Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, organizations have experienced a dramatic increase in the number of cybersecurity attacks directed at their staff. Cybercriminals are taking advantage of the situation, releasing new computer viruses and mobile applications to steal sensitive information.
Malicious actors have immediately identified the opportunities of the global pandemic – in other words, the high volumes of emails. Nevertheless, they still have their attention focused on websites too. There are fake domains such as Googel\.com that don’t lead victims to the actual Google site.
Enforcing cyber security measures is more important than ever. Accessing the Internet involves a certain risk. With every search engine inquiry, website visit, and click of the mouse, the user leaves behind personal information.
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It’s up to website designers to make the world a better place by enabling people to safely utilize the magic beneath it all. At present, it’s essential for website designers to stay up to date with the latest threats targeting clients and fight against cyber criminals.
In addition to being well-designed, websites should be protected from hackers, to secure the data collected from users. Incorporating cyber security into website design is obligatory.
Fundamental principles of cyber security integration
Websites are the main target of malicious actors. Even if they still resort to email phishing, cybercriminals don’t exclude websites from their plans. HTML5 is the next big target. Why? Because it’s new. More data can be stored in the browser, so hackers attack HTML5 to steal data.
Millions of people have become unsuspecting victims of the ongoing online threats. Cyber security is rightly a priority for website designers, who are making great efforts to secure the digital infrastructure. Cyber security and website design go hand in hand.
Now, let us discuss the main principles of cyber security integration:
User access control
A website should be safe, protected, and user-friendly. Every user should access the system with a unique ID (username or email address) and a unique password. User controls are meant to avoid repetition of code and enforce security. More often than not, hackers take advantage of user ignorance to execute attacks. Security must be integrated into the architecture of the website. All systems should be user-centric.
Concrete action
Precautionary measures should be taken, thinking about ways to solve data breaches isn’t enough. Solutions must be available to prevent security breaches. The website should consolidate confidentiality and security. Taking the right measures from the very beginning guarantees that private information is kept safe and data breaches don’t occur. Web-based attacks usually take place at vulnerable entry points.
Enforcing joint data request
The amounts of data obtained via websites are impressive, to say the least. UI elements should notify individuals about data usage and give them the chance to say no. Besides pop-up notices and banners, hyperlinks can be implemented.
Web designers must decide how to comply with transparency obligations and respect individuals’ rights. Requests for information don’t necessarily decrease the conversion rate.
It’s necessary to put these principles at work when building an online platform. Cyber security threats are omnipresent, which is why users and organizations have to be proactive. Integrating cyber security into the website design process is paramount.
Malicious actors are agile and they are constantly coming up with new ways to navigate around the website’s code. Staying on top of things could turn out to be invaluable. Customers rely on agencies providing website design services to create beautiful and functional online platforms. What is more, they rely on IT professionals to deliver safe products.
Creating a secure website in just a few steps
Building a secure website instills confidence in clients and generates awareness. IT professionals already know that it’s necessary to hack-proof their work. In the following section, we’ll present the phases that make up cyber security implementation:
Making an inventory of vulnerabilities
All codes present vulnerabilities. Given the fact that cyber criminals exploit vulnerabilities to compromise website systems and cause harm, it’s recommended to go through the project one more time and identify potential vulnerabilities.
If users visit a website that has been hacked, they leave behind sensitive information that can be stolen by malicious actors. Website developers with experience know where to look for vulnerabilities they constantly monitor their work and use tools that enable them to automatically identify vulnerabilities.
Ensuring proactive protection
Website designers should be responsible in managing their own security. To be more precise, they should set up a virtual private network. Is a VPN really necessary? As a matter of fact, yes.
The virtual private network creates a secure connection over public and home networks, which is essential when working on client sites. Data isn’t the only type of proprietary information that hackers are looking for. Cybercriminals also attack established businesses.
Besides installing a VPN, website designers can limit admin access within the team, as well as the number of logins. It’s better to be safe than sorry.
To sum up, we can’t afford to ignore cyber security threats, especially in these times of crisis. More sophisticated attacks are being carried out, involving phishing, malware, and artificial intelligence.
Cyber security must be integrated into the website design process to deal with the increasing attempts to breach security and steal information. Designing the online portal with security in mind is paramount.
There are many potential threats when it comes to websites. Cybercriminals can hijack client-side scripts and get into users’ browsers, obtain credit card information, and cause web-based systems to go out of control.
Website developers should be aware of the threats that they can encounter and take advantage of any training opportunity to learn more about how to improve their skills.
Cyber security is now their responsibility and they can’t afford to disappoint clients. As mentioned earlier, threats are becoming more and more complex and, therefore, it’s necessary to extend the level of protection. As technology continues to evolve, it’s essential to implement effective cyber security measures in website design.
