What is Web Hosting Security and Why It Matters for Your Website
Some small business owners don’t think about website security until it is too late. Until something has gone wrong. And by then, it’s too late for preventative measures. That’s where understanding what web hosting security is becomes so important.
There’s no end to the importance of website security, but there’s another step to it as well, web hosting security. Your website needs top tier security, but so does your web hosting platform.
Web hosting security focuses on protections at the server level, the layer your website runs on. The focus is on protecting the site, data, and visitors.
It can’t be said enough, your website itself needs protection. But to be the best prepared, that protection needs to start at the hosting or server level.
What Web Hosting Security Actually Protects Against
Many of those focuses of web hosting security tie into website security as well. Web hosting security is the focus of what happens before the site really even becomes involved.
It is the protection built into the server and hosting environment where the website lives. This security includes things like server side protection, firewall protection, malware scanning, blocking bad traffic and bots earlier, and backups.
These security layers stop a lot of the junk traffic, bot attacks, and problems from reaching your WordPress site to begin with. So many of these attacks, a large majority, are automated. Those bots are constantly scanning websites and prowling for easy targets. Web hosting security, server side security, helps keep them from your site.
What Good Hosting Security Should Include
Contrary to what you might hear in ads during the Super Bowl, not all website hosting is the same. Strong, secure hosting provides multiple layers of security working together to protect your site. And don’t forget, if this web hosting security doesn’t stop an attacker, your website security should still be able to do that. Web hosting security works to stop the largest number of attacks, and website security helps protect your site from anything that gets through and from vulnerabilities within the site itself.
There are several key pieces to web hosting security. Each plays its own role, and works together with the others to provide a great level of protection for your site.
SSL Certificate
Maybe 10 years ago, 2015 and earlier, an SSL certificate was an optional thing in web hosting security. If you had a store or did some confidential information it was needed.
That was then. Today, every website needs an SSL certificate.
Every. Website.
An SSL certificate will encrypt and secure data communications between the users browser and the server. In a way, it creates a secure portal between the two.
This will also add the padlock to the address bar. Without seeing that address bar, users are smart enough (usually) not to purchase anything from the site or fill out any more. Most browsers will not even load the site any more.
Dedicated IP Address
You work hard to build a good reputation for your business. That reputation is there on your website as well. Your website has an address, an IP address. Why share that IP address, and possibly your reputation with another website?
It most likely would happen the opposite way: why risk someone else who has a bad website risk the reputation of your good website?
Sharing an IP address would be like sharing the same mailing address with someone unwanted.
Having a dedicated IP address helps reduce this risk and adds more web hosting security. You have more control over how everything is handled and more stability.
Essentially, it’s removing the risk of having a “bad neighbor” living nextdoor.
Firewall Protection
The firewall protection on the server helps determine good traffic from bad. Known IP addresses that are flagged will be blocked. Suspicious ways the traffic may be coming in can be flagged, reviewed, and stopped.
This web hosting security helps stop these threats from ever hitting your website. Before they can load yourdomain.com, they’ll be turned away.
It would be like seeing John Dillenger walking towards your bank, and simply not allowing him to enter. The threat never comes in, the bank (website) stays nice and safe.
Malware Monitoring
Malware monitoring on the server, with a program like cPGuard, can help scan the website files for threats. These programs can easily spot “good” files from “bad” and remove them.
This quick and precise scanning and monitoring can help stop damage from spreading. If a threat is found, it can be removed quickly and entirely. The site is then able to keep working like normal.
Server Maintenance and Updates
As with any kind of computer of software, there are always updates to run. These updates often include security patches and improvements. If a website hosting server is not well maintained, it will not be able to keep up with current day attacks.
As these updates are run regularly, the sites that are on that server are kept more and more secure. These are not always simple “one click” updates and will sometimes require a server technician to run. The key is to make sure that your website hosting provider is running those regularly.
Backups
Sometimes, things go wrong. Sometimes, way wrong. This is where regular backups, from the server level, come into play.
The backups should include the website files and the database. The backups should also be readily available and easy to install.
In a worst case scenario, if things on the website are badly compromised, restoring a backup can stop the threat from getting too far. If stopped early, it won’t damage your reputation or IP address.
The backups provide a safety net if all else fails. The safety only helps if it is in place before things go bad of course.
Taking It Further with Advanced Security
Those basic security levels must be in place for any website. Many website hosting providers will have many options available to do those things. An additional layer of web hosting security can provide greater security and peace of mind for a small business owner.
The best way to do this is with cPGuard. We mentioned it a little earlier, but the measures that cPGuard can cover are amazing. cPGuard will provide real-time malware scanning, firewall protection, bot detection and blocking, and more. It is an always on, always watching security guard.
This is especially valuable for businesses dealing with higher rates of spam, eCommerce sales, or higher traffic
Start with a Secure Foundation for Your Website
Web hosting security is the first line of defense and protection for your website, and your business. When these measures are in place and set correctly, a large number of problems are stopped before they can even happen.
Web hosting security adds an important extra layer of security and protection.
If you’re not sure how security is set up with your current hosting, we’re always happy to take a look and give you honest feedback.
It can’t be stressed enough: This does not replace website security on your WordPress site. You still need both.
A secure website starts with a secure web host.