Protect your small business from cyberattacks by making sure your website is secure and safe for users.
The risk of cyberthreats is rising, and a cyberattack could mean devastating consequences for your small business.
In the short term, these consequences may include exorbitant costs for ransom payments to recover data, lost revenue due to downtime, and legal fees. In the long term, you may experience a hit to your business’s credit rating, which can impact your ability to secure financing in the future.[1]
Data breaches and account takeovers can also impact your small business’s reputation: Customers who do not trust you are unlikely to continue doing business with you.
Having a cyber incident response plan can help with damage control, but even with a solid response plan in place, your business may not be able to recover from the aftermath of a cyberattack. To protect your small business’s longevity and your customers’ data, it’s best to try and mitigate these risks altogether.
If you are a small to midsize business leader looking for ways to provide safeguards for your website against the rising number of online threats, you’re in good company—more than one-third of IT security managers (37%) say that web application vulnerabilities are one of the top security issues their company is facing.*
What is network security?
Network security refers to multiple layers of defenses that allow authorized users to access network resources, while blocking users with malicious intent from accessing and controlling network resources.
The multiple layers of network security include the use of firewalls, intrusion prevention systems (IPS), network segmentation, virtual private networks (VPNs), access controls, anti-virus and anti-malware software, cloud security, email security, mobile device security, and securing emerging technologies, such as internet of things (IoT) devices and other types of smart tech.
Knowing the ins and outs of your own network, identifying and addressing vulnerabilities, and understanding what it will take to make it secure is crucial for protecting your business against cyberattacks.
What is a cyberattack?
According to the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), a cyberattack is an action taken through computer networks with the intent to disrupt, deny, degrade, destroy, or control the networks themselves or the information stored in the networks.[2]
4 common types of cyberattacks
There are different types of cyberattacks that hackers or malicious actors may use to gain control over your business’s data and network.
1. Malware
Malware is malicious software that is designed to disrupt, damage, or gain unauthorized access to a computer system and data. Common examples of malware include viruses and multiple types of ransomware.
According to our 2022 Ransomware Impact Survey**, of the 300 small businesses that experienced an attack, 47% decided to pay the ransom in good faith that they would regain access to their data and system.
Mitigate malware attacks through antivirus software and computer security tools.
2. Phishing
Phishing is the social engineering practice of sending emails or other messages disguised as reputable people and companies with the intent to get recipients to reveal sensitive data, such as passwords, social security numbers, and credit card information.
To mitigate phishing attacks, stay aware of potential schemes and occasionally refresh your ability to identify phishing attempts.[3]
For example, if you get an email from your boss asking for credit card information, check the email. Is this email really from your boss or from an imposter? Before sending sensitive information through email or text, give the person requesting the information a call to make sure it’s really them.
3. Man in the middle (MITM)
In a man-in-the-middle (MITM) attack, the attacker inserts themselves into communications between a user and a website, usually by creating a website that looks similar to the legitimate one. The imitation website has a virus in the code that enables eavesdropping and ultimately allows the attacker to steal information.
To mitigate man-in-the-middle attacks, pay attention to Wi-Fi connections, repeated or unexpected disconnections, encrypt your data, and turn on your VPN.
4. Denial-of-service attack
A denial-of-service (DoS) attack occurs when the attacker floods the system or network with an unusual volume of traffic. This overloads the system and network, rendering it unusable to regular users.
To mitigate denial-of-service attacks, don’t click or download anything from suspicious links, inspect your devices regularly for vulnerabilities, and use a firewall.
How to make a website secure
Just as you would take measures to secure a physical storefront—locking the doors, installing a security system, investing in anti-theft storage systems, and locking windows—so should you secure your digital storefront: your website.
Here are strategies that cybersecurity experts and small-business leaders like yourself recommend implementing to address website vulnerabilities and protect your business from cyberthreats.
1. Claim and install an SSL certificate
A Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) certificate encrypts the data transmitted between your website and its visitors, which ensures that sensitive information (such as payment information) remains secure.
When you claim and install your SSL certificate[4], it’s like you’re putting a padlock on the door to your website—it is one of the many layers of protection you can employ to keep your website and customers safe.
