How Secure Hosting Helps Protect Your Website and Data
You can have the best website in town, but if it’s not secured with SSL most web browsers will block it. That’s why adding an SSL security service is crucial to the success of your site, something that Northwest provides for no extra charge.
SSL Certificates: What They Are and How They Work
An SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) Certificate is a file stored on your host’s server that contains the server’s encryption key and signals to the browser the host site is encrypted and safe. SSL Certificates are approved by a Certificate Authority, like Let’s Encrypt.
Most browsers won’t navigate to a site whose server lacks an SSL Certificate. That’s because without the protection an SSL Certificate provides, the information shared between a website and a user is vulnerable to hackers.
An SSL Certificate works by encrypting data in transit. This is especially important for sites that collect user credit card information and other sensitive data.
How to Tell if a Site has an SSL Certificate
The easiest way to know if a site doesn’t have an SSL Certificate is your browser will block it and inform you the site is insecure. But another way is to take a look at the site’s URL or web address. If it begins with an “https:” it does have an SSL Certificate. If it begins with an “http:”, it does not.
Common SSL Issues to Avoid
Even when an SSL Certificate is installed, a few common issues can still cause security warnings:
- Expired SSL certificate: Certificates need to be renewed to stay valid.
- Mixed content: A secure (HTTPS) page loads something (like an image or script) over HTTP.
- HTTPS not enforced: Both HTTP and HTTPS versions of the site are accessible instead of redirecting visitors to the secure version.
A good hosting setup makes these issues easier to prevent and fix.
Backup and Restore: Features That Safeguard Your Website
Regular backups ensure that a recent copy of your website is always available, in the case of an accidental deletion or a malicious attack. In the event of an issue, one-click or rapid restore options allow you to quickly roll back to a clean, working version of your site, minimizing downtime and data loss while keeping your business online and secure.
Web Application Firewall and DDoS Protection
A firewall at the hosting level helps block common attacks (like malicious bots, exploit attempts, and suspicious traffic) before they reach your website. DDoS protection adds another layer by filtering attack traffic so your site stays online and accessible for real visitors.
Malware Scanning and Cleanup
Automated malware scanning looks for infected files, suspicious changes, and known threats. If something is detected, cleanup/removal support (or guided steps) helps you get back to a safe version of your site quickly and reduces the risk of repeat infections.