Cyber Security Awareness Month: Ensure your website security
October 1, 2024 | 
Connor
In today’s digital-first world, cyber security is a necessity. With cyberattacks becoming more sophisticated, businesses of all sizes are increasingly vulnerable to online threats that could disrupt operations, steal sensitive data, and damage reputations. That’s why October, designated as Cyber Security Awareness Month, serves as a timely reminder for organisations to strengthen their defences and protect their digital assets.
Cyber security 101
As a Cyber Essentials-certified company, at Mosaic we don’t just talk about security—we live it. Our hosting and website development services are built with security as standard, allowing our clients to focus on organisational goals while we ensure the safety of their online presence.
We know that website cyber security can feel like a minefield full of jargon, hence we have created this blog to talk you through how we safeguard our clients’ websites:
1. Enterprise-Level DDoS Mitigation & Web Application Firewall (WAF)
Picture this: your website, which usually runs smoothly, is suddenly overwhelmed by a flood of traffic from malicious sources trying to bring it down. This is a DDoS (Distributed Denial of Service) attack, and it’s every business owner’s nightmare. These attacks can cripple your website, leading to downtime, lost revenue, and frustrated users. At Mosaic, we take this threat seriously, which is why we offer enterprise-level DDoS mitigation as part of our hosting services.
Our DDoS mitigation tools continuously monitor for unusual spikes in traffic, identifying and filtering out harmful requests while ensuring legitimate visitors can still access your site.
But stopping traffic isn’t enough. Once users are on your site, it’s crucial to ensure that no one can exploit vulnerabilities in your web applications. That’s where our Web Application Firewall (WAF) comes in. Think of the WAF as a digital bouncer for your website, actively blocking malicious traffic, protecting sensitive data and access to your website’s backend.
Mosaic’s DDoS mitigation and WAF work in tandem, providing a comprehensive, real-time shield against these ever-evolving threats.
2. Proactive malware scanning, Antivirus & Anti-spam protection
Malware, if given the opportunity, can sneak into your website, corrupt files, steal data, or even hijack your site for malicious purposes. Proactive malware scanning tools, can protect against this threat.
At Mosaic, our hosting servers scan our client websites for any signs of suspicious activity. Whether it’s malicious code injected into your files or unauthorised access attempts, our proactive malware scanning identifies these threats in real time, and if anything is detected, we are notified immediately.
But it’s not just about keeping malware out. Every day, spam and viruses attempt to find their way into websites, usually through email forms or other points of contact. Mosaic’s advanced antivirus and anti-spam protection ensures that harmful content is blocked and your site safeguarded from viruses.
Our security features are constantly updated to stay ahead of new threats, so you can rest easy knowing your website is protected by the latest technology.
3. Free Wildcard SSL certificates
When customers visit your website, they expect their data to be safe, whether they’re making a purchase or simply filling out a contact form. That’s where SSL certificates come in, encrypting the data exchanged between your website and its visitors. Without SSL, your website is like an unlocked door—anyone can potentially intercept sensitive information. But with SSL, that data is locked up tight, out of reach for hackers.
Not only does having an SSL certificate boost security, but it also enhances your site’s credibility and trustworthiness. Modern browsers alert users when a site isn’t secure, which can turn away potential customers. Plus, search engines favour websites with SSL certificates, meaning you’re more likely to rank higher in search results, giving your business a competitive edge.
At Mosaic, we make sure security doesn’t come at an extra cost. Our free wildcard SSL certificates are included with our hosting plans, giving you a powerful layer of protection without the added expense.
4. Automatic daily backups
Whether it’s due to a cyberattack, technical glitch, or even a human error, the risk of losing valuable website data is always present.
We take automatic daily backups of our client sites and store them securely, so it something goes wrong your data is safe and can be restored with just a few clicks.
5. Keeping software up-to-date
Outdated software is like leaving the front door of your business unlocked—it may not be obvious at first, but it’s an open invitation for hackers. Cybercriminals are always on the lookout for vulnerabilities in outdated systems, and once they find a way in, the consequences can be disastrous. That’s why keeping your website’s software up-to-date is one of the most critical steps you can take to ensure its security.
We understand that staying on top of updates can be time-consuming and easy to overlook, especially when you’re focused on running a business. That’s why we have packages to take care of it for you. We can ensure that all necessary software—including server infrastructure, your website content management system (CMS), and essential plugins —is regularly updated to the latest versions.
Software updates also often come with performance enhancements and new features that can improve your website’s functionality and user experience – something we can help you take advantage of.
6. Minimal plugins
Using too many plugins can be a recipe for disaster, as each one adds another layer of complexity to your site, and, if poorly maintained or insecure, it could leave your website vulnerable to attacks.
This is why we take a streamlined approach to our website development by using only minimal, essential plugins. Every plugin we implement is carefully selected for its reliability, security, and necessity. By keeping the number of plugins to a minimum, we reduce the chances of security gaps and ensure your site runs faster and more efficiently.
7. Well-written code
The backbone of any secure website is its code, if poorly written it can turn your site into a playground for hackers and offer countless opportunities for exploitation.
At Mosaic, we take pride in writing clean, secure code during the website build process, following best practices for coding and security, to ensure your site is less vulnerable to attacks and performs optimally.
Secure your website with Mosaic
Whether you’re looking for hosting solutions, website design, or development services, our team has the tools and expertise to give your business a digital presence that’s both strong and safe.
Why wait for a cyberattack to happen? Contact us now for a free consultation or security audit – secure your website, protect your business and gain peace of mind.