12 Must-Have Web Hosting Security Features: An Expert Checklist

If you care about your website‘s safety, security capabilities should drive your web hosting selection.

I’ve audited dozens of hosting providers in my career. In this post, I’ll guide you through the key security features truly essential to lock down website safety.

We’ll cover:

1. An overview of critical threats facing websites

Stats show over 86% of small business websites face attacks annually. Yet most hosts concentrate only on performance or support.

I‘ll highlight key risks like malware, DDoS, hacking, phishing and data theft. So you understand what’s at stake.

2. 12 security must-haves for web hosts

I’ll break down the core security safeguards every provider should offer – like backups, firewalls, scans and more.

You can use this as a checklist to grill hosts on their protection capabilities.

3. Illustrated examples of security done right

Using cases from hosts like SiteGround, Cloudways and Kinsta, I’ll showcase security delivered exceptionally. This sets a benchmark for evaluation.

4. Bonus pro tips to further harden website security

Because defense in layers matters. I‘ll share expert tips to complement your host‘s protections.

Let‘s get you equipped to make an informed, risk-aware web hosting choice.

Why Website Security Matters

“Is my website’s security the web host’s job or my responsibility?”

I get this question a lot from site owners prioritizing performance and support over security.

The truth is your host sets the baseline for risk mitigation. Butprotection requires both hosting security plus site hardening.

Still not convinced it deserves focus? Let me share some data on threats that exploitation of common website vulnerabilities lead to.

Over 86% of small businesses suffered a cyber attack in 2021 as per SecurityScorecard. The damage?

• Ransomware attacks extorted over $20 billion in payments from website owners as per FBI estimates.
• Websites with vulnerabilities get exploited to steal customer data and transaction details. For instance, over 37 million customer records were stolen from 15 websites hosted on a single vulnerable server as per Finbold.
• DDoS attacks lasting just 2-3 days drove 48% of businesses to completely shut down as per Kaspersky. Estimated damages are $2.5 million per DDoS on average as highlighted by INC magazine.
• Compromised sites get used to host scams, phishing pages and malware affecting thousands of your own visitors. Cleaning reputation after that is challenging.

I have personally witnessed over $50k in damages for small businesses from a single malware infection or week-long DDoS.

Frankly, lack of adequate hosting security is like leaving your website’s doors and windows wide open for attacks!

You surely don’t want to risk customer trust, revenues and brand reputation.

Your web host’s security strengths set the ceiling for your site’s risk exposure.

Choosing right is vital not just for enterprise websites but blogs and small business sites too.

Next, let’s explore the key security parameters to evaluate in a hosting provider.

12 Must-Have Web Host Security Features

Not all web hosts talk security. But you need to specifically assess these features before picking one:

1. Backup & Restore Functionality

Website files when lost or corrupted equal downtime hitting revenues.

Your host should offer:

✅1-click automated daily backups so data remains intact even if your account is disrupted. Backups should happen to an off-server location.

✅Restore allowing retrieval of intact site files from backups with minimal effort.

For example:

• SiteGround allows restoring your whole website or just the crucial WordPress files from up to 30 backup versions stored externally. This saves time while recovering from issues.

• In contrast, a provider only doing manual backups requiring support tickets for recovery delays getting sites back up after problems.

Key questions to ask:

• How recent are automatic backups?
• Where are backups stored?
• What steps are involved in restores?

Go with a provider automating regular cloud backups for web hosting resilience.

2. Server & Website Monitoring

77% of compromised sites are identified by external parties rather than the victimized owners as per Sucuri.

You can’t secure what you don’t monitor.

Your host should provide constant visibility into:

✅Server performance indicators (RAM/CPU usage, uptime etc)

✅Website traffic changes, active threats, suspicious access etc.

For example:

• Kinsta’s security dashboard tracks visits, bandwidth, suspicious security event trends and more. Such visibility lets you proactively respond.

• HostGator’s usage charts help graph CPU load, disk transfers and memory consumption for optimal server resource planning.

Key questions to ask:

• What metrics are monitored at server and website level?
• What alerts are available? Any custom alert creation options?
• Is traffic actively scanned for threats?

Monitoring means timely detecting and responding to attacks – before damages amplify.

3. Malware Scanning

Undetected malware is a ticking time bomb.

Your hosting provider should scan sites regularly and automatically for:

✅Viruses

✅Injected spam links/pages

✅Hidden malicious redirects

✅Spyware tracking visitors

For example:

• InMotion hosting uses CodeGuard to scan sites daily checking File Integrity plus Conformity with WordPress standards to detect malicious code changes.

