Security Features to Look For

The essentials of your website will need to be secured by many different components. Each security feature has a designated role in protecting your content. Below we have compiled a list of security features that are the most crucial:

FTP - FTP (File Transfer Protocol) is defined as a method of transferring files over the web. Hosting servers that make use of FTP enable their clients to exchange robust files in large amounts from one computer to another in a protected manner.

A web host offering this feature will allow users to create accounts for FTP. Each account can be assigned a username and password. This ensures that only an authorized user will have access to uploaded files.

FTP is much more advanced with its method of security opposed HTTP (Hyper Text Transfer Protocol). While HTTP is a common way to transfer files, it is not secured and openly allows hackers and unauthorized users access to sensitive information.

SSL - SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) is a very important part of security that should be included into a website that intends on selling products or services. This component strengthens the practice of File Transfer Protocol. The purpose of SSL is to keep the privacy and security in web orientated communication systems. Here are two of the basic security measures found in SSL protocol:

1.) SSL protocol encrypts data by using symmetric cryptography to maintain complete privacy during web orientated communication such as monetary transactions.

2.) SSL provides reliability by checking each message that is exchanged over the web.

The cryptographic capability of SSL was designed to establish a secure connection between computers. Some web hosts will also allow the integration of other encryption servers such as SSH. This reduces the need of installing additional security applications and may eliminate the requirement of configuring new protocols. One of the most notable features of SSL is “optional session caching”. This optimizes the total number of network connections and activity to keep the communication process secure and efficient.

TLS - TLS (Transport Layer Security) is another solid security feature to look for in a web host. Similar to SSL protocol, TLS protects in two different ways: Record Protocol and Handshake Protocol. TLS uses symmetric cryptography to encrypt data while ensuring privacy throughout the process of web orientated communication. It patterns SSL by checking all messages that are exchanged over the internet when being exchanged from one computer to another.

This form of security forbids unauthorized users to interact in the midst of the communication that takes place over the internet. Third-party individuals may only take part in the process after being detected and granted permission by the two authorized users.

TLS is also very compatible as it allows users to implement other methods of encryption to the framework. Like SSL, TLS comes with the “optional session caching” feature.

SSH - SSH (Secure Shell Host) is perhaps the most efficient security feature used to protect the communication process. A Secure Shell comes available with encrypted channels that enable users to access another computer over the web and execute commands from a remote location. SSH was specifically designed to protect digital content being transferred between computers, securing the information from probable hackers.

SFTP - Several web hosts that support FTP or SFTP (Secure File Transfer Protocol) come with the capability of SSH. SFTP is a step above typical File Transfer Protocol as goes great length to protect the content. SFTP will prevent passwords and other pertinent data from being thieved during the transfer process. Being that the protocols are different, FTP and SFTP cannot be integrated to work with one another.

Firewall and IDS - Most networks have firewall installed though many of them lack efficiency. A faulty firewall application will allow remote access from third-parties, allow the disclosure of sensitive information and also allow frequent attacks from the network of the web server. A hosting platform that encourages security should give a user the power to directly or indirectly adjust rules for the firewall application. Here is an example: if the website happens to receive frequent visits from malicious surfers, the host should grant you the ability add the IP address of the attacker and add to an active list on the firewall.

IDS translates to Intrusion Detection System in web hosting terms. This provides a greater level of security as it recognizes the number of an attacking vector and prevents it from gaining access to the targeted server.

DDOS Prevention - The Denial of Service attack is one of the oldest threats to an operating system. Even though this problem has been around for sometime it is still difficult to prevent. These attacks will slow down a web server and falter every site running on it. In this case many users operating their site on a shared web host will become innocent victims. To correct this common problem, Anti-DDOS procedures are now readily available into firewall and router applications. A quality web host certainly will not overlook this essential security feature.

Spam Prevention - While many people may view spam as something that is not a direct security issue, it can pose a serious threat to the lifeline of your business. Free web hosting servers are prime targets for spam messages. Visit a few blogs or message forums and you are sure to notice a good share of it posted in comment sections. Aside from being a total annoyance, spam messages may carry viruses, worms, spyware and other forms of system infections. Spam can drastically affect the performance of a web hosting server depending on the number of emails they are able to handle. It also eats up tons of disk space and bandwidth. An anti-spam solution should certainly be a part of your web hosting package. Keep an eye out for this feature as many servers will not offer it.

Hotlink Protection - This is one of the most common security issues you will endure with a website. Hot linking occurs when an individual from another website creates a direct link to one or more of your images or text links and then lists it on their page. Regardless of how pure their intentions may be, this constitutes as theft of your property. Aside from that, hotlinking will absorb a substantial amount of bandwidth over time. Capable administrative tools such as cPanel and Plesk come with features that easily prevent the act of hotlinking.

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