Keeping Your Website Safe Around The Clock

In the digital, always-on world, a website is the equivalent of a digital window display, meaning it’s one of your most exposed assets.

But, as cyber-attacks continue to rise, nobody – your website included – is safe from the crosshairs of malicious outsiders. But would you know if harmful outsiders were trying to harm your page?

What is Web Defacement?

Throughout COVID, businesses saw a spike in attempted cyber attacks, and this trend hasn’t gone away.

Cyber attacks in Singapore saw a 145% year-on-year increase in 2021, and whilst malware and phishing rank amongst the most common forms of such attacks, web defacement is steadily on the rise.

Web defacement refers to an unauthorised hack of a web page – or even your entire website – intending to replace your content with malicious or hazardous images, codes or words.

In some cases, the insertion of malicious code can even put your customers and their data in danger. Such an occurrence can do unprecedented harm to an organisation’s reputation, driving customers away or even putting their sensitive data at risk – which could put companies at risk of fines from authorities and governing bodies.

The Signs of a Hacked Website

Websites in today’s age of the internet are incredibly dynamic – typically, they’re a space where a combination of code, text, images, and video come together in one location.

They can exist to attract new customers, showcase your products or add value to existing clients.

But, with so many rich and dynamic elements spanning multiple pages, what should you look out for as a way of telling your website has been hacked?

SentryPage lists the following as some indications that your website may have been hacked:

• The content looks weird or different
• Web performance decreases drastically
• There is suspicious activity on one or more webpages
• The website has broken links
• Presence of Malware

It’s unreasonable to expect someone to check every piece of content on your website daily. So, how do you know if – and when – a malicious outsider has been hard at work defacing your website?

Web Defacement Monitoring

The last thing anyone wants is to wake up in the morning and see that their organisation’s website has been defaced – especially if it starts making headlines before you get a chance to react.

Web defacement monitoring is a means of protecting your most valuable asset from malicious outsiders.

Typically cloud-based, these services monitor websites for broken links, loading speeds, and negative mobile experiences. It also carries out a host of daily security checks, scanning for known threats and suspicious activity.

Utilising the service means that no matter the time, or day, an organisation can be on top of any suspicious activity and quickly react accordingly.

The Benefits of Web Defacement Monitoring

Ignoring website defacement can lead to negative user experiences and a loss of brand credibility. But, what benefits come from using the service?

Some of the benefits of using a web defacement monitoring program, such as SentryPage, include:

• Know about threats before anyone else. If any attacks occur, you can restore your website before anyone notices.
• Keep track of your website history. Every micro change is recorded so you can track the website’s history and notice where any change has taken place.
• AI-based computer visions rely on machine learning to recognise defacement patterns quickly without the need for intervention from you.
• Ease of mind with 24/7 business support.

In an always-on world, can you afford not to have an enterprise-grade monitoring tool protecting your website? After all, your website never sleeps, so neither should your security!

Managing your IT costs

However, businesses need to be mindful that such an offering isn’t free. And, as web defacement software exists in the Cloud, you may be conscious of costs increasing.

As your Cloud environment becomes more complex, costs may become harder to track – especially as you build in added features and security into your infrastructure. But, in the harsh realities where organisations and individuals are tightening their belts and budgets accordingly, keeping on top of your expenditure can be crucial. So, how do you ensure you have visibility of your spending and are able to optimise Cloud cost monitoring?

Businesses must consider several things when budgeting:

• Various consumption-based charges
• Various user-based charges
• Fixed costs
• Security costs
• Monthly vs annual renewals

In an area that is now so business-critical, you may find yourself compelled to research more about the topic and rush to implement it sooner rather than later. But why go it alone?

By starting to work with a third party, you can suitably take the next step in your business’ evolution. Not only can you have Cloud cost monitoring assistance, but you can continue your journey into the future with a dedicated team in your corner, supporting you along the way.