Welcome back to Alchemy Three’s Web Security Series! In part one, we covered how cybercriminals can break into the house that is your small business’s website, and in part two, we covered what boobytraps you can set to stop them. In this series’s third and final part, we have our very own Kevin McCallister of website security: Tye Jordan!

Tye Jordan is the Regional Director of Cinch I.T., an information technology company that has been providing I.T. services to organizations in the Massachusetts area since 2004. He helps businesses from all industries and of all sizes manage their websites and is a whiz in website security. To wrap up our series, we chatted with Tye Jordan to get his expert insight on the best practices in website security for small businesses.

A3: Why is website security crucial for small businesses in today’s digital landscape?

TJ: Website security is crucial for small businesses in today’s digital landscape because your client’s data and information need to be protected. Every client, consumer, and anyone visiting your website is potentially exposed to an unsuspected risk if the right security is not in place.

A3: What is small business owners’ most common misconception about website security?

TJ: The most common misconception small business owners face with website security is that their business could never be a target. Most small business owners believe that “it could never happen to them” because they are too small of an operation.

A3: What are some of the most prevalent cyber threats and vulnerabilities that small business websites face?

TJ: The greatest threats and vulnerabilities small businesses face to their websites are:

• Impersonation attempts or phishing 
• Not having a proper malware or ransomware security measure in place
• Lack of knowledge or human error leading to a major breach

A3: For small businesses with e-commerce platforms, what security measures should they prioritize to protect customer payment data and personal information?

TJ: The best security measures a small business with e-commerce platforms can take when protecting customer payment data and personal information are prioritizing security features like multi-factor authentication (MFA) or two-factor authentication (2FA), a secure, e-commerce platform and payment provider, transaction verification, and cyber liability insurance.

A3: With the evolving landscape of technology, what upcoming trends or advancements do you foresee in website security?

TJ: The upcoming trends and advancements I foresee in website security are definitely artificial intelligence (AI) and automation becoming more prominent for everyday use. This means small businesses will need more password complexity and more security through obscurity to diminish most simple attempts on gathering data and information and critical breaches.

A3: How can small businesses stay proactive and adapt to these changes to maintain their website’s security?

TJ: Small businesses can stay proactive and adapt to the changes to maintain website security by making sure key plug-ins have no vulnerabilities and software updates are happening. Read blogs and articles for the latest potential threats.

Editor’s note: AlchemyThree’s blog will keep you up to date with the latest on website security and more! 

A3: Could you share a success story or an example of how Cinch IT has helped small businesses improve their website security?

TJ: One example of how Cinch IT has helped a small business improve website security is by recommending they get an SSL certificate. The SSL certificate speaks to the nature of trust. The SSL lets visitors know when they visit your website that their information will be safe. As website security increases, some websites can’t be accessed unless they have an SSL certificate.

A3: In closing, what would be your top advice for small business owners looking to enhance their website’s security and protect their digital assets?

TJ: The best advice I can offer small business owners to enhance their website security and protect their digital assets is to always stay vigilant of any potential risk or threats. Always trust, but verify. Stay up-to-date on any new security features for your website and malicious activity.

There you have it, folks! Everything you need to know about website security, including expert advice from I.T. specialist Tye Jordan all wrapped up in a three-part bow. Special thanks to Tye for taking the time to share his knowledge with us!

If you missed out on the first two parts of our website security series, you can find part one here and part two here.