If you have a web application — whether it’s an online store, blog, or small business- you’ve likely heard that cybersecurity, or digital protection, is very important. But if you’re not tech-savvy, implementing security measures for your web app can seem overwhelming. However, as a company providing digital solutions for businesses, we often encounter owners who have launched their projects but aren’t IT experts when securing their sites.
As someone with many years in the IT industry, I can tell you that following a few simple steps can significantly enhance the security of your web application. Let’s break everything down, so it’s easy to understand without complicated jargon.
Why Web Application Security Matters?
Before we dive into how to protect your web application, let’s take a moment to understand why security is so important. As mentioned earlier, regardless of what you run, your web application collects and stores valuable information. This might include:
- Customer data
- Payment information
- Users’ details
If a hacker breaches your system, they could steal this data, damage your app, or even harm your business’s reputation.
Think of it this way: having an unsecured web app is like leaving your shop’s doors open overnight. Anyone can walk in, take what they want, or even mess up your shop for no reason. No business owner would ever leave their store unprotected, so why leave your web application vulnerable?
In 2019, Capital One, a major financial organization, experienced a massive data breach. A hacker exploited a web app vulnerability and accessed confidential information of over 100 million customers, including social security numbers, credit scores, and more. This cost Capital One both a lot of money and trust.
Your web app might not be as big as Capital One’s, but that doesn’t mean you’re safe. Hackers aren’t picky — they don’t care if you’re a huge corporation or a small startup. If there’s a weak spot, they’ll find it. Smaller apps and businesses often make easier targets, assuming no one would bother hacking them.
So, whether your app has 100 users or 100,000, securing it should be one of your top priorities. Remember, it’s not just about preventing data breaches but also protecting your users and keeping your app reliable and trustworthy. Below, we’ll cover best practices to help maintain your web application’s security.
Use Strong Passwords for Admin Accounts
Let’s start with the basics — passwords. Weak passwords are like leaving the key to your front door under the doormat. Hackers know all the tricks to guess simple passwords, especially if they’re short, predictable, or reused for multiple accounts. That’s why having strong, unique passwords for admin accounts that control your web app’s settings is essential for keeping your site secure.
But what makes a password “strong”? It’s not just about length or complexity. Let’s look at what makes a password hard to crack:
1. Make it long
A strong password should be at least 12 characters long. The longer, the better! Think of it like adding extra locks to your door — each character makes it harder to break in.
2. Mix it up
Use uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and special symbols (like @, #, $). This variety makes your password more unpredictable.
3. Avoid common words
Don’t use easily guessable words like “password,” “admin,” or even the name of your app. Hackers have lists of commonly used passwords they can go through in seconds.
4. Don’t reuse passwords
Each account should have its unique password. If one password is compromised, it shouldn’t give hackers access to other accounts.
5. Tips from Experts
If you’re thinking, “How am I supposed to remember all these long, complicated passwords?” — paper notes are a thing of the past. In the digital age, it’s time to use a password manager — like a vault for all your passwords. It stores and encrypts them, so you only need to remember one master password. Many password managers can even generate strong passwords for you.
Change your passwords regularly, especially for high-level accounts like the admin login. While it might be inconvenient, updating passwords often adds another layer of security, making it even harder for hackers to gain access.
Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)
Even with a strong password, there’s a simple and highly effective way to add an extra layer of security — two-factor authentication (2FA). Think of it as a double lock system: you enter your password as usual, but to fully unlock the account, you need a second form of identification. This is often a code sent to your phone or generated by an app. It’s like having a password plus a unique key you have.
Why is this important? Even if a hacker manages to guess or steal your password, they still won’t be able to access your account without that second factor. It’s like knowing the code to a lock but not having the actual key. This extra step makes it much harder for unauthorized users to get into your admin panel.
How Does 2FA Work?
You enter your username and password as usual. Then, the system prompts you to enter a one-time code, which is either sent via SMS or generated by an authentication app (like Google Authenticator or Authy). You input the code, and only then are you granted access.
Setting up 2FA is easier than it seems. Platforms like WordPress, Shopify, and most hosting services offer 2FA as an option, and you can usually enable it with just a few clicks. Some platforms even provide step-by-step guides to help you through the process.
If you’re worried about losing access to your phone or the second authentication device, don’t panic. Most platforms allow you to set up backup methods—like saving backup codes in a safe place or authenticating with multiple devices. This ensures that you will never be locked out of your account.
Why Is It So Important?
Hackers are constantly finding new ways to steal passwords, whether through phishing attacks, malware, or data breaches. But with 2FA enabled, even if they obtain your password, they will still need that second step, making their task much more difficult. This simple method adds a powerful layer of protection to your web application.
