Website security management matters greatly nowadays. It has become increasingly easy for hackers to cause serious harm to both personal and business websites through malware and data breaches, and for that reason, selecting a secure web hosting provider needs to be one of the most critical decisions you make.
A good hosting provider does more than simply keeping your website online. They help with data protection, attack prevention, and overall smooth website performance for your visitors. In this article, I will explain notable security features you should be on the lookout for when selecting a web host.
1. SSL Certificates for Secure Connections
An SSL certificate encrypts the connection between your website and your visitors, making it harder for hackers to steal sensitive information like login credentials or payment details.
Most secure web hosts provide free SSL certificates, ensuring your website runs on HTTPS instead of HTTP. If your host doesn’t offer SSL, you might want to reconsider your choice.
Look for a padlock icon in your browser’s address bar—it means the website has SSL enabled. You can also check if your site has SSL or not here. If your website shows a warning sign padlock for https in the address bar, it is possible that there are some errors that you might want to check. You can check those on Why No Padlock website.
2. Regular Backups to Protect Your Data
If someday you wake up in the morning and your entire website is gone—could be due to a cyberattack, server failure, or accidental deletion. That’s why regular backups are important.
A reliable hosting provider will offer:
✔ Daily or weekly backups (so you always have a recent copy).
✔ Easy one-click restore options in case something goes wrong.
✔ Offsite storage for extra security.
3. Web Application Firewall (WAF)
A Web Application Firewall (WAF) acts as a protective shield between your website and attackers. It blocks malicious traffic, DDoS attacks, SQL injections, and cross-site scripting (XSS).
A firewall also enables you to control what IPs and what geolocation could be allowed to access your website.
Some hosting providers include a built-in WAF, while others allow integration with services.
4. Software Updates, Server Monitoring and Patch Management
A good hosting provider actively monitors their servers for suspicious activity to prevent any harm from happening to your website.
Look for hosts that offer:
✔ 24/7 server monitoring to detect unusual traffic patterns.
✔ Intrusion detection systems to identify hacking attempts.
✔ DDoS protection to prevent website crashes.
Hackers exploit outdated software to gain access to websites, it is the most common reason the sites get attacked and hacked. A secure web hosting provider should:
✔ Regularly update PHP, MySQL, and Apache/Nginx.
✔ Apply security patches to protect against vulnerabilities.
✔ Offer managed hosting where updates are done automatically.
Must read: Steps to Secure Your WordPress Admin Login
5. Malware Scanning and Removal
Web hosting should come with malware scanning to detect and remove harmful code. Some providers also offer automatic malware removal to keep your website clean. We see malware attacks on a daily basis and it has become a common activity across the internet. A secure hosting provider should offer:
✔ Daily malware scanning to detect threats early.
✔ Automated malware removal to clean infections before they spread.
✔ Blacklist monitoring to check if your site is flagged by Google.
Tip: Check if your hosting provider has an incident response team to handle security breaches quickly. You can also run your site through VirusTotal or Google Safe Browsing to check for malware infections.
Conclusion
Choosing a secure web hosting provider for your site is vital for keeping your website safe. Safer the hosting environment, hardened is the security of your website. Look for SSL certificates, regular backups, WAF protection, malware scanning, and strong access controls. Investing in secure web hosting ensures that your site stays online, protected, and trustworthy for visitors.
For more security related issues and solutions, stay connected with us at Malvirus.
