10 Tips for Creating a Secure Website

Posted by Eleanor March 15, 2023

1. Use strong passwords and two-factor authentication for all accounts, including user accounts and administrative accounts.
   2. Choose reliable hosting services that provide regular security updates and access to secure FTP.
   3. Regularly update the software and applications used on the website.
   4. Install and configure an SSL certificate to encrypt all data transmitted to and from the website.
   5. Implement a web application firewall to protect against malicious traffic and malware.
   6. Restrict access to the administrative area of the website by IP address.
   7. Disable directory indexing and server-side includes to prevent directory and file listings.
   8. Harden the server configuration to prevent access to sensitive areas of the website.
   9. Scan the website regularly for any vulnerabilities or suspicious code.
   10. Develop a secure coding policy and use secure coding practices.
   11. Use secure HTTP (HTTPS) instead of unsecured HTTP (HTTP) whenever possible.
   12. Use CAPTCHAs to prevent automated bot attacks.
   13. Prevent cross-site scripting (XSS) attacks by properly encoding and validating user input.
   14. Prevent SQL injection attacks by using parameterized queries and using database permissions.
   15. Disable server and database access from the public Internet.
   16. Log and monitor all website activity for suspicious activity.
   17. Back up the website frequently and store the backups in a secure location.
   18. Use strong and secure encryption for any sensitive data stored on the website.
   19. Use secure cookies and session management to protect user data.
   20. Disable unnecessary services and ports on the server to reduce attack surfaces.
   21. Utilize a secure file transfer protocol (SFTP) instead of FTP.
   22. Harden the server and hosting services with additional security measures.
   23. Install antivirus and antimalware software on the server.
   24. Use an intrusion detection system (IDS) to detect suspicious activity.
   25. Implement a secure password policy and enforce it for all users.
   26. Use an email encryption service for sensitive emails.