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With cyber threats on the rise, protecting your online presence is important and can be achieved through secure website hosting.

It is becoming increasingly significant for website owners to understand the vital need of implementing strong security measures as not only the frequency, but the sophistication behind cyberattacks has increased. Maintaining the integrity of online networks and protecting sensitive data have become top priorities.

In this guide, we look at six key facts about safeguarding your web hosting and why it is crucial to do so.

What is Secure Website Hosting?

For both website owners and managers, understanding secure website hosting is important as the world becomes more digital. Over the years, secure hosting has evolved from a basic service to a full solution aimed at protecting sensitive data. Secure web hosting also involves maintenance of the security of online platforms – driven by advancing cyber threats which have become more complex and common. 

Secure website hosting services include a wide range of precautions, such as proactive monitoring and maintenance schedules, multi-layered security frameworks, strong encryption techniques, and reinforced server settings.

To ensure that websites are more resilient against breaches and cyberattacks, hosting providers invest in state-of-the-art technologies and experts. Secure hosting services also go beyond protection only; by offering a dependable and safe online environment, it promotes user trust.

Strip Banner Text - Choose A Hosting Provider That Has Invested In State-Of-The-Art Technologies, Like Hosted.com

Six Facts To Consider Around Secure Website Hosting

As a vital first step of protection against cyberattacks, website hosting providers offer an extensive array of security features aimed at strengthening websites and their servers against malicious threats.

These solutions are intended to mitigate risks, while guaranteeing confidentiality, integrity and availability of resources. They range from advanced encryption algorithms and secure data storage to proactive management of vulnerabilities and threat monitoring in real-time.

Investing in more secure web hosting is not only a smart move, but it is also a vital step in protecting the reputation and digital infrastructure of companies and organizations. These are six of the most important factors to consider:

1. SSL Encryption and HTTPS Protocol

HTTPS protocol and Secure Socket Layer or SSL encryption are two of the cornerstones when it comes to safe website browsing.

SSL Certificates are responsible for encryption, and safeguard sensitive data from being intercepted by malicious parties while being transferred between a website and its users. They also encrypt payment information, login passwords, and personal data. By installing SSL Certificates to your website, you can lower the risk of data breaches and illegal access.

Meanwhile, adopting an HTTPS protocol is also crucial for securing communication between web servers and visitors’ browsers – providing an additional layer of security and authenticity.  Websites that make use of HTTPS protect sensitive information while instilling trust among visitors, indicating the page or site they are visiting is secure and reputable. 

To enable SSL encryption and HTTPS protocol for your website, follow these steps:

  1. Obtain an SSL Certificate from a trusted provider.
  2. Install the Certificate on your server.
  3. Configure your server to use HTTPS.
  4. Update website links to HTTPS.
  5. Test and verify SSL setup.

In some cases, these SSL Certificates are offered free by trusted web hosting providers, like Hosted.com.

Strip Banner Text - Hosted.com Offers A Free SSL Certificate With Our Hosting Plans

2. Data Backup and Recovery Solutions

Amid looming cyber threats, it is also important to have reliable data backup and recovery solutions in place. These solutions should be implemented in the event of security breaches, system failures, or data loss to ensure the continuity of your website operations.

Comprehensive backup services are provided by some secure website hosting companies by default – and create site duplicates, while storing website files, databases, configurations, and data in safe offsite locations.

Thanks to recovery options such as these, downtime of your website is minimized and data loss is prevented, as these backups allow website owners to quickly restore their sites to a previous condition.

To implement data backup and recovery solutions for your website, consider the following steps:

  1. Identify critical data that needs to be backed up regularly.
  2. Decide whether to use local backups, cloud backups, or a combination of both.
  3. Choose backup software or services that fit your needs and budget.
  4. Establish regular backup schedules to ensure timely and consistent data protection.
  5. Regularly test your backup systems to verify that they are working correctly and that you can restore data when needed.
  6. Develop documented procedures for data recovery in case of emergencies, including steps for restoring data from backups.

WordPress Hosting plans with Hosted.com feature Daily Backups by Acronis, that enable you to restore your data instantly if needed.  This makes for a robust and reliable solution for safeguarding critical data.

3. Server-Level Security Measures

Secure website hosting services implement robust security measures at a server level to ensure risks against cyber threats are mitigated. It is important to understand the features of your selected offers by your hosting provider, as they cover a range of benefits for the security of your website. Some of these security measures and their functions include:

  • Firewall Protection – By filtering out potentially malicious activity and unauthorized access attempts, firewalls monitor and manage incoming and outgoing network traffic.
  • Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS) – IDS programs monitor network traffic patterns to identify unusual indications of an intrusion, enabling quick reaction time.
  • Malware Scanning and Removal – To avoid compromise, automated malware scanning solutions constantly search server environments for indications of dangerous software and eliminate any risks that are found.
  • Regular Security Audits – To identify and rectify any potential flaws in server setups, software, and infrastructure, hosting companies frequently conduct security audits and vulnerability assessments.

