8 Tips to Increase Security on Web Hosting Servers

The simple ways are most often the best ways to get the job done. Website security is always a concern that hangs over your head and keeps you up at night. Unfortunately, the more you research about all the threats to your website, the more complicated information you’re going to come across along with ridiculously complex solutions as well. However, you can keep your website safe by employing some of the most simple tasks. Here are 8 crucial things that will help protect your website and can be easily done.

1. Public key authentication for SSH

Get rid of access that is encrypted. You should manage servers using https, SFTP and SSH instead of HTTP and FTP. To boost your security SSH keys are the rest to go instead of mere password authentication. Your server will have 2 keys to access it, the public key and a private key that is only known to the user. The server holds on to the public key, which should be compatible with the private key introduced by the user to enable access.

2. Implement strong passwords

You did change your password whenever it’s needed. It is harder to hack passwords that are strong. If you can’t come up with a strong enough password you can use cPanel’s password generator tool. Device different passwords for different accounts so that if one of the passwords gets out all of your accounts are not in jeopardy. You can go to “server configuration” and tweak settings to keep prying eyes away by enabling SSL access to cPanel. To prevent hackers from breaking into your account, you should employ an extremely strong password that includes uppercase and lowercase letters, and numbers.

3. Limit login attempts

Ifa single IP address tries to log in more than 3 times to your website, then you can stop them from accessing your website for a certain duration. Of course, hackers can always use various IP addresses to break in, but this at least slows them down by not making it easy to gain access to your website, which makes it more secure.

4. Secure file transfer protocol

File transfer protocol secure, also known as FTPS, is important to be utilised to send files both ways from a server while preventing the possibility of hackers intercepting the data. It keeps your sensitive data safe by encrypting your files and sensitive information. FTPS implements a data channel and command channel that can be encrypted if the user so pleases. Remember that this encryption is only applicable when the data is moved from one place to another. Once it reaches the server it is not encrypted anymore. Hence, security is increased when you encrypt your data before sending.

5. You should ensure your plugins and software are updated

Outdated software is the cause of innumerable websites being compromised on a daily basis. Several hackers and bots are always on the prowl to attack unsuspecting websites by continuously scanning various sites. Updates are incredibly important to keep your website safe and healthy. In case your website’s apps and software are outdated, it makes your website vulnerable to attacks and exploitation. To ensure web server security, keep your system updated with all the latest software and plugin updates.

Taking care of vulnerability and boosting security is the main purpose of updates. You can set an alert to notify you of any updates that are available for your software and plugins. Certain platforms afford you the option of automatic updates, so you don’t have to worry about forgetting to update your system. The more you procrastinate, the bigger the possibility of an attack on your system. 

6. Install malware scanning Software

The main priority is to ensure that malicious users are locked out of all the data in your server. However, if an attack is successful and they do gain access, you’d want to know about it without any delay. There are several types in the market that are highly effective in scanning for malware and finding rootkits. There are several tools you can use together to spot any Malware installed on your server by a hacker. You can also enjoy a tool that keeps tabs on your files daily so that any changes are immediately brought to notice, especially to the vital files and data.

7. Create regular back ups

Data backups might not come across as such an important security measure, but if an occasion arises where your entire database is words clean, you can easily restore it all and keep your website running without any noticeable downtime. Your server could be broken in regardless of the measures you take, so creating an off-site backup is the ultimate measure to ensure web server security.

Conclusion

Building a website and getting it functional is just the first step in your responsibility as a website owner. Maintaining security of your website is crucial in the time of evolving hacking and malicious attacks. You should ensure that you take measures to keep your users’ data safe. Your website could also include sensitive data like business payment information that you need to protect so that it does not fall in the wrong hands.