Websites are public platforms. Anyone from any location in the world can access your website and see its contents. Anyone can leave malicious code on your page, which could let hackers steal data or use your site to distribute malware. For example, suppose you’re a small business owner or an individual entrepreneur. In that case, it’s important to protect your company’s website as much as possible to keep your business’s reputation. In fact, a recent report by the digital security company RiskIQ found that 74 percent of small businesses don’t have a dedicated IT professional responsible for their websites.
The impact of not having a secure website is significant. A survey released by Google this year says that over 52 percent of all websites fail to meet minimum Web Security standards. That means they could be more vulnerable to hacking attacks and identity theft than other sites.
So why does security matter so much? Here are six reasons you should care about website security now more than ever before.
You need a stable website to do business.
The most important reason to focus on website security is the desire to conduct business transactions. Businesses want to sell products, provide services, and engage in other transactions with customers online. If your website isn’t secure, customers won’t trust you—and they’ll be less likely to be patient with hiccups in your service. If customers don’t trust your website, they might look for another way to do business with you.
Hackers are constantly trying to break into websites.
Cybercriminals are constantly developing new ways to get into websites. It’s important to keep your site secure, especially against hackers who are constantly trying to break into websites. The best way to do this is to use a website security provider. If your website isn’t secure, hackers can break into your server and access emails, bank accounts, and other data stored on your site. Hackers can also use this access to distribute malware, which could install malicious software on your computer and steal data.
It prevents fraud and other types of digital crime.
Website security isn’t just about preventing hackers from breaking into your site—it’s also about preventing fraud. If someone tries to use your website to commit fraud, good website security is the only way to stop it. Otherwise, the crook could use your site to access other data, like your bank account. Good website security can also help prevent other types of online crime, like identity theft and cyberbullying.
It makes customers feel comfortable using your site.
Website security isn’t just about preventing hackers from breaking into your site—it’s also about making your customers feel comfortable. If you don’t have good website security, customers might worry that your site could be used to commit fraud or other crimes. Customers might also be hesitant to contact you outside your website because they don’t want you to see their email addresses or other customer data.
It protects your brand and business data.
One of the best reasons to focus on website security is the protection it offers your brand and business data. Good website security protects your brand by preventing hackers from using your site to trick customers into downloading malware. It also protects your business data because hackers can’t access your server without a password. So, for example, suppose your website isn’t as secure as it could be. In that case, your website administrator could open your site to hackers and other malicious software.
Stolen data is precious.
Protecting your website against hackers and other threats is essential, but it’s also important to protect your customers’ data. Hackers are constantly trying to get data from customers, and the best way to do this is with stolen data. Stolen data, like credit card numbers, has a high value, and it’s difficult for customers to protect themselves. So the best way to keep your customers’ data safe is to use strong website security.
Conclusion
Website security isn’t just about preventing hackers from breaking into your site. It’s also about making your customers feel comfortable and protecting your brand and business data. Unfortunately, the costs of not using good website security are significant. A survey released by Google this year estimated that 52 percent of all websites fail to meet minimum Web Security standards. That means they could be more vulnerable to hacking attacks and identity theft than other sites.