4. Regular Software Updates and Patch Management

Maintaining a secure hosting environment requires updating server software regularly, including operating systems, web server software, and applications. Recurring upgrades and patch management are a top priority of secure website hosting companies to effectively address security issues and vulnerabilities.

Hosting companies can block entry points for cyberattacks and actively defend against new security threats by installing security fixes and upgrades.

Automated patch management systems streamline the process of deploying updates across server environments, while ensuring that all software components are consistently updated and hardened against known security vulnerabilities. By applying security patches and updates in a timely manner, web hosting providers can close potential entry points for cyber threats and protect against emerging security risks.

As an example, Hosted.com’s WordPress Hosting features Patchman functionality that automatically applies patches to outdated plugins, safeguarding your website against known vulnerabilities.

Strip Banner Text - Hosting Providers Can Identify And Address Security Threats Through 24/7 Monitoring

5. 24/7 Monitoring and Incident Response

Another key aspect of secure website hosting is the implementation of monitoring and incident response systems to quickly identify, assess, and address security flaws. To continuously monitor server settings for indications of suspicious activity, and potential security breaches – secure hosting providers make use of advanced monitoring technologies and security analytics systems.

By providing 24/7 consistent monitoring and incident response capabilities – hosting providers can effectively identify and address security threats before they escalate into significant breaches, ensuring the ongoing protection of hosted websites and data.

With Hosted.com customers can have peace of mind as our monitoring services, running on our servers and networks, notify us of any anomalies that may occur. Additionally, automations processes are put in place to mitigate most of these risks. However, even if these are not recognized, all anomalies are pushed as notifications to our system administrators for further investigation.

6. Compliance and Regulatory Requirements

When it comes to websites that contain sensitive data or operate in regulated industries – adhering to industry-specific standards is significant to manage confidential information or function in regulated sectors like healthcare, banking, or e-commerce.

Many hosting solutions offer compliance to industry standards like GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation), PCI DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard), HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act), and others.

Service providers also place strict security measures, policies, and procedures in place to make sure that they comply with legal requirements and shield confidential information from misuse, disclosure, or unauthorized access.

Furthermore, website owners can be assisted by hosting providers in demonstrating their adherence to industry best practices and regulatory standards by using certification services and compliance assistance.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

  • Secure website hosting services encompass a range of security measures, including SSL encryption, HTTPS protocol adoption, data backup and recovery solutions, server-level security measures, and regular software updates.
  • SSL encryption and HTTPS protocol are significant to secure website communication, protecting sensitive data, and instilling trust among visitors.
  • Data backup and recovery solutions are essential for minimizing downtime and preventing data loss in the event of security breaches or system failures.
  • Server-level security measures, such as firewalls, intrusion detection systems, malware scanning, and regular security audits, help mitigate risks and defend against cyber threats.
  • Regular software updates and patch management ensure that server software remains up-to-date and hardened against known vulnerabilities, reducing the risk of exploitation by cyber attackers.
  • 24/7 monitoring and incident response capabilities enable hosting providers to quickly identify and address security threats, ensuring the ongoing protection of hosted websites and data.

FAQs

Why is Secure Website Hosting Important?

Without adequate security measures in place, websites are vulnerable to data breaches, malware infections, and other cyber-attacks, which can lead to financial losses, reputational damage, and legal liabilities.

Why is it important to protect the Web server a website is hosted on?

To protect sensitive information from prospective hackers, it is essential to ensure the security of the web server hosting your website. Hackers may use security holes in unprotected systems to gain access to financial information, client lists, and personally identifiable information (PII) kept on the server. You can successfully safeguard consumer information and uphold the integrity of your website’s security protocols by using a secure server.

What is SSL Encryption and HTTPS Protocol, and why are they important for secure website hosting?

SSL encryption encrypts data exchanged between a website and its users, while HTTPS protocol ensures secure communication between web servers and visitors’ browsers, providing an additional layer of security and authenticity.

How do Data Backup and Recovery Solutions work?

Data backup and recovery solutions create duplicates of website files, databases, configurations, and data in safe offsite locations. In the event of security breaches, system failures, or data loss, these backups allow website owners to quickly restore their sites to a previous condition.

What is Server-Level Security Measures, and why are they important?

Server-level security measures include firewalls, intrusion detection systems, malware scanning, regular security audits, and other measures designed to mitigate risks and defend against cyber threats at the server level. These measures are important for protecting websites and their data from unauthorized access, malware infections, and other security threats.

How often should Software Updates be performed to ensure security?

Software updates should be performed regularly to ensure that server software remains up-to-date and hardened against known vulnerabilities. Hosting providers typically automate this process to deploy updates across server environments and address security issues promptly.

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