Website Security: Tips & Best Practices for Securing Websites

No matter the size, every business relies on its website to connect with customers, share information, and build trust. However, with the increasing number of cyberattacks each year, businesses must prioritize website security.

Every day, an estimated 30,000 websites are hacked worldwide, with 43% of these attacks targeting small businesses that have little to no website security in place.

• 72% of vulnerabilities are due to flaws in web application coding.
• 53% of users haven’t changed their passwords in the last 12 months.
• Cloudflare observed a 20% increase in DDoS attacks year over year.
• WordPress, powering over 43.5% of all websites on the internet, is the most vulnerable CMS, with 98% of its security issues stemming from plugins.

These alarming statistics show the importance for proactive website security measures. By addressing vulnerabilities and implementing best practices, businesses can protect their online presence and maintain trust with their users.

What is website security?

Website security refers to practices designed to protect your website against unauthorized access, misuse, or attacks. It ensures the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of your data, resources, and the experience you provide to users. 

A secure website is more than just a technical setup — it's a commitment to protecting both your business and your visitors. It involves implementing various security measures, staying updated with the latest threats and vulnerabilities, and actively monitoring for any suspicious activity.

Why is website security important?

The internet has made it easier for businesses to reach customers, but it has also opened up vulnerabilities that bad actors can exploit. A compromised website can lead to various negative consequences such as:

• Loss of sensitive data
• Damage to your reputation
• Loss of trust from customers
• Downtime and disruption of services

These consequences result in lost revenue and missed potential business opportunities. Prioritizing your website security helps by:

• Preventing data breaches that could harm your customers and your business
• Protecting your website's reputation, ensuring users feel safe accessing your site
• Minimizing financial losses caused by downtime, ransomware, or legal consequences from compromised data

Real-world case studies

Learning from others’ experiences can highlight the importance of website security. In 2017, Equifax experienced a massive data breach caused by an unpatched vulnerability, leading to settlement costs of $1.38 billion. Similarly, in 2020, Estée Lauder exposed an unprotected database, compromising over 440 million customer records, including email and IP addresses.

That same year, Twitter faced a major security breach when hackers took control of more than 130 high-profile accounts, including those of Barack Obama, Joe Biden, and Elon Musk, to carry out a cryptocurrency scam. In 2021, a SQL injection vulnerability in WooCommerce put 5 million websites at risk of data theft, underscoring the ongoing need for robust security measures.

Common website security threats

Website security is more than just protecting against external threats. It also involves safeguarding against internal vulnerabilities and human errors. Some of the most common website security threats include:

• Cross-Site Scripting (XSS): Attackers inject malicious client-side scripts into web pages, which can exfiltrate data, install malware, or redirect users to spoofed sites.
• Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF): Tricks users into performing unwanted actions on websites where they're authenticated, potentially leading to account compromise.
• Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS): Overwhelms web servers with traffic, making sites unavailable to legitimate users.
• Malware & ransomware: Harmful software that compromises your site or locks access until a ransom is paid.
• Phishing attacks: Fraudulent activity aimed at stealing sensitive user information, like login details.
• Malicious code attacks: Includes injection attacks, botnet exploitation, and computer worms that can compromise website integrity and spread across networks.
• Brute force attacks: Automated attempts to guess usernames and passwords using endless combinations.
• SQL Injection: A tactic that exploits vulnerabilities in your database, allowing attackers to manipulate your website's back-end and gain unauthorized access to sensitive information.

By understanding the importance of website security and the common threats facing your online presence, you can take proactive steps to safeguard your business and customers. A secure website fosters trust, ensures operational continuity, and protects valuable data from falling into the wrong hands.

Emerging threats and trends in website security

Cybersecurity threats continue to evolve, making it essential to stay informed about the latest trends. One significant development is the use of artificial intelligence by cybercriminals to identify vulnerabilities faster and launch highly targeted attacks. Additionally, the growing reliance on software has left businesses vulnerable to zero-day attacks, which exploit unknown or unpatched security flaws.

The integration of websites with Internet of Things (IoT) devices has created new entry points for attackers, while AI-generated audio and video are being used to impersonate individuals and gain unauthorized access to sensitive systems. Modern ransomware tactics have also become more sophisticated, incorporating data exfiltration and the threat of leaking sensitive information if the ransom is not paid.

Staying ahead of these threats requires continuous learning and implementing proactive measures. By being aware of emerging trends, businesses can better prepare for the challenges of tomorrow.

