What You Need in Website Security

If you haven’t put much thought into website security, now is a good time to start.  Just as hackers and malicious code writers look to exploit end-user computers, they are especially out to corrupt high-powered servers, this includes the web hosting company serving your pages to the internet.  There are other elements threatening website security, many of which have nothing to do with intruders or malware.  Aside from viruses, worms and hackers, other common threats a web server face are accidental damage or corruption, disgruntle employees and a range of untimely natural disasters.

The security of your website can be separated in two primary areas: the physical security of the machines storing your data, and the security of the systems running your data.  Below is an overview on how each area should be secured.

The Data Center

Website security all begins in the hosting provider’s data center.  Their infrastructure must be designed to protect against a wide range of threats and conditions to keep your data safe.  To ensure that the operation stays running smoothly, a web host must implement the following systems and security mechanisms:

• Adequate square footage to ensure that servers are properly stored

• Cages to ensure the physical security of individual servers

• Environmental systems to control temperature and humidity

• A physically secured location that only permits authorized access

• Biometric authentication to ensure authorized access

• 24/7 monitoring and video surveillance

• Additional monitoring from a Network Operating Center

• Uninterruptible power systems and backup diesel-powered generators

• Fire suppressions systems

On The Server

When it comes to protecting your personal data, that task is essentially up to you and the provider.  Here are just a few of the features you should expect from the web hosting company:

• DDoS protection

• Firewall components

• IDS (Intrusion Detection System)

• Anti-virus software

• Secure Shell Host access

• Spam filtering

Your web host should employ a system ready to deal with the most vital security issues, this includes preventing server access to potential intruders that might cripple your website.  They need to perform regular maintenance and testing of backup systems to make sure your data can be restored in the event of technical failures.  Apart from keeping intruders at bay, the provider must grant its users with appropriate access to the web server.  If someone makes a scripting error or a mistake with something as sensitive as .htaccess, the whole server could suffer the cost.  This could result in the loss of your emails and possibly the entire website - an absolute nightmare for your business.

The best way to get around all these common security issues is to seek out a reliable host that realizes such vulnerabilities exist.  Any web server has its limits and when factoring in the internet, nothing is ever truly safe.   Aside from the security features offered in the web hosting plan, look for information on a company’s data center to find out how it runs.  A facility equipped with redundant systems and multiple backup solutions will indicate that the provider cares about the operation and their customers as well.

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Oct 28, 2008 : Security Issues No responses yet

Finding A Secure Web Host

Security is a major concern for any individual or business maintaining a website.  Before subjecting yourself to the basic security issues that come along with internet usage, your first assessment should be made through a web hosting company.  While you may not necessarily comprehend the ins and outs of web hosting, servers and all the technical aspects, there are a few standards that you should be familiar with.

Lets start with the equipment a web host utilizes.  Their servers should be frequently monitored and supplied with dual firewall components.  This helps to protect your website against power failures or any natural disasters that may occur.  A firewall will also keep out internet hackers looking to break into a server and steal confidential information.

A reliable web hosting provider will store their servers in remote locations for additional security, applying multiple backups so that your data can be quickly recovered if disaster strikes.  You can actually conduct your own research by visiting the following website: www.whois.com Whois provides a useful service that will tell you exactly how many sites your provider is hosting on their server.  Do not shy away from companies hosting a large number of sites.  In most cases, the more sites they house, the better.  For instance, BlueHost is a well known company currently hosting well over 570,000 domains.

When it comes to making sure your site is secure, you should never hesitate to drill providers for information.  Security is even more important if your site will be storing sensitive customer data.  In order to keep the intruders away, you must know every measure a web host is taking to make sure it happens.

More security related questions you may want to ask are:

• How would you rate the overall security of your service?

• What measures do you take to prevent malware and spam?

• How can you assure protection from unauthorized users?

• How can you assure protection from authorized users sharing server space?

When the integrity of your business is at stake, you never want to assume anything.  Make sure you cover all the critical areas that need to be addressed.  Also remember that an affordable, feature-rich service doesn’t translate into one that is secure.  By conducting deep research in the beginning, you have a better chance at ensuring the protection of your website.

You can learn more about web hosting companies by reading reviews that are posted online.  Many reviewers will cover all the qualities of a particular host along with the drawbacks.  If a company is known for security issues, these flaws are sure to be listed.  They may also indicate security-based features that are provided such as .htaccess files and spam filters.  A quality web host will openly advertise it’s reliability and security.

Just as you want your business to be secure at home or in a remote office, you want the same considerations for your online venture as well.  While there is a lot of media hype behind it, online hackers and viruses do pose a real threat to sensitive data.  Because of this, you should never fall for the gleam and glamour of the first web host offering cheap service.  If their servers aren’t secure, your personal information could easily fall into the wrong hands.

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Sep 01, 2008 : Security Issues No responses yet

Web Hosting Security - Are you prepared?

In today’s web-based world, hackers and malicious software are the biggest threat to anyone who conducts business online.  Viruses and worms have the ability to cripple entire networks while an experienced hacker can penetrate a system and thieve confidential data.  Because of this, consumers and online businesses alike are taking proactive steps towards protecting their personal information.  Some are conferring with their web hosting providers to ensure that the security measures they implement are reliable.

Security is especially critical in environments where shared and virtual private servers are being used.  Not only is important to protect consumers from the common threats associated with the web, but to also protect clients who are sharing the server with potentially malicious users.

One security feature that is often implemented to assure this protection is something known as a cage structure.  In a cage structure, every hosting client is assured complete privacy from other users on the server.  It uses the “change root” restriction from the Unix operating system which enables the hosting server to behave like a restricted shell.  This creates a cage around the hosting server and places boundaries that can’t be accessed by any client.  In a cage structure, no user can interfere with the core operations of a server or it’s associated services.

When considering building your site on a shared server you should also inquire about the implementation of binary code in the environment.  Unapproved binary code could inadvertently create security gaps in the server and place sensitive customer data at risk.  Any application or programming language that has the ability to breach security should be prohibited.  A reliable provider will not allow this type of activity if there is even the slightest possibility that it may compromise clients sharing the server.

A reliable provider will also make certain that the deployment of it’s operating system and software are hardened with updates and patches.  Such a configuration will ensure that all known vulnerabilities and exploits are eliminated.  They will provide continuous security against software exploits by applying the most recent fixes and distributing security advisories to clients on a routine basis.

In order to contain prevalent threats, a web hosting company must commit to sound security measures to ensure protection for their clients.  Here is how it can be done:

• Ensure that all hardware is physically secure

• Ensure that all network services provided by the operating systems are secure

• Ensure that the files system is secure from unauthorized access

• Ensure that password features are always enabled

Furthermore, companies can implement better security with reliable firewall systems.  A firewall could be either a software or hardware component that prevents hackers from gaining unauthorized access to a server.  When properly configured, a firewall makes it difficult for an intruder to even locate your system.  It will help to ensure that malicious traffic cannot attack or enter the hosting environment.   A firewall should also be configured in a manner where attacks can’t be launched from the server.  This would prevent outbreaks where infected machines are commanded to attack other systems.

Lastly, it’s a good idea to choose a shared host that provides anti-virus features.  Most of the time, a Unix hosting environment will be immune to Windows-based malware.  However, it often has the ability to infect a Windows system just the same.  For this reason, enhanced security is required at the user-end to prevent the mass creation of infected sites.

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Aug 08, 2008 : Security Issues No responses yet