• SiteLock available on GoDaddy scans reflect sites against a database of over 1 billion URLs classified as dangerous. Automatic threat removal prevents reputation damages.

Key questions to ask:

• How frequently are malware scans done?
• What techniques are used to detect infections?
• Is malicious code automatically blocked/removed?

Automatic malware detection controls risk before consequences like blacklisting or data theft hit.

4. Protection from DDoS Attacks

DDoS attacks aim to overload servers and choke infrastructure by flooding them with excess fake traffic.

Make no mistake – they can deliver devastating blows.

Cisco’s 2022 Data Privacy Benchmark Study found out that a single DDoS attack costs victim organizations $2 million on average.

To avoid outages and extortion payments, ensure your provider has:

✅In-built DDoS mitigation able to instantly block volumetric floods

✅Behavioral analysis to filter high levels of non-human bot traffic

For example:

• InMotion Hosting partners with StackPath security providing blanket protection against DDoS threats for all customers.

• SiteGround uses threshold limits and traffic filters to automatically block spikes from DDoS floods without overriding legitimate access.

Key questions to ask:

• Is baseline DDoS protection included or a paid add-on?
• What techniques are used to detect and halt floods?
• What support provisions kick in if despite protections, an attack overwhelms my site?

The 74% of businesses lacking DDoS safeguards are playing risky as such attacks have long-lasting damages spanning days.

5. Web Application Firewall (WAF)

Web application attacks target vulnerabilities in site scripts, APIs and databases to steal data.

Your host should offer a WAF either through proprietary rules or via integration of services like Cloudflare.

This will provide:

✅Virtual patching of web app vulnerabilities

✅Blocking of injections, cross-site attacks, known bots & scrapers

✅Limits on suspicious traffic like rapid requests

For example:

• As part of partnership with a WAF provider, JustHost blocks exploits through signatures and heuristics. This prevents data loss from successful attacks.

• Bluehost’s own WAF protects WordPress sites by locking down admin pages and thwarting theme/plugin attacks.

Key questions to ask:

• Is a WAF provided out-of-the-box or requires separate setup?
• How does it shield against OWASP top 10 web app vulnerabilities?
• Can WAF policies be customized?

The earlier in the cyber kill chain attacks are blocked, the better.

6. Ability to Manually Restart Services

Sometimes server-side processes like databases, caching engines or app services can choke bringing your site down despite hardware resources being available.

Your hosting provider should offer:

✅ One-click process restarts without needing support tickets. This quickly restores services stuck in faulty states.

For example:

• Cloudways grants permissions to individually reboot containers, databases, caching services etc across operating systems like Docker, Kubernetes with no complications.

Such instant restore of processes means websites bounce back up faster after internal errors.

Key questions to ask:

• What website services can be restarted independently if unresponsive?
• Is reboot available instantly through my admin console or via support requests?

Manual restarts rescue unresponsive systems before customers ever notice downtime.

7. Physical Data Center Security

While logical security grabs attention, physical safeguards are crucial too.

Inquire about your host’s data center security covering:

✅Access restrictions like gated perimeter, biometrics, manned surveillance etc.

✅Power protections like generators, backup batteries

✅Disaster readiness via fire detection systems, routine disaster drills etc.

For example:

• Since SiteGround relies on Google’s server infrastructure, you get complete physical security as mandated by Google’s standards including secured facility design, video monitoring, alarms and more.

• Networks Web Hosting publishes SOC2 audit reports validating physical safeguards per 5 Trust Service Principles – part of stringent certification.

Key questions to ask:

• What standards are used for physical data center protections? Are compliance certifications maintained?
• What systems provide 24/7 monitoring against physical breaches or outages?
• Are survival essentials like power, failover protected against localized disasters?

You don’t want your data center exposed like a sitting duck. Assess physical protections too.

8. Access Controls

Your web hosting account offers remote access to apps, services and configurations.

Such powers in the wrong hands means trouble.

Confirm your provider:

✅ Enforces secure protocols like SFTP instead of unencrypted FTP.

✅ Provides Role-based access controls (RBAC) with customizable permission sets limiting account abilities for non-admin users.

For example:

• In cPanel shared hosting, added users get restricted webmaster/web developer roles. This ensures they lack permissions for destructive actions.

• DreamHost bolsters application access security through SFTP while also disabling FTP. All file transfers then encrypt over SSH protecting credentials.

Such access guards prevent backdoor changes that could otherwise compromise security.

Key questions to ask:

• How are file access protocols like FTP vs SFTP handled?
• For team accounts, what RBAC capabilities exist to restrict non-admin users?

Keep hosting account boundaries fenced against intruders.

9. Password Rules & MFA

Stolen credentials open the gateway for account hijacks.

