During the first half of 2020, 36 billion sensitive data were exposed due to data breaches.
Such online attacks can damage your business’ reputation. Plus, you can lose your customer’s trust, which can hurt your sales.
This explains why online security is crucial now more than ever. And one way to secure your website is finding the right web host.
Role of Web Host Services in Online Security
As mentioned earlier, it is evident that you should take your website’s security seriously. And this is where your web host can help.
Download Branding Resources Guide
Building a brand starts by having the right tools and advice. Download our top 10 essential tools and resources to kick-start your branding.
A decent web host provider will have regular backups, ensure firewall protection, and other methods to protect the servers. Add to that the security plugins and SSL certifications you install to protect the online data you collect from your website visitors.
That said, here are six features you should look for when choosing a website host provider:
1. Operating System
Most web hosts offer Linux and Windows-based hosting. Each has its pros and cons, but whatever you choose will depend on your website’s technical needs.
But to give you an idea, Linux-based web hosts receive fewer cyber attacks as it is less commercialized. On the other hand, Windows-based web hosts provide limited access protocols to prevent unauthorized access.
2. Manual Reboots
Manual reboots work the same as rebooting a desktop computer. Only your web host is rebooting the servers.
This feature is ideal if you are running on a Virtual Private Server (VPS). It also works best with regular website data backups.
Nonetheless, being able to reboot your website manually allows you to get through a website issue.
3. DDoS Prevention
DDoS stands for Distributed Denial of Service. And a DDoS attack is an attempt to overwhelm your server with an influx of traffic.
What happens is that your server crashes, preventing you from driving traffic to your website.
No website traffic can impact your conversions and sales for the day. It can also hurt your search engine ranking, as it will render your site not usable.
A promising sign that a web host takes DDoS mitigation seriously is if they work with a Content Distribution Network (CDN). CDN enables you to load up your website fast and can absorb DDoS attacks.
4. Malware Scanning
The key to a safe browsing experience is keeping your files safe. No wonder web hosts these days provide automated antivirus and malware scanning.
But more than the scanning procedure, it would be ideal if you can access the malware. Another helpful feature is a support team that can help you take action if your website is infected.
5. Server Security Layer
In case you are wondering what the lock icon in your browser’s address bar means, think of it as added protection.
Whether you own an e-commerce website or not, your website must have an SSL certificate.
For one, it gives you a chance to rank well on search engines. That because search engines like Google prefer secured websites.
Second, SSL uses encryption to protect online data. That way, no cybercriminals can tamper on your customers’ banking details.
Some web hosts provide SSL for free, some add it to your web hosting cost, and some encourage you to acquire an SSL certificate from a third-party. Regardless, WPHost.nz recommends that you ensure the type of SSL certificates you can use and whether secure FTP (SFTP) is supported.
6. Regular Backups
Here’s the thing: A web host stores your files in a remote location. These “files” include the images and content you upload on your website.
As such, your web host must conduct regular backup. That way, you can retrieve your files when needed.
Another thing to keep in mind that not all backup systems are the same. Hence, you should check whether a web host provides the following:
- Automated backup
- Number of backup instances stored
- Retrieval process
- Data backup location
- Additional cost
Keep in mind that your website files are essential. Hence, the backup system that your web host can provide is vital.
While there are plenty of things you should pay attention to when running a website, you can do something to secure it. The secret is learning whatever security features your web host can offer. There is no one perfect hosting provider. Hence, we recommend that you maximize whatever safety features you can get.
