Modern-day businesses have to worry about attracting users to their websites along with protecting them from cybercrimes.
Even search engines like Google are constantly screaming one thing- if you are willing to expand your business, protect your website’s customer base.
Large organizations are spending $1 million every year to protect their customers and employees. However, from robust security protocols to an in-house team of dedicated professionals, they are well-equipped.
But not all businesses can spend $1 million on their security alone, so we decided to go over eight tips to help small businesses protect their website.
Let’s look at them:
8 Tips to Protect your Users from Cyberattacks
1. Multi-factor login verification
When a user logs in to your website, you must ask him/her for a phone number verification to ensure that he/she is not a hacker.
Moreover, while making a purchase, multi-factor verification should be applied to avoid debit card and bank frauds.
Multi-step verification not only improves security but also builds trust among customers. Secure websites are generally seen as reliable options to purchase from.
2. Protect your website legally.
To protect your website and get it recognized under the eyes of the law, you must trademark it.
Trademarks help your business gets registered under the legal framework, after which nobody can imitate your website.
In case if somebody tries to, you can get his/her website shut down almost immediately. Moreover, the law can enforce hefty penalties on the person trying to fake you.
Moreover, trademarks also help customers recognize your credibility, and they don’t hesitate to share their information with you.
Also, search engines recognize you as a credible business, and your complaints are dealt with all seriousness.
3. CMS
CMS or Content Management System provides a platform to websites to operate on. However, you must be wise about which CMS platform you choose.
Choosing a recognized platform is vital to your success as they have the infrastructure to keep up with today’s advanced security features.
WordPress and Joomla are two of the best options to choose from as they have dedicated experts handling their security all the time.
An effective CMS will keep its security patches updated and take care of all the websites operating.
Recognized CMSs like WordPress and Joomla are extremely effective in eliminating incoming cyberattacks.
4. SSL encryption
These days smart customers won’t shop from a website that does not have an SSL or Secure Socket Layer certificate because a non-SSL encrypted website that operates on HTTP is considered unsafe.
SSL protects website data by Public Key Infrastructure that encrypts data being transferred between two computers.
A hacker cannot see the data being shared between a customer and an SSL encrypted website.
SSL comes in two types:
● Regular SSL can protect a single subdomain but comes with Organization Validation, Domain Validation, Extended Validation.
● Wildcard SSL can protect multiple subdomains to level one but comes with Domain Validation and Organization Validation only.
Plenty of reliable SSL providers such as SSL2BUY provide cheap SSL certificates that effectively protect website and customer data from cybercriminals. So, it is wise to buy them.
5. Never skip updates
CMS platforms like WordPress constantly update their security patches according to the latest technology.
They have a dedicated team that always stays one step ahead of hackers to figure out the upcoming attack they can pose, which is why cybercriminals focus on a website with outdated patches as they are easy to penetrate.
Thus, always keep your security patches up to date to avoid any atrocity.
6. Make your customers enter strong passwords.
The easiest way for a cybercriminal to break into your system is by figuring out your customer’s password.
Since the best you can do is to inform them about their password strength, it is better not to allow them to enter weak passwords in the first place.
Make them log in with a 12 characters password with the mix of symbols, numbers and uppercase letters.
At first, it sounds a bit time consuming but, it is surely worth it when your customer realizes that your website is ensuring safety by making them enter strong and long passwords.
7. Get Insured
You have optimum security protocols in place, your website contains strong passwords, and you monitor the traffic, but you cannot promise that you are an unbreachable fortress.
Hackers are developing new ways to trick websites into thinking that they are legit users, which is why cyber insurance is paramount.
The best part about cybersecurity insurance is that you can avail of it at a budget-friendly price. Moreover, they will ensure that your customer’s loss is duly paid off in case of a data breach.
With insurance on your side, you and your business are under monitory protection.
8. Educate your customers on data sharing
Data sharing can be catastrophic. For example, if your customers casually share their passwords and data with others, they are more likely to get hacked.
Through blogs and emails, you can teach them the importance of data privacy and tell them how to safeguard their data.
In the mix of data sharing, cybercriminals can access them and steal bank, credit/debit card information, and personal ID details.
Many customers, after losing their data because of their incompetence, blame it on website owners.
Thus, the warning will prevent them from taking any legal actions against you.
To Conclude
With cybercrimes mounting every day, websites dig deep to figure out how to protect their customer data and themselves.
As business owners, we cannot predict when an attack will likely happen, but we can surely take due actions and be prepared for it.
The eight tips mentioned above will allow you to do just that. In addition, they will help your website prepare in advance for a cyber blitzkrieg.
Security measures like ensuring SSL encryption, strong password maintenance, cyber insurance, 2-factor login, and regular updates can help a ton in keeping cybercriminals at bay.
So, follow these eight tips and secure your customer information today.