Ensure your provider:

✅ Enforces password policies like length, special characters, periodic rotation etc.

✅ Provides Multifactor authentication (MFA) using SMS OTPs or TOTP apps for enhanced login assurance.

For example:

• As per Bluehost’s policy, first-time login necessitates reset while additional prompts require periodic change. They also offer MFA integration via email and Google Authenticator.

• InMotion hosting goes further by supporting YubiKey FIDO tokens along with one-time passwords and duo push approvals taking MFA security up a notch.

Key questions to ask:

• How frequently are password changes enforced?
• What MFA options are supported? Are MFA security keys allowed?

Account access policies act as critical preventive controls when credential theft can mean exposed data, defaced sites and other damages.

10. Disaster Recovery

If fire, floods, earthquakes or blackouts hit a data center, what provisions are available for continued services?

• ✅ Ask if DR with failover to a secondary facility is part of standard plans or needs additional payment in case of primary infrastructure destruction.

For example:

• Liquid Web offers geographic redundancy with automatic failover across data centers in MI, AZ and the Netherlands by default. This warrants non-stop delivery of services if disasters impact any single location.

• In contrast, a smaller provider having one pipeline for connectivity or power supply increases chances of prolonged outages during catastrophes.

Key questions to ask:

• Is disaster recovery included by default or a chargeable add-on?
• What redundancies exist across infrastructure?
• In case of failover, what backup provisions offer continuity of critical functionality?

While 100% availability guarantees are unrealistic, continuity provisions matter to stay sailing through disasters.

11. Free SSL Certificates

SSL certificates enable data encryption and trust icons securing sites transmitted to users.

Your host should:

✅Provide basic SSL at zero additional cost.

For example:

• Hostinger, HostGator, Bluehost and several other leading providers include free certs on all plans removing the affordability barrier to encryption.

• Cloudways also layers on free Let’s Encrypt SSLs offering protection comparable to costlier certificates.

Verifying SSL support checks whether security will get compromised by lack of encryption just to avoid cert expenses.

12. Regular Security Audits

Beyond real-time protections, your host’s security model itself should be regularly reviewed by independent examiners.

Ask about:

✅ External audits evaluating systems against standards like ISO 27001, SOC 2 etc.

For example:

• Leaseweb undergoes independent verifications like ISO 27001 and PCI DSS auditing attesting security compliance as per globally recognized benchmarks.

• Such transparency holds providers accountable to fix gaps year on year rather than make hollow claims.

Key questions to ask:

• Have your people, policies and systems undergone certified third-party evaluations? Were any major observations highlighted for redressal?

Audited security means unbiased assurance – not just marketing hype.

Summing Up Key Security Takeaways

Still doubting if security deserves weight while selecting a web hosting provider?

I’ve equipped you with 12 must-have features covering crucial areas like malware prevention, uptime assurance, access control and disaster readiness.

Use this guide as a framework for grilling prospective web hosts on protections in place.

Providers like SiteGround, InMotion Hosting and Liquid Web taking an integrated approach across the above areas inspire confidence.

For precise selection as per your appetite for risk though, actively evaluate security capabilities aligned to your site’s unique threat landscape.

And remember defense in layers helps, beyond just the hosting provider’s security policies.

Bonus: Lock Down Website Security in Layers

Your defenses are only as secure as the weakest link.

So beyond picking a hack-resistant host, plug website-level risks too.

My expert tips to fortify website security:

🔐Harden WordPress with firewall, malware scan and access control plugins like WordFence and iThemes Security. Don’t ignore their security notifications.

🔐Fix identified vulnerabilities using automated scanners like Acunetix and intrusion detection systems like VIPRE.

🔐Install antivirus like ClamAV with continuous threat definitions updated.

🔐Enable 2FA at WordPress admin logins to protect against password leaks. Activate other security plugins like Limit Login Attempts as well.

🔐Backup externally while locking down live sites against unauthorized file edits.

Adopt security hygiene practices like:

🔐 Unique strong passwords per site, rotated quarterly
🔐 Principle of least privilege accessing only necessary admin functions
🔐 Monitoring user roles and permissions
🔐 Logging off admin sessions after usage
🔐 Employing file integrity monitoring to detect backdoor changes
🔐 Regular penetration testing by ethical hackers

What proportion web security weights on hosting selection vs your responsibility can vary if you opt for managed hosting. But baseline vigilance always helps.

Over to You

I hope this comprehensive guide covered all vital aspects to assess while choosing secure web hosting.

What’s your biggest takeaway or concern regarding website security right now? Share below if you still have any considerations I should address.

And if you found this helpful, don’t forget to share!