8 Tips to keep your SME safe online

1. Passwords are key: You'd be surprised how easy it is for hackers to crack passwords. Be sure to use intricate passwords containing numbers, symbols and capitals. If setting up a 'security question' make sure it's information that only you would know. You should also change your password occasionally just in case you have been hacked and don't know it.

2. Who has access to your account? Make sure only a very limited number of people have access to your server or BaseKit account. Fewer people means fewer risks of the password being inadvertently passed on to someone with malicious intentions.

3. Look out for suspicious website traffic: Keep an eye on Google Analytics and look out for any strange direct traffic spikes which could mean you're under a 'DOS attack'. Have a look at this article for more information: detecting hacking attempts with Google Analytics (warning: it's a little bit 'techie'!)

4. Use a professional & reliable hosting service: Having secure and reliable hosting is really important as it allows you peace of mind at night, so that when you go to sleep you can be safe in the knowledge that a reputable company is looking after your website. Without this security you could be missing out on valuable traffic, especially if you're an online business. BaseKit comes with Amazon S3 hosting - one of the best in the business.

5. Ecommerce, outsource it: Planning on incorporating ecommerce into your site? Instead of investing in expensive ecommerce software, use a widget from a trusted provider, like PayPal or Google Checkout and embed it into your site. This means all sensitive transactional information can be inputted on one of their secure web pages, while your customer temporally navigates away.

To be able to handle transactions on your site itself, you must be PCI-compliant - this can cost thousands per month and means passing numerous security checks.

6. Choose a secure Internet Service Provider (ISP): There are a variety of ISPs to choose from and most people mainly choose on the criteria of speed and price, but as you will be accessing your site via an internet connection it is important to consider what protection your ISP provides. Some ISPs offer a very high level of security while others offer almost nothing.

7. Be aware of the latest threats, scams and viruses: By simply visiting a threat tracking website, businesses and consumers can check what's out there, and whether it will affect them. If you notice an outbreak of spyware that steals people's details, among other things, it's easy to avoid the web or maintain a greater level of vigilance until the security companies can plug holes or uncover the criminals prowling the web.

8. Keep your anti-virus and anti-spyware programs up-to-date!

Remember that even large companies suffer from breakdowns in online security - not just SMEs . Sony is a recent example of a large international company dealing with the repercussions of major security lapse. As long as you follow the tips above, you should have no security issues to worry about, so why not create a website with BaseKit today!