Having a website is no longer a luxury, but an essential aspect that all small businesses need to reach their customers and grow their brand. However, many small businesses find it challenging to ensure the security and reliability of their site. One alarming study by Verizon indicates that over 60% of small businesses that experience cyberattacks go out of business within the next six months.
That is why small businesses must stay ahead of these attacks by implementing security best practices. Today, I will walk you through a checklist of the best website security practices that small businesses should implement to ensure their websites are secure. These apply to almost any small business, regardless of industry and size. Let’s jump right in!
Security Checklist for Small Businesses
1. Keep Software Up-to-Date
Outdated software is a common entry point for hackers, as it may have unpatched vulnerabilities. Regularly updating your CMS (like WordPress), plugins, themes, and server software ensures you have the latest security fixes. It is also crucial to always use reputable plugins and themes from trusted developers to reduce the risk of hidden malware or vulnerabilities. Finally, avoid downloading themes and plugins from unofficial sources.
2. Use Strong Passwords
Weak passwords are easy to crack, giving attackers direct access to your website. Ensure to use strong and unique passwords for all accounts, including admin, hosting, and databases. Password managers can help your team store and generate secure passwords without the risk of forgetting them. Also, ensure that all admins and other users do not reuse passwords from their other accounts. Again, using a password manager can help generate strong and unique new passwords.
3. Use Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)
In addition to having a strong password, ensure all admin accounts use two-factor authentication (2FA) to take your website security to the next level. 2FA adds an extra layer of security by requiring a second verification step, such as a code sent to your phone or email. Even if an attacker steals your password, they can’t access your admin account without the second authentication factor, significantly reducing the risk of unauthorized access.
4. Enable HTTPS (SSL/TLS)
An SSL certificate encrypts data sent between your website and users, making it harder for hackers to intercept sensitive information. Enabling HTTPS across your entire site boosts security and user trust while also improving your SEO rankings. Use open-source providers like Let’s Encrypt to get a free SSL certificate for your website.
5. Perform Regular Backups
Daily automatic backups ensure that you can quickly recover your website in case of an attack or accidental data loss. Store backups in a secure offsite location or cloud storage to protect them from being compromised alongside your website. I recommend storing these backups in at least two locations to ensure you have a fallback option in case one of the storage sources encounters a problem.
6. Limit Login Attempts
Brute-force attacks involve repeatedly trying different password combinations to gain access to your website. Limiting the number of failed login attempts helps prevent this by locking out users after a set number of tries. Tools like Limit Login Attempts Reloaded for WordPress make it easy to implement this safeguard.
7. Secure Your Hosting Environment
Your hosting provider plays a key role in your website’s security. That’s why it is crucial to choose a provider that offers built-in security features such as firewalls, malware scanning, and automatic backups. Also, keep your hosting control panel credentials private and use strong passwords to prevent unauthorized access.
8. Set Up a Web Application Firewall (WAF)
A WAF acts as a protective barrier between your website and malicious traffic, blocking attacks like SQL injection, cross-site scripting, and DDoS. Cloud-based WAF services like Cloudflare or Sucuri are affordable options for small businesses and don’t require complex configurations. Wordfence (one of the most popular security plugins) also has the WAF functionality built-in.
9. Regular Security Scans
Regularly scan your website for malware and vulnerabilities to catch issues early before they affect your site. Plugins like Sucuri SiteCheck and Wordfence have tools that can identify infections or weaknesses in your site that need attention. Periodic vulnerability assessments ensure your website stays protected against evolving threats.
10. Restrict File Uploads
File uploads, especially from users, can be exploited to introduce malicious files to your server. If possible, disable file uploads by external users entirely, as these could be used to exploit file inclusion vulnerabilities. If uploads are necessary, ensure to validate file types and scan them for malware to prevent harmful files from compromising your website.
11. Monitor Your Site
Actively monitoring your website helps you spot unusual activity before it escalates. Tools like Google Site Kit (in WordPress) can alert you to hacked content, while plugins like Wordfence can track login attempts and file changes. Set up email alerts for suspicious activities like these and respond quickly when you receive such notifications.
12. Remove Unused Plugins and Accounts
Unused plugins, themes, or accounts are often overlooked but can serve as weak links for attackers. Delete anything you’re not actively using to reduce your attack surface. You should also consider deleting plugins and themes that have not been updated for a long time, as these may often have vulnerabilities that attackers can exploit to hack your site. This minimizes the risk of outdated or unnecessary components being exploited.