How to Protect Your Website from Hackers and Data Breaches

What Is a Website Data Breach?

A website data breach happens when information is taken from a system without the owner’s knowledge or authorisation. This stolen data is likely to include confidential details, personal data, trade secrets, and sensitive information that can threaten the organisation’s security.

Some common examples of data stolen during a website data breach include:

  • Stolen passwords
  • Identity information (date of birth, email ID, location, etc.)
  • Credit card information
  • Banking details
  • Medical history

If a data breach occurs, the misuse of the stolen information could cause harm for both the business and the person whose information has been taken. Every business that operates online faces cyber threats, so it is important to know ways in which you can prevent these from happening, or at least minimise their impact.

So, how can you prevent data breaches?

Look for Vulnerabilities

All systems, networks, servers, and devices have a flaw that hackers use to gain access. The sooner you identify these flaws, the better you can protect your business from website data breaches. You can do this by proactively looking for vulnerabilities in your security system through using security software designed to test your software for flaws.

Back-Up Your Data

Website data breaches can wipe out important information from your system. Although it may or may not be able to be recovered, it is always smart to back up any and all important information. This way, if data is stolen, you’re not completely at a loss. Consider investing in a cloud backup solution or third-party service depending on your company’s needs.

Install a Firewall

Firewalls are one of the simplest, yet secure, ways to protect your website against data breaches. Installing a firewall will help you prevent unauthorised traffic and malicious software from entering your network. They act as the first line of defense and work well with other security measures to minimise the threat of hackers.

Monitor Database Activity

If you want a high-level view of your security system, consider monitoring database activity. A database activity monitor (DAM) observes, identifies, and reports on database activities. These tools use real-time security technology to monitor all actions across the database. They can also detect abnormal and unauthorised activity, internally and externally, while examining the effectiveness of your current security measures.

At WebEagles, we take the steps to ensure that all our client’s websites are protected against any possible threats. For further information, contact us on 1300 123 808, and one of our web experts will be able to answer any of your questions.

Author: Rajeh El-Ali