Best practices for securing a website

Here are the main best practices to effectively secure a website

Use HTTPS Protocol

• Obtain an SSL certificate from a recognized certificate authority
• Implement HTTPS on all pages of the website, especially those handling sensitive data (login, payment, etc.)
• Ensure only recent and secure versions of TLS are used

Regularly Manage Updates

• Keep the CMS, plugins, and libraries up to date to patch known security vulnerabilities
• Automate updates when possible to avoid missing critical patches

Secure Authentication and Session Management

• Implement strong authentication with robust passwords and two-factor authentication (2FA)
• Limit login attempts to prevent brute-force attacks
• Ensure secure user session management (session expiration, revocation, etc.)

Follow Secure Development Practices

• Validate and sanitize all incoming data to prevent injection vulnerabilities
• Use up-to-date secure libraries and frameworks
• Perform regular penetration testing to detect and fix vulnerabilities

Secure the Web Server

• Limit open ports and services to only what’s necessary
• Apply system security patches as soon as they’re released
• Separate development, staging, and production environments

Regular Backups

• Set up a complete and regular backup strategy for both data and configurations
• Regularly test backup restoration to ensure data integrity

Educate Users

• Train users on security best practices (e.g., password hygiene, phishing awareness)
• Limit access rights to the bare minimum necessa

By applying these best practices, you can effectively secure your website against most common threats and protect both your data and that of your users. Don’t hesitate to consult a cybersecurity expert if needed.