The Internet is a cobweb of dozens of websites. However, it is also true that fiendish activities are an undeniable part of it. CMSs are not completely prone to security-related errors. CMS like Joomla, which is considered to be more secure than others, is also at risk of malicious practices.
There is no escape from it. Everyone has to face this menace. But, this is not inevitable. It can be evaded by taking suitable measures right from the start to ensure that your Joomla-based website stays secure. Just like you ensure your physical assets stay secure exactly the way, you need to take methods that can safeguard your digital presence.
However, some methods require expertise on the Joomla platform, especially technical ones, like server-side configuration, security patches, and updates. Here, opting for Joomla website development services is invaluable. Experts can help you maintain a highly secure web presence. Apart from that, some of the security practices that you can also consider.
5 Best Security Practices for Joomla Websites
Maintaining a secure web presence is of utmost value. Various practices can help you do so. Joomla is considered a secure platform, but it still requires tweaking depending on each user’s requirements to make their web presence more secure. As a Joomla user, you must utilize every basic to advanced measure to make your web presence resilient to a cyberattack. Here are some of the best security practices that you should consider while aiming to build a highly secure web presence on a content management system like Joomla:
1. Use Secure Hosting
Do not just use a cheap hosting plan that does not assure security. If you do, you invite malware, unauthorized access, phishing attacks, and more, making your web solution safety more vulnerable. Instead, be specific about what you need to safeguard.
To secure the web solution, you must choose a hosting plan that provides robust measures, such as a firewall, Intrusion Detection System (IDS), regular security audits, and more. This way, you minimize security-related risks and offer visitors an experience that makes them feel more secure while scrolling.
2. Update the Core and Extensions of Joomla Timely
Never use outdated extensions or the platform itself. Obsolete versions can be more prone to significant security risks. Why you should not use them? Here are the things you should consider:
- Antiquated extensions and Joomla core can lead to data breaches, information theft, and website defacement.
- Once a version goes out of date, developers stop releasing the security updates.
- Hackers majorly target outdated versions and create severe vulnerabilities.
This is why you should always use an up-to-date version of the content management system and every extension. A fresh version of Joomla and its extensions encompasses the present-day security requirements updates, helping you to build a web presence compatible enough to find modern vulnerabilities.
The current version of Joomla is 5.2.2, released on 26 Nov. 2024. The 5x series is majorly related to fixing security glitches. Some significant fixes are:
- Advanced sanitization techniques
- Two-factor authentication
- Compatible with the latest PHP versions to level up the security
3. Enable Encryption With SSL
SSL (Secure Socket Layer) is vital to strengthening the security of your Joomla-based website. This layer encrypts the data between you and visitors. It safeguards crucial and sensitive information like payment details, login details, credit or debit card details, and more, is secure against vulnerable and malicious activities.
SSL encryption is crucial for every website, but it must be implemented for websites containing sensitive data to create a secure connection. This will improve the trust and credibility of your web presence among visitors.
4. Utilize Apache .htaccess
Apache .htaccess can greatly improve the security of your Joomla website. However, it is not entirely related to security. It plays a pivotal role in that. This ensures that website administrators control access to specific directories, block malicious IP addresses, prevent directory listings, and more to maintain a highly secure web presence.
This acts as a protection layer on the server to secure your site from unauthorized access.
- You can use it to safeguard directories with a strong password.
- This redirects users to secure web pages (from HTTP to HTTPS)
- Limiting access to highly critical and dangerous file types
The .htaccess offers various ways to secure a web presence, but it certainly needs expertise in some cases, like understanding syntax, server configuration, troubleshooting, and more. Here, the better way is to hire dedicated Joomla developers. The experts will assist you in building a highly secure Joomla-based web presence by using the most.
5. Take Regular Backups
You must perform a timely backup of your website. Regular backup improves a web solution’s ability to recover quickly in case of data loss or, by chance, any security breach. This way, you level up the security posture of your website by restoring it to a clean state rapidly. Depending on the frequency of how quickly you change your content, you must take a backup based on that. You can either perform manual or automated backup, as you require.
Conclusion
Securing your Joomla web presence is of utmost importance. Its value should be considered. If you follow all the security measures illustrated in this blog, you will develop a secure Joomla website. From using secure hosting to enabling encryption, these methods serve as a strong layer of protection. However, you can further enhance the security by investing in custom development. This mode can level up the measures by ultimately molding them to match the tone of your brand.
