Many elements add up to an excellent site design other than being aesthetically pleasing.
Functionality, easy navigation, and excellent user experience are some of the factors that you need to consider. Also, when it comes to designing a website, you need to think about your security.
Here are some tips on how you can design a secure website:
Pick a Reputable CMS
There are many routes that you can to take when it comes to designing your website. You can choose to hire a professional developer or build your website from scratch.
If you want to do it on your own, make sure that you run your website on a reputable content management system (CMS).
You can go for WordPress, Drupal, or another popular website builder like Weebly. The few bucks that you will need to shell out for these sites for you will be worth the investment, thanks to frequent security updates.
Choose a Secured Web Hosting
The CMS is the platform that you use to create your site. On the other hand, your web host is where your site lives online.
There are popular web hosting options like GoDaddy, BlueHost, HostGator, DreamHost, and so on.
Remember that when you have to make a choice, select a host that has security features that safely store your customer’s data and other information.
Make sure to look for the following:
- DDoS Protection: A denial-of-service attack can make the resources of your site appear unavailable or take too long to load that site visitors will click away. Having the right protection can prevent these daily tools from going offline.
- Two-factor authentication: If you have a business, don’t just rely on a single password. You need to utilize a two-factor authentication wherein your password is required to have another login method such as a token from the user’s phone.
Use an SSL Certificate
When you have a website, another feature that you need to consider is having an SSL certificate. Having one is essential because it shows that your site is secure, which in turns builds trust among your customers.
SSL functions to secure the information between your customers and your website. It’s crucial since they’ll be sharing sensitive information with you.
The data could be anything from their names, addresses, and card details when making payments. Getting an SSL Certificate won’t cost you that much, so you should consider getting one.
Avoid Too Many Plugins
According to Sytian Productions, a top website developer in the Philippines, “Every plug-in that you install on your site puts you at risk for malicious attacks. The more codes you run, the greater the possibility that you’ll be vulnerable for exploitation.”
As you download more plugins on your site, the more you’ll be relying on another developer to keep your site safe. It includes writing secure code, responding right away to vulnerability reports, as well as keeping your best interests in mind.
So whenever you download a plugin from another site, make sure that they’re reputable.
- Firstly, it should pass the “eye test.” It means that it’s designed professionally and uses a clear language.
- In the footer, search for a valid company name.
- The privacy policy and terms of service should also be available.
- On the contact page, you should find a physical contact address.
- If you Google the domain name, you shouldn’t find any malicious activity there. You can add words like “exploit,” “vulnerability,” and “malware” on your search to get additional information.
Secure Your Payment Platform
This step doesn’t necessarily apply to all websites, but for companies who offer their customers the option to pay online, you need to incorporate electronic payment systems. You can use e-commerce software or other third-party options.
Do your research and make sure that you create a solution that’s easy and flexible enough to meet your needs.
Display Security Certificates
A secure site seal, also known as a trust seal, is something that you might already be familiar with. You’ve probably seen these small badges that are placed on a site, on its store or its payment pages.
The function of trust seals vary. Some feature sales stats, while others show how safe their website (and business) is. Some sites show the presence of SSL/TLS. Meaning your website connects on “https”, and that the server and the visitor’s browser is encrypted.
Trust seals come in different shapes and sizes, others with animation even. A great example of an excellent trust seal is when the organization’s identity is shown upon clicking it.
Don’t Let Your Site Design Compromise Your Security
When it comes to designing your site, you shouldn’t let it compromise your site’s security.
You might not think that there’s nothing worth hacking on your site, but a lot of websites are compromised all the time.
You need to keep security on top of your list. No matter how attractive or aesthetically pleasing your site is, if it’s not secure, it still poses a threat to anyone who uses it.
Keep in mind that designing a secure website is an art and it isn’t something that anyone can do. One of the primary reasons is that everything has to go into careful planning so that everything meets your objectives. One of those objectives is maintaining your site’s security.
As much as you can, see to it that your site visitors have the safest experience as much as possible. You’ll play a significant role to make that happen.
