Whether we like it or not, we can’t browse the internet without leaving a trail of personal information behind. We need to accept all those cookies, and consent forms don’t help either. So, with every click, we give out a bit of our data, and people are aware of this. As a result, they want to know their data is safe and that no one can use it for harmful purposes. Thanks to all of that, designers need to learn how to integrate cybersecurity in web design.

That doesn’t sound like a problem, but sometimes, it can be. You see, the more data you can collect on your site visitors, the better user experience you can create for them. If you’re still learning about how to move your business online, this is a big thing. On the other hand, you must keep all the data you get protected and get it unobtrusively. It’s tricky to do it all at once, but that’s what we’re here to teach you today.

Before we dive into all of that, let’s see what cybersecurity is and what kind of threats it protects from.

What is cybersecurity?

Cybersecurity is the practice of keeping systems, networks, and programs safe from attacks. Ideally, it should have a few layers of protection spread out across the system to make the most of it.

However, like anything else, it comes with its own set of challenges. The technology evolves, and hackers find new ways to harm your data all the time. The problem here is that there are so many devices. There are more of them than there are people, so it’s easy for attackers to try new things and be innovative.

Types of cyberattacks

To sum it up, cyberattacks happen for a few reasons. Most commonly, hackers or hacker bots will try to gain use of your server to send out spam mail. However, they also might do it to manipulate or destroy sensitive information or make the standard function of your processes impossible. When they ”get in”, the attackers will try to extort money or damage the business they’re attacking in one way or another.

Now, there are three types of cyberattacks you might come across. Here’s what these are and how to recognize them.

  • Confidentiality. In these attacks, hackers steal personal or financial information. All the chances are that they’ll sell it on the dark web for others to use later on.
  • Integrity. These are the leaks you hear about all the time. Most of the time, they are designed as sabotage, and that’s what their purpose is.
  • Availability. If someone attacks you this way, you won’t be able to access your data. They’ll ask you to pay a ransom, and when you do it, they’ll return the access.

We don’t have to stress that none of these bring pleasant experiences when they happen. If you want to avoid them at all costs, your best bet is to hire website maintenance experts to take care of the safety at all times. You won’t have to go through the process alone, and your site will be as safe as it can be.

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How to integrate cybersecurity in web design Protecting your users

Since 2018, the concept of ”privacy by default” has been in use. Thanks to Europe’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPE), it’s a legal requirement for all sites, and it’s a good thing. It helps keep the user’s data safe.

However, it brought an unusual challenge for web designers all around the world. They must find a way to collect the data to provide the personalized experience users love so much, but at the same time, they must keep it out of reach for anyone who shouldn’t access it.

If you’re trying to learn how to integrate cybersecurity in web design, here are a few tips that will be helpful.

Minimize data collection

According to privacy by default, you can only collect the data that’s relevant and necessary for your services. If you go down this road, you won’t have to store or analyze any additional data. So, there’s nothing that attackers can steal from you.

For example, if you don’t need it, don’t ask for your user’s full address or phone number. Those are two pieces of information that are often required, but they don’t serve many purposes. Moreover, when you analyze your data, you can replace your customers’ names with random ID numbers.

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Use clear data sharing notices

Most of the data websites collect is obtained automatically. Of course, we’re talking about tracking scripts and cookies here. In the last few years, more and more sites added a banner that informs visitors about how they use the data they collect. They can accept it, reject it, or do nothing about it.

We know that this all might sound a bit confusing. There’s a lot of things to think about, and this only adds to the mess. Luckily, one of the benefits of hiring website maintenance professionals is that it takes these technical bits of your mind. So, if you don’t want to deal with it, you don’t have to.

Protecting your website

Manage your security

Keep in mind that privacy-focused design on your website doesn’t mean that there are no other vulnerabilities in your system. If your employees are working remotely or on a public network, they’re exposed to all kinds of attacks. So, you’ve got to be careful.

A good VPN software will go a long way here. It’ll encrypt the connection, and even if someone gets your data package, they won’t be able to get anything from it.

Here are a few more tricks to keep your site and data secure.

  • Create unique and strong usernames and passwords for accessing your website.
  • Limit the number of login attempts.
  • Don’t allow auto-fill.
  • Regularly update your passwords.
  • End expired sessions.
  • Regularly scan all your devices for malware.

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The bottom line

User privacy is more important now than ever, and as it seems, this trend will continue. So, if you haven’t done it already, it’s time to upgrade your business website and make it in sync with all the new rules.

By following everything that we talked about in integrating cybersecurity in web design, you’ll boost your company’s success and make your customers trust you even more. If you want professionals to protect your website, make sure to reach out to them and let them handle this process. Your site will be secure and your visitors happy!