Data breaches are happening more and more often every year. Last year saw a record number — 3,205 — according to a report from the Identity Theft Resource Center. Ransomware payments also reached a record high, rising to more than $1 billion in 2023 according to Chainalysis. And these problems affect all kinds of websites, not just the big ones.
Web hosting security gaps can compromise the personal information of a website’s visitors and owner. Cyberattacks that exploit these gaps can also cause site owners to lose revenue, by defacing sites or deleting site information. The exact risk to your site depends on what kind of web hosting plan you have, but many of the best web hosting services offer a range of cybersecurity tools to help keep your site safe.
Here are seven important security tools to look for in a web hosting service.
SSL certificates
Secure socket layer certificates are cryptographic protocols that encrypt and authenticate data between servers, machines and applications operating within a network. These help prevent third parties from intercepting, altering or recording sensitive information like a person’s credit card information.
Think of these certificates like the secret language you and your best friend came up with when you were little: You know your friend is saying the teacher is the worst, but the teacher is wondering why you’re discussing how much banana pudding is needed to fill a football field. SSL certificates make sure your visitors’ information is all sent through the secret language.
Secure file transfer protocol
File transfer protocols, or FTPs, are used to transfer large amounts of unencrypted data to your web hosting server — like if you wanted to upload a video or multiple files to the server. Using an FTP does not provide users with a secure transferring method, leaving your data vulnerable to third-party interception.
While many web hosting services offer FTP access by default, some web hosting services, like Ionos, offer secure…
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