Irrespective of the size of your business, data privacy and website security matters. Data breaches don’t just happen to big corporates, any company and its website may be at risk. You need to do everything in your power to keep your website and customers safe. The good news is however, if you choose your web hosting provider with care, your site will benefit from rich security features that make your job that much easier.

In this article, we explore some of the most common security threats to be aware about and how a great web host can make your website more secure.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Web hosting providers play an important role in data privacy and website security.
• Cybercrime is a growing threat projected to reach $23 trillion by 2027, with small businesses being particularly vulnerable.
• Common security risks include insider threats, malware, phishing, DDoS attacks, and unsecured Wi-Fi.
• A secure web host should provide multiple security features including firewalls, DDoS protection, regular backups, malware scanning, etc.
• Data privacy compliance (like South Africa’s POPIA Act) is legally required when collecting and storing customer data.
• Implementing proper security measures not only prevents cyber-attacks but also builds customer trust and protects brand reputation.

Why Data Privacy and Website Security Should Be a Priority

As a website owner, you have a responsibility towards visitors and potential customers to do everything in your power to ensure that you meet data privacy and website security protocols.

Doing so can help to:

1. Prevent cyber attacks

Cybercriminals are constantly busy developing new ways to trick people, therefore every business is at risk. If you don’t follow the necessary protocols to safeguard your website and your visitors, you can fall victim and suffer huge financial and reputational losses.

2. Maintain operations

If your website is hacked, data is stolen, your domain is hijacked, your business’ identity is stolen, or you suffer any other type of cybercrime, there’s no such thing as “business as usual”. Until the matter is completely and utterly under control your entire operation may come to a standstill, and it will cost you.

3. Adhere to legal compliance

Data privacy and website security is not just the “right” thing to do, like you have a choice in a matter. You are legally obligated by the South Africa data protection law (POPIA Act). Failing to follow the right procedures when it comes to collecting, processing, storing and sharing personal client data can lead to fines and legal action.

4. Grow customer trust and brand reputation

People are more online savvy these days. As much as a whisper of a data leak can send them running for the hills. On the other hand, if your company goes above and beyond to secure its customers’ data, it will build their trust and your brand reputation. And that’s a must for every business.

RELATED: How to Enhance Cybersecurity and Build Digital Trust in your Business

10 Types of Security Risks and How to Protect Your Business

Cybercrime has been projected as reaching $23 Trillion by 2027. It seems to be a lucrative “business” to say the least.

These cybercriminals are after data. Data can be sold or exploited, and it can also be used to scam your customers. To add insult to injury, cyber crooks are honing their skills (social engineering) so that they can become more convincing. So be cautious!

Small businesses are particularly at risk because they do not necessarily have all the security protocols in place that larger companies have, due to the time and cost factors.

Here are 10 security risks to be aware of and tips to help keep your business safe:

1. Insider threats

Espionage sounds like something that can only happen in a spy movie, but unfortunately it happens in real life too. Someone in your company, maybe a third-party vendor, could misuse their access to steal data which can in turn, cause harm to your business. Even a disgruntled employee can pose a serious cybersecurity risk.

How to protect your business:

• Limit employee and third-party vendor access to only what they need.
• Monitor and review user activity regularly.
• Implement strict offboarding procedures when employees leave.

2. Malware

Malware is a type of malicious software. It is normally sent as a phishing scam via email. Once an unsuspecting person clicks on a link or file, it can infect your network or website and steal data or damage files. Cybercriminals use malware to take control of systems, spy on users, or disrupt business operations.

How to protect your business:

• Use reliable antivirus software and keep it updated.
• Train employees not to download files or click on links from unknown sources.
• Regularly scan systems for malware.

3. Phishing

Phishing is when scammers imitate companies by sending fake emails to trick people into revealing sensitive information. It is also used to deploy malware onto networks. These attacks are becoming more sophisticated over time and not so easy to detect.

How to protect your business:

• Train staff to spot suspicious emails.
• Never click on unknown links or download unexpected attachments.
• Use email filtering tools to block phishing attempts.

4. DDoS Attacks

A Distributed Denial Attack (DDoS) is when a hacker floods your website with traffic to cause the hosting server to crash. These types of attacks make your website vulnerable and unavailable to customers, which can mean loss of income or damage to the perceived lack of security.

How to protect your business:

• Use a strong firewall and DDoS protection services.
• Monitor network traffic for unusual spikes.
• Host with a reputable web hosting company that offers DDoS mitigation.

5. Ransomware

Ransomware is a type of malicious software (malware)that locks your data and demands money to supposedly unlock it. These attacks can cripple businesses, causing loss of data, downtime, and financial strain. Paying the ransom doesn’t guarantee you’ll regain access to your data either.

How to protect your business:

• Back up important data regularly.
• Never open unexpected email attachments or links, and train staff to do the same.
• Use endpoint security solutions to detect ransomware threats.

6. Outdated software

Software and plugins need to be updated regularly to patch any vulnerabilities the developers have found. By running outdated software your website is therefore unknowingly opening a backdoor for cybercriminals into your website.

How to protect your business:

• Always install the latest updates and security patches.
• Enable automatic updates where possible, or host with a company that does like Domains.co.za’s WordPress Hosting plans.
• Regularly audit software to ensure nothing is outdated.

7. Weak passwords

The amount of passwords any person needs to remember in a personal or business capacity is insane. That’s why it is easy to fall into the rut of creating weaker passwords, so they are easier to remember or write down and copy for accuracy. Who has time to figure out if that’s a zero or an ‘o’, right? Unfortunately, your password is the only thing standing between a hacker’s ability to break into your accounts, so don’t neglect their importance.

