Best Practices for Web Security
Web security is the discipline that protects networks, servers, users, devices, and IT systems from internet-borne attacks and threat vectors that lead to malware infections, data breaches, and phishing scams. To effectively protect against these risks, security teams must deploy a variety of web security solutions and strategies, including web application firewalls, URL filtering, and anti-malware and antivirus software.
The most common types of web security threats include:
Malware: Malware, short for malicious software, can take the form of viruses, worms, spyware, or trojans. These types of attacks can disrupt or damage a computer system, steal sensitive information, and gain unauthorized access to a network. The NotPetya malware attack in 2017 is a good example of how quickly and deeply this type of attack can spread.
Phishing: Phishing attacks leverage emails, phone calls, and other communication methods to trick victims into visiting a malicious website or opening an attachment or link that contains a malicious payload. This can result in stolen credentials, ransomware, and other cyber threats that can have significant business impacts.
Denial of service (DoS): DoS attacks are carried out by sending a target network device so much data that it becomes overwhelmed and unresponsive. This can be accomplished by hijacking many devices at once or by launching a flood of traffic from several sources simultaneously. The goal of these attacks is to disable the targeted network for as long as possible and to prevent customers from being able to access the web-based services they need.
Other common web security threats include SQL injection: Attackers exploit vulnerabilities in web application code by injecting malicious Structured Query Language (SQL) queries into standard online forms, which are then sent to the web server and database. This can be particularly devastating if the vulnerable code is used in third-party plugins, themes, or other commonly used software. Another common threat is cross-site scripting, which involves attackers injecting malicious code into trusted websites by using unprotected user input fields.
The Best Practices for Web Security
A comprehensive and effective web security strategy must include multiple layers of defenses that work together to protect against a wide range of threats. This includes a secure web gateway (SWG), which provides threat protection and policy enforcement, and other security solutions that provide web application firewall and network security capabilities. In addition, it’s important to review and regularly update all third-party integrations, plugins, and themes that are installed on the web server. This can help ensure that these components are up to date with the latest patches and vulnerabilities.
Lastly, strong authentication should be enforced on all systems that require it. This can include requiring two-factor authentication, such as a password combined with a verification code sent to a user’s mobile device, or providing users with a unique and complex password that is not easy to guess. It’s also a good idea to conduct periodic penetration tests and code reviews to identify and address vulnerabilities before bad actors exploit them.