The best web hosting providers recognize that our success depends on your success, so as part of our core business culture, we provide all the tools you need to build, launch and manage a successful web-based business - including the information you need to do it RIGHT! So welcome to the second in our series of articles on topics related to web server security. We keep it simple, eliminate the techno-babble and provide not only the tools but also the know-how to achieve web success.
Your success matters.
The basics of web server security
Where to start? Well, if you don't know anything about the world wide web, that's the place to start. How does it work? In our previous blog post, we discussed server security in the article: Is your web hosting company secure? It's definitely better.
How does web hosting security affect you?
For millions of people making good money on the W3, either as a full-time business owner or as an addition to their day job, a secure web hosting provider is critical to the success of their business. Not only can a successful web business be developed by experienced entrepreneurs, it can also be achieved by novice entrepreneurs. It's done every day by people who are no smarter or more businesslike than you. So yes, the odds are stacked against you, but if you get it right and have a web hosting provider working on your success, you can make money from the internet.
Whatever you plan to sell, enter that product or service into Google's search box and see how many competing sites you'll find. Opening a small computer repair service? 1.75 million other computer repair companies and nerds are in front of you. They are online and doing business. Those are your competitors and they have an edge. The most important thing to remember is perhaps the most painful and hardest web success concept to keep in mind: website visitors don't give a damn about you. People who buy goods and services on the internet are concerned about the security of their online data…the data they provide when making an online purchase.
What is Cloud Hosting?
Cloud computing or cloud web hosting is often the term used to describe the "as a service" model over the Internet. You will come across the terms “infrastructure as a service”, “platform as a service” or “software as a service” as you do your research on the leading cloud hosting providers such as Rackspace Hosting, Amazon and SoftLayer. In our previous blog post, we discussed the pros and cons of cloud web hosting.
Cloud security in the news
In April, technology giant Sony suffered a glitch in its PlayStation Network, which caused a security breach involving the private data of about 100 million users. Sony first became aware of the attack on April 19 after discovering that "several PlayStation Network servers had rebooted themselves unexpectedly. Four servers were immediately taken offline to find out what was going on. The next day it was clear that another six had been attacked, and they were also taken offline." It wasn't until May 3 that Sony admitted it had committed a second, earlier attack that compromised the information of 25 million Sony Online Entertainment users, including credit card numbers. Dr. Purdue University security expert Gene Spafford told Congress that Sony was using outdated Apache software at the time of the attack. Sony has defended its security procedures, claiming that proper measures were in place, including recently patched and updated servers and firewalls. But what does this do for the future of cloud web hosting?
The future of cloud computing
In a blog post in the Wall Street Journal, Ben Rooney says, "The whole cloud computing movement has taken a hit, or maybe it's had a wake-up call." Surprisingly, cloud service providers don't see security as their number one concern. Perhaps Sony's experience will make them think. Some companies are reconsidering plans to move to cloud web hosting. Digital security experts say investors, businesses and consumers have placed too much trust in the cloud. Some cloud web hosting providers are already seeing their customers trying to negotiate new contracts that impose financial penalties on cloud providers for service interruptions or security vulnerabilities.
How to choose a cloud web hosting provider?
Simple. You call them. Then you start asking questions and taking notes. There are plenty of web hosts available. You want to go for the best because your hosting company is basically your online partner.
What kind of server-side security do you provide?
Choose a host that has hard-wired firewalls, software firewalls, proprietary anti-virus and anti-spyware software, backup power supplies, locked server rooms, elevated servers, employee background checks, algorithmic encryption, redundancy, and the latest in updates and upgrades.
Is your website hosted with the right web host?
Floods, hurricanes, blizzards, heat waves - whatever nature throws at a premium web host, that host has a contingency plan. Basically plan A, B, C right down the line. So analogous threats do not exist. When the host guarantees 99% uptime, you know the host uses state-of-the-art security technology, from double-lock cages to protect multiple servers to algorithm-based access and smart door technology to prevent bad people from doing bad things in the server room. the host.
Work with a green web hosting provider that takes security seriously. You do... right?
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