The Importance of Web Security
Web security protects an organization from cybercriminals and threats that use the web to gain entry to data, networks and devices. It’s a critical component of any cyberattack strategy and must be included in every company’s security plan. Along with email, the web is one of the main vectors for attacks.
Hackers use the web to steal confidential information like credit card details, passwords and bank account numbers to commit fraud, theft, extortion, blackmail and other illegal activities. They also can attack websites to take them offline and cause disruptions or damage. It’s essential to have a robust web security solution in place that can detect and mitigate these types of attacks.
A comprehensive web security solution is comprised of multiple appliances, software, services and solutions that work together to build a holistic defense. Ideally, it includes a secure gateway (SWG), threat detection and response, web application firewall (WAF) and a cloud-delivered internet security platform. This “stack” of tools provides comprehensive coverage to stop malware and ransomware, block phishing domains, protect against DDoS, and more.
An effective and secure website begins with an accurate understanding of your vulnerabilities, risks and needs. The best way to do this is with a thorough, proactive vulnerability scan of your entire site. This type of scan should be executed regularly and may be performed by a security professional or a free tool like Sucuri SiteCheck, WPScan, WordFence and more.
The ideal web security solution leverages multiple technologies to stop malware and ransomware, block DDoS, restrict the use of credentials, and more. Unlike single-point solutions, the ideal security stack should be scalable and capable of protecting against the latest threats without compromising performance.
Security Misconfiguration
Many vulnerabilities are caused by configuration or logic errors that allow unauthorized access to information managed by the web application. These include SQL injection, cross-site scripting and more. These flaws are often overlooked by web developers and webmasters who focus on making their sites as functional, performant and user-friendly as possible, but neglect the security features.
Ensure sensitive information, such as passwords and credit card numbers, are encrypted in transit and at rest. This will prevent hackers from intercepting them, and stealing, changing or selling them to other people or organizations.
Encryption also helps to keep personal and business data safe in case of a data breach or accidental loss.
It’s also important to have a web scanning and monitoring solution in place that detects and alerts you of any suspicious activity or anomalies. This will allow you to quickly and accurately identify any weaknesses, and implement patches or other remedial actions. You should also make sure that any third-party software and plugins you use are up to date, as new releases address known vulnerabilities. Finally, be sure to have a disaster recovery plan in place that covers both hardware and software backups. This will help to restore your systems and minimize any downtime if your web security tools are compromised by attackers.