And as Harman Singh[5], director at Cyphere, a cybersecurity services company, points out, your SSL certificate also serves as a visual cue to your customers that your website is protected.
“Claiming and installing an SSL certificate helps build trust with customers, as a website with an SSL certificate displays a padlock symbol and the https:// prefix, indicating a secure connection."
Harman Singh
Director at Cyphere
2. Regularly update and backup your site
By updating your site, you are allowing your cybersecurity programs to correct glitches and remove potential vulnerabilities.
Ed LaFrance[6], vice president of business development at Datacate, Inc, advises small businesses to backup their data regularly and often.
“Incremental backups are important to be able to restore progressively farther back in time."
Ed LaFrance
Vice president of business development at Datacate, Inc.
He also urges businesses to store these backups in a different location in a remote file storage not connected to the main server. In the event of a cyberattack, while your main system will be compromised, a backup stored separately will not be corrupted, making it more likely for you to restore data and systems.
3. Use anti-malware software and other tools
Tools such as antivirus software, endpoint protection platforms, threat intelligence software, endpoint detection and response tools, vulnerability scanners, and patch management platforms can all add additional layers of protection to your website.
Enoch Omololu[7], founder and resident personal finance expert at Savvy New Canadians, recommends that small businesses invest in tools such as anti-malware software earlier rather than later.
“I learned early on that anti-malware software isn't a luxury; it's a necessity. It's the vigilant watchman at your gate, constantly scanning for unwanted visitors. Believe me, the peace of mind it brings is worth every penny.”
Enoch Omololu
Founder and resident personal finance expert at Savvy New Canadians
4. Secure passwords with multi-level login security
Strong passwords that use a mixture of letters, numbers, and symbols make it more difficult for attackers to guess, but they shouldn’t be the only thing standing between an attacker and sensitive information.
With multi-level login security, passwords are one of multiple keys to the proverbial door.
“Multi-level login security helps to protect passwords and accounts from unauthorized access."
Jennifer Spinelli
IT service management and IT operations consultant
Two factor authentication (2FA) or multi-factor authentication (MFA) requires users to enter additional information, such as a one-time-use code sent through an app on their phone. This makes gaining unauthorized access to accounts much more difficult and is likely to ward off attackers seeking easier prey.
Spinelli[8] also advises small businesses to use a password manager to securely store and generate strong passwords.
5. Use a web application firewall
Web application firewalls (WAFs) analyze incoming traffic and filter out malicious requests. They work quietly in the background, but detect common attacks and defend against them before any damage is done to your network. Kelly Indah[9], editor-in-chief at Increditools, weighs in with her recommendation:
“Web application firewalls are like the hidden heroes of website protection. They filter and monitor HTTP traffic between the website and the internet, ensuring harmful requests are kept at bay. For businesses, it's a safety layer that often remains unsung but is instrumental.”
Kelly Indah
Editor-in-chief at Increditools
6. Educate and train employees
In Capterra’s 2023 Data Security Survey*, 30% of small business IT managers identified careless employees as one of the top security vulnerabilities at their company.
Your employees are your company’s number one defense against cyberattacks, which is why educating them on cybersecurity best practices is imperative.
Marshal Davis[], president of Ascendly Marketing, understands his employees’ role in deterring cyberthreats, which is why he has invested in educating them on how to identify phishing schemes and password management.
“Knowledge is power, and in the cyber world, it’s the ultimate shield."
Marshal Davis
President of Ascendly Marketing
Cybersecurity trainings should be regular and consistent—not just one and done. According to our survey, most businesses opt for annual (38%) or biannual (42%) security awareness training.
Davis prefers a more frequent approach. “Once a quarter, we engage in a fun, company-wide Spot the Scam challenge,” Davis says. This keeps cybersecurity at the top of mind.
When in doubt, consult with an expert
On top of all of your other responsibilities as a small-business owner or leader, you may not have the time to stay up-to-date on the latest cybersecurity threats and strategies, or you may feel like you’re lacking a lot of the technical expertise needed to protect your website.
When this happens, it might be time to outsource responsibilities to a web development services agency that specializes in website security.
If this sounds like the right step for you, browse our catalog of web development companies to read customer reviews, compare your options, and find the right fit for your business’s needs.