How to protect your business:

• Use strong, unique passwords for each account and make use of a password manager like 1Password.
• Enable multi-factor authentication (MFA).
• Regularly update passwords and avoid reusing existing ones for new sites.

8. Domain hijacking

Domain hijacking is when cybercriminals gain control of your domain name. Once they have control, they can redirect your traffic, steal sensitive data, or impersonate your business to scam customers. This type of threat can severely damage your brand and customer trust.

How to protect your business:

• Use strong, unique passwords and enable multi-factor authentication (MFA) on your domain management account.
• Lock your domain to prevent unauthorised transfers.
• Choose a reputable domain Registrar that offers added security features like WHOIS Privacy.
• Monitor your domain status regularly for any unusual changes.
• Renew your domain timeously and keep your contact details up to date.

IMPORTANT:

Domains.co.za offers its customers a FREE Domain Transfer Lock security feature. This feature is automatically enabled on all existing .za domain extensions (.co.za, org.za, .net.za, and .web.za) and prevents any unauthorised transfers.

9. SQL Injections

An SQL injection is a type of cyberattack where hackers manipulate a website’s database by inserting malicious code into input fields, such as login forms or search bars. This can allow them to gain unauthorised access to sensitive data, modify records, or even delete an entire database.

How to protect your business:

• Use security measures like input validation and firewalls.
• Keep databases and web applications updated.
• Regularly test and audit website security.

10. Wi-Fi as an entry point

Did you know that hackers can break into businesses through weak Wi-Fi networks? This is especially possible if default passwords or outdated encryption are used. A compromised Wi-Fi network can allow attackers to intercept data or gain access to internal systems.

How to protect your business:

• Use strong passwords and encryption for your Wi-Fi.
• Set up a separate network for guests.
• Regularly update your router and disable remote management.
• Use a VPN to secure your connection.
• All staff must avoid using public Wi-Fi for work

RELATED: Four Cybercrime Trends that every South African must be aware of

The Role of Web Hosting in Data Privacy and Website Security

A website needs web hosting for it to be accessible on the internet. Web hosting is a service that stores your website files on a server. While keeping your website secure and customer data private, is up to you, part of this responsibility rests on your choice of web hosting.

That’s because reputable hosting companies are committed to providing holistic secure infrastructure and free SSLs, that protect your site from the “bottom” up. Doing this helps to protect your website from cyber threats, data breaches, and downtime.

A reliable web hosting provider should tick the following boxes:

1. Server security

Web hosting security is not just about monitoring and removing threats, but also about ensuring the quality and safety of the server infrastructure and web hosting environment in its entirety. From the physical and virtual components of the servers, storage and data centre to the software, configurations and resources.

Everything matters and contributes towards the greater goal.

At Domains.co.za, we host our servers in Africa’s largest and most state-of-the-art N+1 data centre, Teraco in Isando. This data centre has advanced access controls, fire and disaster prevention, backup power etc. Our server infrastructure and web hosting environments have been expertly put together to offer our customers the best quality, performance and security.

2. Firewall protection

A firewall acts as a shield between a website and any malicious traffic, blocking hackers, bots, and harmful requests before they are able to reach and cause damage to a site. This reduces the risk of data breaches, downtime, and other cyberattacks – helping you keep your website secure and your business running smoothly.

Domains.co.za implements a FortiGate Firewall and Web Application Firewall for every website hosted on our Web Hosting packages. Double the protection.

3. DDoS protection

With DDoS protection, malicious traffic is filtered out, ensuring your website stays accessible to real users and your business doesn’t lose trust.

Domains.co.za ensures that your website stays up with protection against both local and international DDoS attacks.

4. Regular backups

Things happen. For this reason, website backups ensures that even when things go wrong, for instance when data is lost due to a cyberattack, or if a system failure occurs, you can quickly restore your website without losing critical information.

Domains.co.za customers’ benefit from daily Acronis backups. These backups are securely encrypted and stored offsite in the cloud. This means they are kept on remote Acronis servers, not on our hosting server.

5. Malware scanning and removal

Regular malware scanning and removal on a server-level helps to keep viruses, spyware, and other malicious software at bay, saving time, reducing risk and keeping a website running smoothly.

At Domains.co.za, we are so serious about keeping malware away from your website we offer triple protection.

Monarx Malware detects threats through behavioural analysis, Imunify360 provides multi-layered protection with automatic cleaning, and CageFS isolates users to contain breaches—creating a comprehensive security shield against malware.

6. SSL Certificates (Website Encryption)

An SSL Certificate encrypts data between a website and website visitors, which prevents hackers from stealing sensitive information like passwords and payment details. Domains.co.za offers a FREE LetsEncrypt SSL Certificate for all websites hosted with us.

7. Anti-spam software

Anti-spam software safeguards people against the majority of deceptive emails and fake websites designed to steal sensitive information.

At Domains.co.za, we offer SpamExperts Security to defend against sophisticated phishing attempts. This advanced email filtering solution identifies and blocks malicious messages before they can reach any inbox.

RELATED: Top 7 Features To Look For In Web Hosting Support Services

FAQS

Other Blogs Of Interest

• 8 Things you can do to Improve the Security of Your Website
• The Importance Of Website Maintenance
• 10 Cyber Security Tips for Businesses & WFH Employees
• What Is An SSL Certificate?
• Domain Transfer Lock Explained For all .za Domains