An analysis of 7 million websites by SiteLock reported that websites experience an average of 98 attacks every day. 

According to Cybersecurity Ventures, global cybercrime costs are expected to rise by 15% YOY in the next couple of years. By 2025, the cost will hit the $10.5 trillion mark. 

Want to keep your website secure and the cost of dealing with cybercrimes out of your books? Here are the 5 cyber threats that you need to avoid in 2023. 

You need to keep your money safe in the lockers. And you need to keep your digital wallets safe. That’s, of course, because they contain money, which people would want to steal. 

Your website doesn’t hold your money. So why does business website security matter?

Well, there are 3 key reasons why website security matters:

1. Your website contains your visitor’s information, especially if you let them create accounts. You are legally obligated to keep user information secure. 
2. Websites that get hacked give audiences a clear signal – you aren’t serious about doing business. Thus, your reputation takes a hit and your revenue follows. 
3. Your website is home to a lot of proprietary information and leeway into your physical IT infrastructure. A compromised website can thus, cause a loss of PI and damage to IT infrastructure.

Also, your competitors will inevitably get an advantage over your business if your website gets compromised. Another major area of concern is ransomware attacks which will require you to pay hefty sums to regain access to your website or worse, avoid public exposure of confidential business information and user data.

I have a small/medium-sized business website. Who’d be interested in attacking my site?

A lot of cybercriminals.

Yes, despite popular belief, small and medium business websites are often a target for cybercriminals.

In fact,

• 61% of small and medium businesses were the target of cyberattacks in 2021. 
• 37% of companies hit by ransomware attacks had less than 100 employees.
• Small businesses get the highest number of targeted emails. 
• 87% of SMBs have potentially vulnerable consumer data which can be compromised during a cyberattack.
• 75% of companies are unable to continue operations after they are hit by a ransomware attack.

But why do cyber attackers target small businesses?

That’s because 

• SMBs are the easiest targets as they usually don’t have a lot of IT security infrastructure or policies in place. They often don’t leverage the must-have technologies which can help ensure the safety and security of the website. 
• SMBs are less likely to have potent IT departments which can curb such attacks and help in quick recovery. 
• SMBs are usually unaware of the cybersecurity risks that they are likely to face and thus are unprepared. 

If you don’t want to give cybercriminals easy access to your website, its data, and your money, you need to buck up. 

Ensure that your website stays secure in 2023 and beyond by avoiding the 5 key threats.

Ransomware is one of the most popular forms of cyber attacks today. The concept is simple. The attackers gain unauthorized access to your website and hold the site’s data at ransom. 

Your only two options are either to pay hefty sums or see your data get abused and leaked. 

Your website has integrations with several players in the supply chain, right? It could be a SaaS service provider, a CRM, or a vendor API. Either way, cybercriminals take control of your website via one of these links. 

All they have to do is find the weakest link and then get into your site’s admin dashboard, leaving you locked out and your data vulnerable.

In recent times, a lot of businesses have switched their cyber infrastructures online. This helps ensure hybrid working and business continuity even in unprecedented times. 

But the move towards the cloud also comes with several threats. SQL Injections, Trojan horses, spyware, DDoS, and XSS attacks are some common ways your website can get compromised via the cloud.

APIs are an essential aspect of any modern web application today. And they are, no doubt, a treasure trove of valuable data. By exploiting vulnerabilities and security gaps in API integrations, ill-intentioned cyber operators can gain easy access to your valuable and confidential data and resources.

Phishing attacks involve luring gullible victims to unknowingly share their website credentials and access passcodes. This can be in the form of malicious links and emails. 

Though the risks facing your business website in 2022 are plenty, it isn’t hard to actually keep your website secure. Here are some expert tips to ensure website safety.

• Use security plugins. If you are using a CMS to power your website, consider using security plugins that actively avoid attacks on your website. These plugins address vulnerabilities by sending you helpful notifications, detecting malware, virus scanning, and more.
• Use an SSL certification. The S at the end of HTTP in your website’s address ensures that the data that is transferred via your site remains secure. SSL certificates are also being increasingly preferred by search engines. So it can also give you an SEO boost. Plus, more customer trust. 
• Keep your website (including all the technologies, plugins, themes, etc.) updated. Security patches can help avoid falling victim to emerging cyber threats. 
• Use secure passwords. Efficient password management is an important aspect of website security. Make sure you use strong, randomized passwords, access is shared only with the required team members, two-factor authentication is set up, and you have ways to curb access if needed.
• Invest in backups. Having a backup of your website means that even if your website gets compromised, you can quickly recover it using a backup. Consider getting a hosting that includes frequent backups and easy restore functionality.
• Don’t click on links or download attachments from unknown emails. Always check the sender and its credibility before taking any action on an email.

CMS platforms like WordPress and Magento are also exposed to a lot of unique cyber threats. Check out our guide on Magento store security and WordPress website security for specific safety tips.

Knowing what website security threats to avoid is only one part of the battle against cybercrime. The next step is to get comprehensive website maintenance and security services. 

With website maintenance services, like that offered by SynergyTop, you get the following advantages:

• Continuous website, theme, plugin, and technology version upgrades which avoid security gaps.
• Reliable IT support for avoiding and tackling any cyber attacks on your website.
• Availability of website backup and restoration services to ensure you can quickly bounce back even after a cyber attack. 
• Regular website monitoring to keep your site always secure and safe. 

You can check out our website maintenance services and packages here. 

Don’t wait, take the first step toward website safety today.