which can cause cyber assaults.

Access Management

The absence of a sound Access Management system is a dilemma most organizations face in the current era. A good web host must have a secure and stable access management system. With strong management of admin and customer access to your website, this system can significantly reduce your network problems.

Apart from that, your website’s background access should be locked to only those IP addresses you use. Another prerequisite is to use a Secure Socket Shell (SSH) when you’re trying to log in to your website’s servers. However, don’t forget that these are just the initial steps to limit the hackers’ chances to gain access to your website.

In the case of customer accounts, quality web hosts provide you with a robust account management system. Furthermore, you must also add layers of access to it, such as admin access, shopping accounts, author accounts, among others. Remember to keep those access points as minimal as possible to reduce the chances of a data breach.

Backup and Restore Points

In today’s era, most organizations refuse to believe that backups are essential elements in ensuring security. On the contrary, backups and restore points hold significant value in today’s security measures. If we look at it another way, most hackers take websites offline to ransom essential data back to you.

However, with a clean backup in your arsenal, you wouldn’t have to worry about data theft. Just make sure you learn about the backup policies when you’re looking for a good web host. They should at least perform backup procedures frequently (once a week), with you having access to these backups.

Reviewing Hosting Security

Another crucial element to ensure that your websites are secured is for your hosting providers to take security seriously. From preventing unauthorized access to identifying and removing malware, there is a myriad of factors to consider. Furthermore, service providers must also make these security features easy to use and accessible to everyone.

In light of these features, FTC reviewed 11 hosting companies and evaluated their services comprehensively. Although the results were mixed, they did find that none of the servers offered support for DMARC. In addition to that, organizations often fail to look at the security features which hosting servers provide. Protocols like FTP, SSL certificates, SPF, among others, are essential in strengthening your network’s security system. So, it’s safe to say that an average hosting server could be the weakest link in your network security.

Network Surveillance

Most good web hosting providers have built-in tools like a Content Management System for monitoring traffic passing through your website. Through consistent surveillance, they identify any malicious activities, along with potential intrusions on your website. If they spot anything suspicious, they will alert you on the spot.

However, you cannot rely on network surveillance from your Web host alone. In other words, this protection should always be backed up by a good website builder, which can alert you regarding any security breach. From broken links to unusual levels of traffic on your website, the absence of any of these two elements can be disastrous.

Incompetent Firewalls

Last but not least, you must ensure that a secured firewall protects your website at all costs. Remember, attacks like Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) are quite common for enterprises. A DDoS attack can overwhelm your hosting server, along with making it unreachable as well.

Albeit a major security risk, but incorporating a good firewall can prevent that from ever happening. Firewalls block malicious traffic in its track and also stop systems from DDoS attacks as well. Nonetheless, as Art Whiteman once said, “As we’ve come to realize, the idea that security starts and ends with the purchase of a prepackaged firewall is simply misguided.” So, true security measures began after installing a firewall on the network.

Final Words 

As we conclude our discussion, the most crucial point to remember is that a system is as good as how you create it. Several enterprises incorporated high-end systems on their network but ended up becoming victims. Such is the case for innovation in today’s vast digital landscape.

So, before you begin shopping for web hosting servers, list down the abovementioned features carefully. Also, remember, “learning from other people’s mistakes makes you a genius.” So, research about data breaches that occurred in a previous decade or so. It can help you substantially in your search for the right web hosting server! So, happy hunting!