Keep Your Web Application Software Updated
You know those software update notifications that always pop up at the most inconvenient times? It’s tempting to hit “remind me later” and carry on with your day, but trust me — don’t ignore them! These updates aren’t just about new features or performance improvements. Often, they’re released to fix security vulnerabilities that hackers could exploit. So, by updating your web app software, you’re essentially closing up holes before hackers can find a way in.
Think of it like maintaining a house. Over time, everything wears out, and you might need to fix a leaking roof or replace old windows. If you ignore these issues, your home becomes vulnerable to damage. The same can be said for your web application. Outdated software is like a leaking roof through which hackers can infiltrate. By regularly updating everything, you reinforce the walls of your digital home.
Why Do Updates Matter?
1. Security Patches
Developers are always on the lookout for potential security issues. When they find them, they release updates to fix them. If you don’t update, these vulnerabilities remain open, giving hackers an easy way in.
2. Increased Stability
Updates often include bug fixes that make the application run more smoothly and reliably, reducing the chances of crashes or malfunctions.
3. New Features and Improvements
While security is the main reason for updates, you also gain access to new features and enhancements with the latest version.
What Should You Update?
If your web application is built on platforms like WordPress, Magento, or Joomla, it’s essential to regularly update the core software as well as the plugins and themes you use. These add-ons are often created by third-party developers and may have their vulnerabilities, so keeping them up to date is just as important as updating the platform itself.
Many platforms offer automatic updates, meaning you can set and forget it. Just make sure the automatic update feature is enabled, and your system will remain protected without requiring any effort from you.
If your web application is custom-built, it’s a good idea to ask your developer to regularly check for updates and address any security gaps. While technical tasks may not be handled solely by you, your developers should prioritize security to help protect your application in the long run.
Our Recommendation – Schedule Regular Updates
If you’re worried that updates might disrupt your application during busy times, consider scheduling them during off-hours or periods of low traffic. Many platforms allow you to schedule updates for a specific time, ensuring minimal disruption for users.
Updating your web application is one of the simplest and most effective ways to protect it. A few minutes spent on updates can save you from potential issues like security breaches or data loss. So the next time you see an update notification, don’t postpone it — act now to secure your application.
Use a Web Application Firewall (WAF)
A Web Application Firewall (WAF) is like a guard standing at the entrance to your site, checking everyone who tries to enter. From a technical perspective, it filters incoming traffic and blocks any suspicious activity before it reaches your site. This extra layer of protection is very helpful against common web attacks.
Two common types of attacks that WAF can prevent:
- SQL Injections
Hackers attempt to manipulate your web application’s database by injecting malicious code. It’s like sneaking into a store’s stockroom and damaging the inventory.
- Cross-Site Scripting (XSS)
In this case, hackers try to inject harmful scripts onto your website’s pages, negatively impacting users when they visit. It’s like slipping something harmful into a store that customers unwittingly pick up.
The good news for non-technical owners is that you don’t need experience or expertise to benefit from a WAF. Many hosting providers, like Cloudflare or Sucuri, offer user-friendly WAF services that are easy to set up. Once installed, the WAF acts like a quiet bodyguard, working in the background to protect your site from malicious activity.
How Does WAF Work?
The WAF sits between your site and the Internet, analyzing incoming traffic. It looks for patterns or behaviors that match known attacks. If it detects anything suspicious like a hacker attempting to run a malicious script — it blocks that traffic before it reaches your site.
But it’s not just about preventing attacks. A good WAF can also filter out:
- Spam traffic
- Malicious bots
- Even DDoS attacks (when hackers try to overwhelm your site with massive traffic to take it down)
With a WAF in place, you can be confident that only legitimate users are accessing your application.
Our Recommendation – Install and Forget
One of the best features of a WAF is its simplicity in setup and management. After installation, it typically requires little maintenance. The firewall will continue to protect your web application by updating itself to recognize new types of threats. Providers like Cloudflare even offer real-time monitoring, so if anything unusual happens, you’ll be alerted.
In short, a WAF is like hiring a security team for your site. It takes care of all the heavy lifting, identifying and blocking potential threats before they can cause harm. You don’t need to be involved in daily operations—just set it up and let it do its job. For those working with web applications, this is a simple, low-maintenance way to protect your site from attackers.
Backup Your Data Regularly
I once worked with a business owner whose web application was hacked, and upon waking up, he was shocked to see all his data wiped out. Terrible, right? If he had a backup; he could have restored everything with just a few clicks. That’s the magic of regular backups — it acts like a safety net for your web application, ensuring quick recovery if something goes wrong.
