Did you know that cybercrime cost companies in the US a staggering $6.9 billion in 2021 alone? In fact, most businesses hit by a major cyber attack never get back on their feet. So, if you’re thinking about overlooking cybersecurity in your business, you might want to think again.
That said, most cyber attackers exploit loopholes and vulnerabilities in business websites to do their dirty work. Most of them leverage common website security mistakes to their advantage. Unfortunately, most business owners are oblivious of these mistakes, which works to their detriment.
If this sounds like you worry not; we’re here to help. In today’s blog post, we’ll be highlighting some of the most common website security mistakes business owners make.
1. Using Weak Passwords
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Weak passwords are a major pain point for most business websites.
While you can use flimsy passwords for your personal stuff, they won’t do for business websites. Why? Because business websites contain confidential data, such as customer information, financial records, etc.
If a cyber attacker manages to get their hands on this data, it could be disastrous for your business. As such, you need to make sure that all your website passwords are strong and difficult to guess. A good rule of thumb is to use a mix of letters, numbers, and symbols in your passwords.
What’s more, you should also avoid using the same password for all your website accounts. If a cyber attacker manages to crack one password, they’ll have access to all your other accounts. So, make sure to use different passwords for different accounts.
Additionally, you should also consider using multi-factor authentication (MFA) for your website.
MFA adds an extra layer of security to your website by requiring users to provide additional information, such as a one-time code before they can gain access to the website. This makes it much more difficult for cyber attackers to break into your website, even if they manage to get their hands on your password.
2. Overlooking Software Updates
Another common website security mistake business owners make is overlooking software updates. While it might not seem like a big deal, updating your website’s software is crucial to keeping it secure.
Software updates usually contain security patches that fix known vulnerabilities in the software. Failing to install these updates makes your website vulnerable to cyber attacks. Ensure you update software to keep your website safe from common cyber threats.
3. Failing to Do Frequent Backups
Did you know that 94% of businesses that experience severe data loss never recover? Without frequent backups, your business could become part of the bunch.
Failing to backup your data is incredibly risky for your business website. Remember, if a cyber attacker manages to delete your website data, you won’t be able to recover it without a backup.
With regular backups, you don’t have to worry about losing all your business data. If you do, you can restore all the lost data and get back to business.
4. Using Outdated Encryption Techniques
Encryption is the process of transforming readable data into an unreadable format. This makes it much more difficult for cyber attackers to access your business data, even if they manage to get their hands on it.
However, encryption techniques tend to become outdated over time as new and improved ones are developed. As such, you need to make sure you’re using the latest encryption techniques for your website.
Outdated encryption techniques leave your website vulnerable to attack. So, keep up with the latest trends in website security and encrypt all your business data accordingly.
5. Improperly Managing SSL Certificates
SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) certificates are used to encrypt communications between a website and a user’s web browser. This helps protect your website data from being intercepted by cyber attackers.
However, SSL certificates need to be managed properly to be effective. Failing to do so leaves your website susceptible to cyber-attack.
For example, let’s say you have an SSL certificate for your website that expires in a month. A cyber attacker could exploit this and launch a man-in-the-middle attack on your website.
This type of attack intercepts communications between your website and users’ web browsers and can be used to steal sensitive data, such as
6. Failing to Perform Security Audits
Security audits are important for assessing the security status of your website. They help you identify any potential security vulnerabilities and take steps to fix them before they can be exploited by cyber attackers.
However, many business owners fail to perform regular security audits on their websites. This leaves their website vulnerable to attack as they’re not aware of the potential risks.
Make regular security audits a vital part of your website security strategy. That way, you can identify and fix any potential security vulnerabilities and keep your website safe from common cyber threats.
If you don’t know how to perform one, you can hire cybersecurity services to help you out.
7. Not Screening New Staff Members
Malicious insiders are among the leading causes of data breaches in businesses and organizations. That’s why it’s important to screen all staff members who have access to your website.
Failing to screen your staff members could lead to one of them being compromised by a cyber attacker. Once they have access to your website, they can wreak havoc and steal sensitive data.
To avoid this, be sure to screen all staff members who have access to your website. This includes doing background checks and talking to their previous employers.
Also, have clear policies over which staff members have access to sensitive website data. This helps prevent any malicious insiders from gaining access to sensitive data.
Steer Clear of These Common Website Security Mistakes
Now that you know the common website security mistakes, it’s up to you to take steps to avoid them. Remember to be extra vigilant to keep these common cyber threats at bay. Protecting business data is a continual responsibility, so never let your guard down.
For ultimate website security, you should consider hiring web security experts. They’ll help keep cyber attacks at bay.
Don’t forget to check out the other posts on the site for more informative content.