Assessing your current website security

Understanding your website’s current security doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Follow these steps to uncover vulnerabilities and strengthen your defenses:

1. Start with a plan: Define what you’re evaluating — your systems, data, and assets — and what you want to achieve.
2. Run vulnerability scans: Use vulnerability scanners and security solutions (like from Splunk) uncover issues such as SQL Injection, XSS, and outdated configurations.
3. Check existing protections: Take a closer look at your firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and user authentication protocols. Are they doing their job?
4. Test your team: See how well your team is trained to handle common threats like phishing scams and social engineering attempts.
5. Prioritize what matters most: Create a list of your website’s assets and rank potential risks based on their impact and likelihood.
6. Summarize your findings: Compile everything into a report with easy-to-follow recommendations for fixing issues.
7. Stay vigilant: Set up ongoing monitoring (Splunk can help here, too!) to catch new threats before they become problems.

With these steps, you’ll have a clear view of your website’s current security standing and a roadmap to make it stronger. 

(Related reading: threat vs vulnerability vs risk.)

Basic website security measures

Even small steps can significantly improve your website's security. Start with these foundational steps to protect your website:

• Install SSL certificates: SSL encrypts the data exchanged between your site and its visitors, ensuring confidentiality and improving user trust.
• Use strong passwords and authentication: Require complex passwords and set up two-factor authentication (2FA) to protect user accounts.
• Implement anti-bot solutions: Use tools like CAPTCHA or advanced bot detection to block automated attacks, including credential stuffing, scraping, and spam form submissions.
• Limit user permissions: Admin access should only be granted to those who truly need it, and other users should have limited permissions based on their roles.
• Backup your data regularly: Schedule daily or weekly backups to reduce data loss risks, and store them in the cloud on AWS, Google Drive, or Dropbox for easy restoration.
• Choose a secure hosting provider: Look for hosting providers that offer advanced security measures such as firewalls, DDoS protection, and regular backups.

By implementing these basic security measures, you can significantly reduce the risk of a successful attack on your website. However, it's important to note that no security measure is foolproof, and it's always best to stay updated with the latest threats and vulnerabilities.

Advanced security techniques

Once you’ve covered the basics, upgrade your protection with advanced tools:

• Implement a Web Application Firewall (WAF): WAFs filter malicious traffic before it reaches your site and protects against common web attacks.
• Use Content Security Policy (CSP): CSP helps to prevent Cross Site Scripting (XSS) attacks by defining which resources can be loaded and from where.
• Employ Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS): IDS tools alert you of any suspicious activity or malicious attempts on your website.
• Leverage Cloudflare for Enhanced Security: Cloudflare provides DDoS protection, bot management, and additional layers of security to shield your site from various online threats.
• Set up DNS Security Extensions (DNSSEC): Protect your website from DNS spoofing and man-in-the-middle attacks by authenticating DNS responses.
• Enable HTTP Strict Transport Security (HSTS): Force browsers to connect using HTTPS only, preventing protocol downgrade attacks.
• Apply IP whitelisting for admin access: Restrict administrative access to trusted IP addresses to minimize exposure to unauthorized access attempts.
• Use advanced threat analytics: Monitor and analyze potential threats in real-time with tools like SIEM (Security Information and Event Management).

By combining advanced security techniques with the basic ones mentioned above, you can create multiple layers of defense against common website threats. These proactive measures not only safeguard your website but also provide peace of mind for both you and your customers.

(Explore Splunk Enterprise Security, our industry-leading SIEM solution.)

Ongoing website maintenance for security

Website security is an ongoing process — not a one-time task. While websites will never be 100% safe, regular checkups will help keep your site protected.

• Regularly review your server logs and set up alerts for any unusual or suspicious activity on your website.
• Backup your data frequently and regularly test your backups to ensure they work correctly.
• Keep all software, including content management systems (CMS) such as WordPress, up to date with the latest security patches and updates. Additionally, remove any unused plugins or themes that may pose a security risk.
• Hire a professional to simulate penetration attacks on your site and identify potential vulnerabilities.
• Use tools like Google Analytics or Open Web Application Security Project (OWASP) to identify unusual traffic patterns that may indicate a potential attack.
• Educate your team on how to recognize and prevent common threats like phishing attacks and social engineering attempts.
• Conduct quarterly audits to ensure cracks haven’t formed in your defenses. Use detailed checklists to cover every angle.

By integrating these practices into your website management routine, you can establish a robust security framework that adapts to evolving threats. Remember, proactive prevention and constant vigilance are the keys to ensuring the safety and reliability of your online presence.

Safeguard your website today

Your website is often the first interaction customers have with your business. Ensuring its security protects both your business’s future and the trust of every visitor. Start with basic security practices, scale up as you learn, and never shy away from asking for expert help.

Security is a moving target, and you'll want to stay updated on website security trends. Subscribe to sources like OWASP and industry newsletters, and join cybersecurity communities to stay ahead of emerging threats.

A small investment in website security today could save you countless hours and dollars tomorrow. It’s time to prioritize protection.