Want to protect your website from hackers?
The online world is a dangerous place. Cybercrime costs are expected to grow to $10.5 trillion. Picking the best web hosting services is no longer about speed and uptime.
It’s a matter of life and death.
In this guide, you’ll discover:
- The Hidden Truth Behind Web Hosting Security
- How to make a secure hosting environment
- Spotting security-focused hosting providers
- Spotting Warning Signs Of Weak Security
- Taking The Right Steps In Choosing The Right Web Hosting Services
The Hidden Truth Behind Web Hosting Security
You may not know this but…
Website owners tend to get sucked into the wrong hosting features. Price, disk space and bandwidth often become their focus.
But they’re neglecting the most crucial element that can make or break their online business.
Security.
Let’s face it: Cyber attacks are occurring everywhere, 24/7. Hackers don’t discriminate whether you’re a little blog or a fortune 500 company. They find opportunities everywhere and, in many cases, poorly secured websites are their favourite prey.
The facts are alarming. Cyber security breach and data loss are the top concern for 90% of IT professionals. These are the people who should know better than anyone else.
If they’re worried, it’s time you were, too.
How to make a secure hosting environment
Do you know the difference between a secure host and one that’s crying out for hacks?
It’s the layers of protection. A secure hosting environment is not about one security tool. It’s about having several lines of defense between your website and all the things that could try to break into your site.
Here’s what you should be looking for:
SSL Certificates & Encryption
SSL should be included with every hosting plan. Not as a premium add-on. But as a fundamental requirement for every website.
Why? Because Google has made it clear that https is a ranking requirement. But more importantly, it encrypts the data between your site and your visitors.
Regular Security Updates & Patches
WordPress, plugins, server software and other applications have security vulnerabilities that are being discovered every single day.
They need to be kept up-to-date with the latest security updates.
But here’s the kicker…
Hosting providers are notoriously bad at keeping their systems updated. They’ll sit on security updates for months at a time while known security exploits are left wide open for attackers.
Advanced Firewall Protection
Firewalls should do more than blocking the easy ones. A good one will use smarter filtering to identify more sophisticated attacks before they hit your website.
Look for stuff like DDoS protection, malware scanning and real-time threat detection.
Spotting security-focused hosting providers
Let’s look at a few things you should pay attention to when you’re hunting for hosting services with your eye on security.
They Talk About Security First
Security-focused hosting providers will lead with their security features. It’s not something they bury in the fine print or give a second thought to.
When you’re researching potential hosts. Look at how they’re presenting their product. Do they lead with security benefits?
They Provide Transparent Security Information
Good hosting companies will not just hand over security details when you ask. They’ll tell you, straight up, all about their server hardening process, network security architecture and backup process.
If they’re not willing to talk about security or they’re vague about what they do, or don’t do, it’s a big red flag.
They Offer Proactive Monitoring
Here’s a fact that most people seem to miss…
Top-quality hosting providers don’t wait for things to go wrong. They actively monitor their networks around the clock, looking for signs of trouble.
Spotting Warning Signs Of Weak Security
Don’t want to get stuck with a hosting provider that will set your website up to fail?
Beware of these red flags:
Shared Hosting With No Account Isolation
Shared hosting in itself is not a security issue but it can quickly become a huge security risk if providers fail to properly isolate accounts. If a website gets hacked on the same server, it could potentially impact other websites.
Ask yourself this: How are websites isolated from each other on a server? If someone’s account gets compromised?
No Backup Strategy
In the grand scheme of things, backups are your last line of defense when all hell breaks loose. Be it a hack, server failure or human error, proper backup strategy can save your website.
Make sure your potential hosting provider has solid automated daily backup solutions and simple restoration processes.
Poor Customer Support
In case security issues are found or detected, you want immediate assistance from your hosting provider.
Providers who provide substandard support can turn a simple security incident into a catastrophe. You don’t want that.
Test their support before you sign up: How quickly are they replying to security related questions?
Taking The Right Steps In Choosing The Right Web Hosting Services
Truth be told about finding the best web hosting services…
It’s not about who offers the cheapest price or has the most bells and whistles. It’s about finding a hosting company that takes security as seriously as you.
You may want to consider partnering with a Singapore-based web hosting provider that specializes in secure hosting.
Providers that are based in Singapore or other countries that have stringent data security policies will often have tighter security controls and robust security infrastructure than general purpose hosting providers.
Identify Your Security Needs First
Before you go shopping for web hosting, consider what your security needs will be. Are you handling sensitive data that needs protecting? Compliance requirements?
Compare Several Options
Don’t get sucked into the first hosting company that you find. Do your research and compare at least 3 options. You can always come back to the others later.
Ask Tough Questions
Don’t be afraid to grill potential providers on their security features and processes. You can ask about their incident response procedures or the measures they take in the event of a security breach.
Dig Deeper: Beyond Basic Security
Don’t want to just settle for basic security features? You can also look for additional stuff like:
Web Application Firewalls (WAF) are placed between your website and the internet to filter out malicious requests.
CDN Security is not only about loading speed. It also can absorb DDoS attacks, filter malicious traffic, and more.
Security Monitoring by the best web hosting providers is how you track traffic patterns and failed login attempts.
The Cost of Insecurity
Here’s what most small business owners don’t know…
The cost of having to recover from a security breach is much, much greater than the investment in good hosting security. A single attack can result in lost revenue from downtime, a tarnished brand reputation and even legal costs.
Secure web hosting is about much more than simply protecting your site. It’s about safeguarding your business’s future.
Security Is Only As Strong As Your Hosting Provider’s Weakest Link
Here’s the bottom line, there’s nothing you can do on your website that will matter if your hosting provider doesn’t have the security features you need.
You can slap on every security plugin you want and use the most complex password. But if your web hosting provider has horrible security, none of that matters.
Look for hosting providers who demonstrate that they are serious about security and staying current with security trends.
Final Thoughts
Hosting security is no longer optional. With cyber threats becoming increasingly sophisticated, choosing the right web hosting services based on security considerations should be the most important decision you make for your website.
Don’t wait around until it’s too late. Take a close look at your hosting security now. Look for companies that provide a level of protection and those who proactively monitor their network for issues.
There’s just too much at stake to leave your website’s security to chance. Be a smart webmaster and choose a host that places security as a priority over other things. Your future self will thank you for it.
