According to recent statistics, cyber losses have increased nearly six times worldwide in the past year.
What does this mean for website owners?
Any website is at risk from the unseen danger of cyber attacks. You need to do everything possible to secure your website and personal information against cyber threats.
If you’re updating your small business cybersecurity practices or just refreshing your website, consider adding a firewall to help keep it safe from major threats.
Keep reading to learn:
- What a firewall is and how it works to secure your website
- Why a website without a firewall is at risk
- Which firewall plugins to use
What a Firewall Is and Why You Need One To Secure Your Website
A firewall is network security software or a hardware device that acts as a filter to protect your website (or network) and private data from unauthorized access.
The main reason to use a firewall for your website is to protect it from malicious programs that could access it through the internet.
A firewall works by analyzing a website based on predetermined rules. It monitors any attempts to access your website and blocks any data that doesn’t meet its set of criteria.
When using a firewall for your website, only trusted IP addresses and sources can access it. A firewall only lets in the traffic it’s configured to accept.
For instance, you can configure a firewall to block traffic from specific locations and applications and allow only relevant and important data to pass through.
How You Risk Your Website Security by Not Using a Firewall
A built-in firewall in modern operating systems could give your website some basic security. But you will have more control installing a third-party firewall. Here are some reasons why you can’t go without a firewall if you want to secure your website.
Compromised Data
Without a firewall, your information is vulnerable to outsiders. It means you’re allowing someone else to control your website. You are at risk of hackers committing fraud or even deleting important information from your database.
Open Access
A website without a firewall accepts any connection available with nothing to detect threats coming to it. This could expose your website to malicious users.
Website Shutdown
Not having a firewall could allow attackers to crash your website and deny you access. Getting your website running again could cost you time and money.
