What are the best practices for ensuring robust website security?
- Use HTTPS: Secure your site with HTTPS to encrypt data during transmission. Also recommended in SEO best practices.
- Strong Password Policies: Enforce complex passwords and regular updates to prevent unauthorized access.
- Regular Software Updates: Keep CMS, plugins, and libraries updated—part of avoiding common SEO mistakes and maintaining site health.
- Input Validation: Sanitize all user inputs to prevent attacks like SQL injection and cross-site scripting (XSS).
- Content Security Policy (CSP): Use CSPs to specify trusted sources for loading content, mitigating XSS attacks.
- Access Controls: Limit admin access to trusted users only, especially important in custom-developed websites.
- Two-Factor Authentication (2FA): Add an extra layer of account protection by enabling 2FA for users and admins.
- Error Handling: Ensure that error messages don’t reveal technical details that could be exploited.
- Regular Backups: Back up site data frequently to recover quickly in case of cyberattacks or data loss.
- Security Audits: Conduct periodic audits to identify vulnerabilities and keep your website secure.
- Firewalls: Use web application firewalls (WAFs) to block common threats like DDoS or brute-force attacks.
- Secure Configuration: Apply secure settings at the server and application levels during deployment.
- Limit File Uploads: Accept only necessary file types and scan for malware. Important in professional development workflows.
- Log Monitoring: Set up logs to track suspicious activity and act on threats in real-time.
- Educate Users: Train users and staff on phishing, password hygiene, and security awareness. This also improves the user experience (UX).