5 Best Security Practices for Joomla Websites
Currently, 1.13 billion+ live websites are online, making the internet a cobweb of sites. One of the primary aspects that a site has to pass through is security. No business or user should spend even a second on an unsecured site. You must not deny that the internet is also a home of fiendish activities, making CMSs less secure. Though these have security-related risks, Joomla especially offers better ways to handle these risks.
There is no escape from malicious activities. This menace struck every industry and individual. But this is not entirely inevitable. It can be overcome by taking the best security-focused practices for building a Joomla-based website. This could be done whether by using the latest Joomla version to continuously update the site to meet security standards.
You must keep your digital presence secure the way you safeguard your physical assets. However, some Joomla-specific security practices require expertise, and opting for Joomla website development services can help you in that. The experts will aid you in building a safe and secure presence by utilizing the practices that best match the industry in which you operate your business.
Continue reading this blog to learn about those practices that can play a vital role in keeping your site secure.
5 Best Practices to Secure Your Joomla Presence
Joomla has an active user base of over 2 million, translating to around 2.3% of its share in the CMS market. It might look less popular, but the ones using this platform acknowledge its security, and in general, it is considered more secure than WordPress because of the smaller user base.
However, security is still an undeniable part, and one must invest in both simple and advanced tactics to ensure the top-tier safety of its Joomla-based website. Here are the top 5 practices that can aid you in keeping your web presence ready to outmatch the menace of malicious activities:
1. Pick Smart Usernames and Passwords
Most website holders deny the importance of this crucial pointer in keeping their site secure. Don’t just create “admin” as your username and some random words as your password, as it is easy for a hacker to decipher and join hands with your site. Instead, you must choose a different username and password (14 -16 characters long) with the correct proportion of alphanumeric letters consisting of small and uppercase words. This is basic and sets the tone for securing a web presence. Changing your username and password monthly is advised for a safe surfing experience.
2. Update to the Latest Joomla Version
You must not use an outdated version of Joomla, whether it’s the platform, plugin, or anything that contributes to security. The reason is because of:
- Obsolete versions of Joomla or extensions can lead to data breaches or information theft.
- Developers stop re-releasing the security update once it gets old.
- Antiquated versions are at the top of the list of hackers.
That is why you do not use them and keep your Joomla core and extensions updated. The more in line you are with the new version, the less prone you are to security-related attacks. The current version of Joomla is 5.2.5, and this series is considered better for resolving security-related issues. Here is why:
- Better two-factor authentication practices
- Modern data sanitization techniques
3. Perform Daily Backup
Your daily backup activity can aid you in recovering your data when it’s lost. This is not only valid to data loss but can also help you in the case of security breaches. It can significantly aid you in improving the security of your site by providing accessibility to improve your site’s ability to recover data when lost. Whether you perform manual or automated backup, this will add-on to increase the security of your site. For the manual backup process, you can use FTP or file manager (in case of third-party hosting); for the automated process, this can be completed with Joomla extensions like Akeeba backup.
4. Implement Two-Factor Authentication
The more measures you implement on your site, the more secure it will be. However, this does not mean including every measure. Including only those that are relevant can add value. The fourth in this list is to implement two-factor authentication on your site. This means that the username and password are the first step, and the second step might be OTPs, questions, or anything a site owner prefers. 2FA will add a further layer of security that restricts username deciphering. It is considered to follow every step precisely as the process is long and consists of a total of 13 steps to ensure top-tier Joomla-based security.
5. Frequent Security Audit
You must perform frequent security audits to find security-specific loopholes before a fiendish activity performer. Well, it can’t be done like you think. You must choose a professional security audit tool that will aid you further in the process with more precision. This can be done when you either hire Joomla developers for this purpose or, if you are skilled, look for the best options in the market.
You can get the option to automate your process by filling the loopholes with perfection. Carefully performing security audits is a great way to improve the security of your Joomla-based site. Various extensions help in this by automating website backup, performing bulk updates of the required extensions, and looking for intrusion signs. These tools can perform work in both manual and automated ways, helping Joomla site owners to find the vulnerabilities and fill in the gaps quickly.
Conclusion
There will always be a threat to security, and one should continuously perform activities to evade this risk. Joomla is a secure platform, but security-related risks can still exist in this platform.
As an entrepreneur, you must not take this lightly. Performing the correct measures with the right strategy can help you improve the security of your site. From updating the core of Joomla to implementing frequent security audits, ensure that these best practices are followed precisely to elude security risk. You must require expertise in some measures to bypass this menace.
For this purpose, you can hire dedicated Joomla developers. The experts will help you implement the best security practices to establish a sturdy and robust web presence over Joomla.
Author Bio
Emily White is a project manager at CSSChopper, a top-rated web development company with a wide range of technical expertise. She is not just a manager but also loves writing. In her spare time, she listens to music and composes knowledgeable articles.
Author Profile
- Austin. H. Joy is an Enthusiastic Sr. IT Consultant at Bitscape providing Azure Migration Services. He loves to write and read about the latest Microsoft technology trends. He likes to travel to natural places.
