SECURE WEB HOSTING

We explain elsewhere on this website how security for websites falls under two main categories – web development and web hosting – we cover the latter here.

The environment in which the website resides needs to be well protected. If the necessary defences are not in place the likelihood of the website being compromised or damaged is very high. Consequently when considering hosting options it is important to investigate the proposed service thoroughly, many organisations have previously chosen a web hosting service primarily because it was the cheapest option. This can turn out to be false economy especially if an attack is suffered as the cost of that will almost certainly be more than any savings made against the hosting charges. With greater due diligence a far better value for money proposition can ensue including added security for the business.

There are many web hosting service providers who provide good secure facilities however it would be risky for the business to assume their website is secure unless you can say for certain that it is. The best way to find that out is through an independent security test, if you take the word of the supplier or accept them doing testing themselves then that is obviously less objective.

Meritec IT security background and experience means we are well placed to help clients when they are considering their hosting options. We can make sure the specification and ensuing service agreement make provision for protection and safety measures appropriate for each client’s specific needs.

Our consultants can advise on what to look out for in a quality service provider and will point clients towards reputable secure hosting organisations known to take security seriously and with sound track records for doing so.

If you have an existing website you may wish to obtain an independent assessment from Meritec to advise you on how secure the current hosting environment is. If any vulnerabilities are found these can be raised with the hosting company to see how they can best be closed down or if necessary the site can be transferred to a more secure location.