Regular backups are essential because even with the most effective security measures, something unexpected can still happen — whether it’s a cyberattack, a technical failure, or human error. Having the latest backups ensures that no matter what occurs, your web application can recover without losing critical information, such as customer data, order history, or even your website’s design.
How to Create Backups for Your Web Application?
Let’s break down a few simple steps to ensure reliable backups:
1. Choose a Hosting Provider with Automatic Backups
Many hosting providers offer automatic daily backups, one of the easiest ways to ensure continuous data preservation without you having to lift a finger. Check with your provider to see if this feature is included in your plan and ensure it’s activated.
2. Use a Backup Plugin
If you’re using web applications on platforms like WordPress, there are backup plugins that simplify this process significantly. For example, a popular plugin like UpdraftPlus can be set up to automatically create regular backups and store them in services like Google Drive or Dropbox.
3. Built-in Backup Features
Some platforms, like Shopify, come with built-in backup features. If you’re using such a platform, make sure you understand how to access and use these features. In most cases, it’s as simple as flipping a switch to enable automatic backups.
4. Set a Backup Schedule
How often should you back up your web application? It depends on how frequently your application changes. If you’re running an online store with numerous daily transactions, daily backups are a must. If your application changes less frequently, weekly or monthly backups may suffice. The key is to establish a schedule that ensures your most recent data is always protected.
5. Don’t Forget to Test Your Backups
Backing up data is only part of the equation. You also need to ensure that these backups work! Periodically check your backups by restoring a previous version of the site in a staging environment (a safe place to test everything without affecting the live application). This will help ensure that if something goes wrong, the backup will work when you need it most.
Why Are Backups Important?
Even the largest companies are not immune to data loss. For example, in 2021, Kaseya, an IT software provider, experienced a significant ransomware attack that left businesses locked out. Many companies affected by this attack were able to recover quickly because they had reliable backups. Those who didn’t face days or weeks of downtime and potential data loss.
By regularly backing up your web applications, you’re preparing for the unexpected. Whether it’s a minor issue like a plugin failure or a major event like a cyberattack, having a backup will allow you to get your site back up and running with minimal downtime.
Use HTTPS with an SSL Certificate
Have you ever noticed a small padlock icon next to a website’s URL? Thanks to HTTPS, one of the simplest ways to make your web application more secure. HTTPS encrypts the data transmitted between users and your application, ensuring that sensitive information — passwords, personal details, and payment information — remains private.
Without it, hackers can intercept this data, leading to various troubles.
Think of HTTPS as a secure envelope for sending information online. Without it, your users’ data is sent in an open letter that anyone can read. With HTTPS, that data is locked up, and only the intended recipient can open it.
What You Need About SSL Certificates
To enable HTTPS, you need an SSL certificate. It provides encryption and gives your site the padlock symbol. You can obtain an SSL certificate more easily than you might think. Many hosting providers offer them for free, but it’s still good to consult with specialists to avoid any issues.
Platforms like Let’s Encrypt provide free SSL certificates, and most hosting providers simplify the installation process. Once the SSL certificate is active, your site will automatically switch from HTTP to HTTPS, encrypting every part of the data exchanged between your users and your application.
Most SSL certificates are valid for a year, after which they need to be renewed. Many hosting providers now offer automatic renewal, which saves you from having to manually renew the SSL certificate each year. Make sure this option is enabled, or at least set a reminder so that the certificate doesn’t expire.
What Happens Without HTTPS?
Let’s say your web application doesn’t use HTTPS. If users enter their payment information or passwords, this data can be intercepted by hackers. Not only that modern browsers like Chrome will mark your site as “Not Secure,” which may deter visitors before they even reach your content.
In a notable case, a British online store suffered a data breach in 2020 after failing to secure its website with HTTPS. Hackers managed to steal customers’ credit card information, and the company faced not only financial penalties but also a significant loss of customer trust.
So switching to HTTPS with an SSL certificate is one of the simplest yet most effective ways to protect web applications. It’s a small step that offers huge benefits — user data protection, increased trust, and improved search engine rankings. Most hosting providers make this process straightforward, so there’s no reason not to do it.
Conclusion
Protecting web applications may seem daunting, but hopefully, after learning more about the remaining questions, you only have one to discuss this with. The Corpsoft Solutions team has been creating and implementing digital solutions for over six years, helping elevate web and mobile business projects and assisting owners of impactful business ideas in launching them. We recommend following the simple steps mentioned above.
Remember, cybersecurity is an ongoing process. Be proactive, keep learning, and don’t hesitate to ask for help when you need it. Your web application is very valuable, and protecting it is easier than you think!
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