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When it comes to developing a robust business website, there are numerous factors to consider. Aesthetics, ease of use, mobile readiness, and search engine optimization are just a few of these considerations.

One factor that’s easy to overlook is website security. Simply put, your website may be a direct access point to sensitive data, including confidential information submitted by customers and clients. If a hacker was to expose this data, it could lead to legal liability, reputational damage, and shattered trust.

As such, it’s crucial to make security a top priority for your small business website. The question is how.

How Common are Small Business Cyber Attacks?

First, it may help to frame the question. What’s the broader context for small business cybersecurity? And how common is it for a small business to be hacked?

The short answer: More common than you might think. Some studies show that somewhere between 40 and 50 percent of all cybercrimes target small businesses, and that the cost to bounce back from a cyberattack averages around $25,000.

Meanwhile, the number of small businesses that have a viable cybersecurity plan in place is vanishingly small, well under one in five.

What are the Best Ways to Keep a Business Website Secure?

With that said, what are some of the steps that small businesses can take to ensure their websites are safe and secure? Consider a few website security best practices.

1. Ensure the use of HTTPS. HTTPS is a website protocol that encrypts all data transmissions that occur between your website users and you. This is a vital step toward locking down sensitive data, keeping it out of reach from hackers and other computer-based criminals.
2. Keep your website software up to date. One way in which hackers can breach your business website is by exploiting vulnerabilities in your software. To avoid this, it’s important to keep everything updated, including any website plugins or themes.
3. Use strong passwords. Another way in which hackers can break into your site is by taking advantage of weak passwords. Make sure that any passwords you use to access the back-end of your site are complex… and coach your employees to do likewise.
4. Implement two-factor authentication. Beyond using strong passwords, you may want to impose an added layer of security for admin accounts. Using 2FA can be an important way to make your business website more secure.
5. Schedule regular website backups. One of the biggest challenges that business owners face following a cyberattack is recovering all their lost data. It’s imperative to ensure regularly-scheduled, secure backups of all mission-critical website data.
6. Limit user access. Keep in mind that not all members of your team will need to have their own access to the business website. In fact, you should probably limit access to those who actually need to access the site for administrative purposes. This is an important way to limit the vulnerabilities that a hacker might use to break into the site.
7. Install security plugins. Another important step is to use security plugins, or similar tools that monitor for vulnerabilities, malware, and unusual activity. If you’re not sure what types of plugins to use, that can be a good question for your IT vendor or for your website design company.
8. Perform regular audits of your business website. Along the same lines, be sure to conduct periodic security audits to identify and address vulnerabilities in a proactive way. This is another area where your IT vendor can provide an invaluable sense of direction.
9. Apply scrutiny to your vendors. From the website design team to SEO technicians to digital ad firms, there are a number of external parties who may need access to your site. Always ask them to share their own protocols for ensuring robust security, while also making sure they know about your standards and expectations.
10. Educate your employees. Your team can be a huge cybersecurity liability… or, they can be your strongest line of defense. The difference comes down to education. Make sure to invest in rigorous training for all employees, including recognizing phishing attempts and safe browsing habits.

By following these basic guidelines, you can ensure a relatively high degree of security for your business website, and minimize your risk of a data breach.

Ensuring the Right Legal Safeguards

While it’s important to take the right IT security precautions, it’s equally as important to implement some legal guardrails. For example, you can limit your legal risk exposure by registering your company as a Limited Liability Company, or LLC.

When you establish your business as an LLC, you are creating a distinct legal entity, meaning you can keep business assets/liabilities distinct from personal ones. What this means is that you can shield yourself from personal risk in the event of a lawsuit or other financial disaster. You don’t have to worry about litigators or creditors trying to seize your family nest egg or your retirement fund.

The process for registering an LLC can vary by state, but generally follows these steps:

• You’ll need to have a Registered Agent, someone who can receive legal correspondence on behalf of your business. This must be someone with a mailing address in the state where you register, e.g., starting an LLC in Florida requires you to find a Registered Agent somewhere in the Sunshine State.
• You’ll also need to file Articles of Organization with your state, and pay the modest registration fee (up to $300, but often much less).
• While it isn’t legally mandatory, having an Operating Agreement can help you minimize any friction with your business partners.

For Business Websites, It’s Vital to Put Safety First

When planning the perfect business website, never overlook the importance of security. Follow these IT and legal protocols to ensure you’re prioritizing website safety.

Author Bio

Amanda E. Clark is a contributing writer to LLC University. She has appeared as a subject matter expert on panels about content and social media marketing, as well as small business leadership.