Secure Hosting

Most web sites these days are made to do online business. Doing business online leaves you open to many security threats, especially when storing personal information. There is no other option but to secure your site.

First and foremost, you should always have good communication with your hosting company. Here are some easy-to-follow steps on getting a secure site with the help of your hosting company.

1. Ask your hosting company if your server has a cage structure put in. The cage structure will give your web site on the server complete privacy and none of the sites will be able to interfere with one another, or with the underlying server.
2. Ask if unproven codes are permitted on the server. Better host will not allow unproven codes to be installed on the server in case it compromises security for other sites on the same system.
3. Find out what kind of maintenance and upgrade schedule the host uses. The operating system and server software updates should be installed on a regular basis to plug new security holes and keep the system as secure as possible.
4. Make sure that security audits are done. God hosting companies should audit their own systems to ensure that is secure and hackers should not be able to bypass the security.
5. Make sure that the server is backed by heavy-duty firewall protection. It sure be more than the average “consumer grade” that most people have protecting their own computers at home. The firewall should be able to prevent other websites on the server from initiating attacks.

To get started right away in protecting your web site, use stronger passwords. The most secure passwords are at least 8 characters long and is made up of letters, numbers, and symbols. Always try and avoid using common words or familiar names or any other personal info that others may easily guess.

And be sure to run anti-virus firewall on your own computer to protect it from anything that may be transferred from your system to your server when you are working on your site or email.