Web Hosting Security: A complete guide and tips to protect yourself from hackers!

Web hosting security is extremely important because it prevents data breaches, malware, DDoS attacks, and other cyber threats. Web hosting security includes SSL certificates, firewalls, regular security updates, malware scanning, and data backups.

Unsecured hosting can be very dangerous for any website. A weak hosting company is risky because it uses poor encryption and insufficient monitoring. Because of this, hackers can easily breach your server, deface websites, steal private data, or spread malware. As a result, both your website’s security and your users’ security can be compromised. 

Keep the following points in mind while choosing a web hosting provider:

• SSL Certificate – Ensure that the hosting provider offers a free or premium SSL certificate. It encrypts data between the website and its users. 
• Security suite and tools – Hosting providers offer tools such as malware scanning, virus detection, daily security monitoring, and a web application firewall (WAF). Check the availability of these features. 
• Regular backup – Automatic daily or weekly backup features are very important. It helps users restore data in case of data loss or hacking. 
• Server software update – Ask the hosting company whether they perform regular updates, including PHP versions. Outdated software contains many security vulnerabilities.
• DDoS security – There should be network-level security to protect against Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks. 
• Isolation and account security – In shared hosting, it ensures that user accounts are kept separate from one another. This helps keep your website secure even if other users’ websites are hacked.
• Secured access – Features such as SFTP (Secure FTP) and SSH make data transfer secure. There should be support for them.  
• Reputation and support – Check the hosting company’s reputation in terms of security. Additionally, 24×7 technical support should be available, so that instant support can be obtained in emergency security conditions. 
• Data centre security – Physical security, such as biometric access and CCTV, is also important. Check the data centre security standard of the provider.  

By keeping these factors in mind, you can choose secure and reliable web hosting that helps maintain strong online visibility and long-term protection by preventing long term threats.    

Most hacker attacks occur on websites that have the following weaknesses:

• Outdated software – Websites whose CMS, plugins, themes, or PHP versions are outdated.
• Weak login credentials – Weak login credentials such as admin/123456.
• Unsecured plugins/extensions – Plugins sourced from unreliable providers or with outdated code.
• Lack of SSL/TLS – Not having data encryption. 
• Bad coding practices – Poor coding practices that allow SQL injection or cross-site scripting (XSS).

Hosting company role – 

A good hosting company can provide a proactive security layer.

• Server level security – By running a web application firewall (WAF), DDoS protection, and malware scanning, even if the website lacks security measures. 
• Automatic updates – Keeping the server operating system and software up to date. 
• Isolation – Preventing attacks from spreading to other websites if one site is compromised.
• Vigilance and Information – By providing secured backup, helping to restore the website after attack.

Conclusion – 

Hackers look for easy targets. A responsible hosting company provides a strong security shield at the server level fulfilling the lack of technical limits of website owners and limiting the damage. 

Frequently asked questions – 

1.  What is web hosting security?

It is that security level, which prevents data and files from hacking, malware, DDoS attacks and other online threats while storing them on a hosting server. 

2.  Why is an SSL certificate crucial?

SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) encrypts the data between website and visitor. It protects the login credentials, credit card details e.g. sensitive information. It is crucial for Google ranking. 

3.  How does WAF work (Web application firewall)?

WAF works as a filter between the server and your website. It blocks the special types of attacks e.g. SQL, injection, cross-site scripting by monitoring the HTTP traffic. 

4.  What is a DDoS attack?

In DDoS (Distributed Denial of Services) attacks. attackers send so much traffic on the server by using a bots’ network, that is crash and real users are not able to access the website. 

5.  Why is malware scanning necessary?

It checks your website files regularly for such poor code (malware), which can harm your website. It can infect the visitors, or get blacklisted in search engines. 

6.  How important is regular backup?

In any hacking, data corruption or human error cases, automated back is only one way to fully restore your data. 

7.  Is shared hosting secured?

It depends on hosting providers’ security. A good company provides a good isolation, so your website is not affected by other’s issues. VPS or dedicated server more secured options. 

8.  What is account isolation in hosting?

It is a technology, where the different users’ websites and accounts are kept isolated from each other. From this users aren’t affected by each other’s issues. 

9.  Why is SFTP better than FTP?

FTP (File Transfer Protocol) sends data without encryption, whereas SFTP encrypts the data transfer, from this there is less risk of stealing the username, password and files. 

10.  How can I monitor my hosted website security?

Many hosting companies give security dashboard or alerts. You can also use regular security audit tools (e.g. SucuriSiteCheck), and check server logs. 

11.  What does a hosting provider do if there is a security hack?

A good provider can quarantine the affected website from others, help to remove malware, and restore advanced secured backup. Their support provides team guidance. 

12.  Can a hosting company completely prevent someone from hacking my website? 

No one can give 100% security guarantee. Hosting companies provide server-side security. Web-side security (e.g. strong password, software updates) is the website owner’s responsibility. If they both work together, website owners experience top security. 

13.  Is free hosting secured?

Usually no. There is a lack of basic security features in free hosting, shared hosting are overloaded and technical support is limited which makes them easy targets for hackers. 

14.  How can I stay secure in shared web hosting from other websites?

Select a well known provider which provides account isolation. Keep updated your website software and plugins always, and use strong passwords. 

15.  Which security things should be checked when we choose any hosting?

• Free/premium SSL
• Web application firewall (WAF)
• DDoS security
• Regular automated backup
• Malware scanning and removal
• SFTP access
• Server software update
• 24/7 security support
   

Sources –

1. Cloudflare, Inc. (n.d.). Cloudflare Learning Center. Retrieved from https://www.cloudflare.com/learning/
2. Open Web Application Security Project (OWASP). (2021). OWASP Top Ten Web Application Security Risks. Retrieved from https://owasp.org/www-project-top-ten/
3. Wordfence. (2023). Website Security Blog. Retrieved from https://www.wordfence.com/blog/
4. Google Security. (2022). Keeping your site secure. Google Search Central Documentation. Retrieved from https://developers.google.com/search/docs/advanced/security/https
5. HostGator. (n.d.). Security Articles. HostGator Blog. Retrieved from https://www.hostgator.com/blog/category/security/

Read also – Which Server is Best for Your Online Business: VPS, Cloud or Dedicated?