Do you have a website and looking at your options for a hosting space? How do you know if you are comparing apples with apples? Finding the right hosting provider can feel overwhelming with such a large number of hosting services to choose from.
Amongst the features and price, there are also considerations to look out for, and most importantly, security. If you are not sure where to start, here are some of the Key Security issues to consider:
1, SSL Certificate
You might have seen the little ‘padlock’ icon in front of a URL in the address bar, this indicates a security protocol SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) in place that governs the encrypted connection between your website to the visitor. Having an SSL is essential, as it demonstrates that your website is safe for customers to visit, it gives them peace of mind that any content passed across your website will be encrypted. Some browsers will give a warning or block websites that do not have an current SSL Certificate.
2, Malware Protection
Another area to look out for, is whether the hosting provider and server is in the best position to be protected from malware. You might have heard about malicious malware attacks on large corporations, and even demanding ransoms. If you think that your small business is not going to be a prime target, think again. The truth is, everything online can be attacked. Malware is malicious software that can be disastrous to your business, and you don’t want your website to suddenly crash for no apparent reason. When choosing your provider, make sure they have an option for malware defence and can run daily scans on their servers.
3, Firewall Settings
Hosting providers can also provide additional security protection with Firewalls. These can protect networks from harmful and hostile attacks. A dedicated firewall is especially helpful if your business deals with sensitive customer information and data. When considering a hosting provider, check to see if their Firewall is shared or dedicated.
4, Backups and Restore
Backing up your website and data is a smart idea. However, you also need to ensure that you have a reliable backup and restore system in place. Your web hosting provider should also have a comprehensive backup and restore system that is at the server level. You never know when accidents might happen, or when files get corrupted and you need to restore from backup. Being able to quickly restore a website can make a night and day difference to your business, especially if your business is mostly conducted online.
5, Website Plugin Updates
In order to truly compare apples with apples, do you know what your hosting provide offers you in terms of keeping your website up-to-date? Just like our phones have regular app and software updates to ensure they are best protected from a vulnerability, websites also have plugins that need to be updated regularly. If your website is built on a platform such as WordPress, the developers of the plugins are regularly keeping them up-to-date to ensure the best protection from any vulnerability. Ask your hosting provider if they offer this service as part of your website hosting.
Keeping your website up-to-date is one of the first steps in protecting your website from a malicious attack.
As you can see, finding the right hosting provider will ensure your website is looked after and runs smoothly. Sometimes the cheapest option may not be best as you may be sharing hosting with other users, or the server may be unreliable causing crashes. Worse of all, it can leave your website exposed and vulnerable to attacks, leaving a disastrous and costly impact on your business.
Concept Designs & Marketing specialises in all things website, from custom design and development, domain registration, fast, secure and reliable web hosting including SSL for your website, to SEO and analytics.
Contact us on 0425 266 783 or email info@concept-designs.com.au for a no-obligation chat about your web hosting needs today.
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