Start with Security
A cybersecurity solution is listed as #3 in this top 10 list of must-have technologies for small businesses for good reason. It’s crucial to protect your business from potential cyber threats. Basic first steps include setting up strong passwords that don’t contain personal information that could be traced back to you. A personal password is always a recipe for disaster.
Sensitive company data (like employee Social Security numbers) and customer information (like payment details) should be properly safeguarded. But don’t stop there: computers, USB drives, servers, networks, and mobile devices all need to be secured. Many attackers rely on old tech and software to target businesses, hoping that you leave it vulnerable, so don’t make yourself an easy target.
Ensure Your Host is Reliable
Businesses and individuals with websites got and maintained their own web servers in an office or personal data center in the past. However, since cloud computing emerged, it lowered overhead expenses and maintenance requirements for owners. Still, not all cloud providers are made equal, so make sure you find one you could trust to deliver all your site's specific requirements. For instance, Synaptic Web Co is a reliable firm that offers high-performance data centers where you can keep your website servers safely.
Hire an IT Professional
Working with an IT professional is crucial. First, they can check whether the systems are set up correctly with the complete security protocols in place from day one. This process will probably include a disaster recovery plan tasked with saving and storing your data if an attacker hacks your company. This way, you'll be able to restore the data in a few minutes and get your website and company back on track.
Another way an IT expert can help is by ensuring that you can continually monitor your business and check for vulnerable areas. If there are issues, they will work to fix them immediately and not leave anything to chance. Ideally, it would be best if you’d start looking for an IT manager. Other professionals you'll want to work with are a cybersecurity expert, a WordPress developer, and a network security specialist. Those professionals will guarantee that your business is secure and doesn't have any vulnerabilities lying around. It's also essential to check their costs, delivery time, and reviews before hiring them to ensure that they provide a quality solution.
Use a Firewall
A firewall serves for tracking incoming requests and blocking those that look like potential threats to prevent DDoS (Distributed Denial of Service) attacks. Remember that firewall management is an ongoing task, and that's why you need a network security expert. You have to ensure that the correct ports are free to enable your website to work on the internet. You also need to monitor the traffic that your web servers constantly receive and alter the firewall settings to befit potential threat levels.
The Bottom Line
Before you even launch your new website, you should have a plan for securing it from malicious users. Or else, you risk making your website vulnerable to phishing, DDoS attacks, ransomware, or worse hacks before your customers even gain access to it. Be proactive and prevent potential threats with these tips.
Synaptic Web Co offers several services, including website design, content management, data centers for servers, and more for companies of all sizes. If you're a business owner who's considering creating and launching a website, contact the Synaptic Web Co team to develop, host, and manage your site.