Your website is the bridge between what your business does and potential customers. It's not just a digital brochure; it's a vital tool for engagement, sales, and brand representation.
However, two critical factors can make or break your online presence (and the potential earnings): security and reliability. In the same way you use security cameras, locks, and other safety measures to protect your physical store or office, your website requires digital protection!
In this article we’ll dive into why the elements of security and reliability are crucial and how you can ensure your website stands strong in both.
The Why of Security and Reliability for a Business Website
Security: Protecting Data
Think of your website's security as the lock on your business's front door. It not only protects your assets but also increases your customers' trust and how comfortable they feel choosing your business. It not only deters problems, but also showcases your dedication to the well-being of your business.
In an age where cyber threats are increasingly sophisticated, a secure website is non-negotiable. But how does this apply in practical terms?
Data Protection: A secure website safeguards sensitive information, from customer details to proprietary business data.
Trust Building: When customers feel safe, they're more likely to engage with your site, make purchases, and return (remember this is part of providing a positive user experience).
Brand Reputation: A single security breach can tarnish your brand's reputation for years to come and there are plenty of studies showing how customers will steer away from a business that has shown a poor website experience (more on that below).
Reliability: Your 24/7 Digital Employee
Reliability in web terms means your site is always there when your customers need it. Just like a brick and mortar shop is a place customers know they can always find your business, your website provides customers with the confidence in knowing how to find you. Except in the digital world, there are no “hours,” so it's about consistent performance, speed, and availability.
Your clients expect to be able to get to your website anytime anywhere. Businesses that take their websites’ reliability for granted oftentimes wake up one morning to a broken site, which translates to potential losses in positive customer service and business development.
So why exactly does the reliability of your business website matter?
Business Continuity: For many businesses, website downtime directly translates to lost revenue and opportunities (you will likely lose the customers that couldn’t access your site or fill in your form).
User Experience: A reliable website provides a smooth, frustration-free experience for visitors, which is a top reason people give for choosing to return to a website.
Credibility: A site that's always up and running builds trust and credibility with your audience. Think about making plans with your flaky friend versus your very punctual friend.
The Impact on Your Bottom Line
That’s all good and well, but how much does it really matter? The numbers speak for themselves:
88% of online customers are unlikely to return after a bad website experience, which includes security issues or downtime.
75% of users judge a website's credibility based on its aesthetics and functionality.
A mere one-second delay in page load time can reduce conversions by 7%.
53% of mobile site visitors will leave a page that takes more than three seconds to load.
These statistics underscore a critical point: security and reliability aren't just technical concerns—they're business imperatives that directly affect your bottom line.
That 7% reduction in conversion rate can be the difference between profit and losses, growth or stagnation for many businesses that are investing on digital avenues.
Factors Influencing Website Security and Reliability
Now that we have grasped the importance and impact of security and reliability, let’s understand what we can do about it. What exactly could be hindering the prospect of your business website being safe and stable?
Platform Choice
Your website's foundation—its platform—plays a crucial role in its security and reliability.
Open-Source Platforms (e.g., WordPress): While popular and flexible, open-source platforms can be more vulnerable by default to attacks due to their widespread use and reliance on third-party plugins. That is why at STOA, we make it imperative to use high-end security practices when working with WordPress and implementing very few and trusted plugins only when absolutely necessary.
Closed-Source Platforms (e.g., Webflow, Framer): These often come with built-in security features like SSL, continuous threat monitoring, and DDoS protection, reducing vulnerability risks. Not only that but in the case of Webflow and Framer, there are no community-run plugins that jeopardize security.
Hosting Environment
Where your website "lives" significantly impacts its performance and availability.
Traditional Hosting: Can vary widely in quality and reliability. The hosting’s “effectiveness” to keep a website safe greatly varies from company to company, so choosing well is essential. After a decade of experience, we came to work with a handful of hosting providers that deliver great results when it comes to security.
Proprietary Hosting (e.g., Webflow, Framer): Oftentimes pointed out as a “weakness” of website platforms like Webflow and Framer, businesses are locked with their own “proprietary” hosting platforms. However, when it comes to security, it actually helps! Webflow and Framer, for example, provide robust built-in solutions with CDN support, ensuring fast load times and high uptime (many boast 99.99% SLA). Also, these hosting environments are highly optimized for Webflow and Framer in a way very few traditional hosting companies can achieve for WordPress sites.
Maintenance Practices
Regular upkeep is crucial for long-term security and reliability.
Websites, like any piece of modern software, require ongoing updates that ideally happen automatically. The problem is that these updates can lead to bugs and glitches that can, in effect, bring your site down.
Manual Updates: Platforms requiring manual updates (like many WordPress setups) can lead to vulnerabilities if not diligently maintained. And in the case of WordPress, plugins that are developed by third parties are exponentially more likely to cause problems than core updates.
Automated Maintenance: Some platforms (like Webflow and Framer) offer automatic updates without downtime, reducing the risk of outdated, vulnerable components.
If your business website gets taken down by one of these updates, what should you do?
If the site is partially broken but you can still access the CMS’ backend (like WordPress), see if there are any errors being shown. If so, check the details. Oftentimes it will say what plugin is causing the error, helping with the troubleshooting.
Either through the CMS or the hosting platform, restore the website to a previous version using a backup. If the website is completely down (meaning that the CMS’ backend is not accessible), go straight to the hosting provider. If you cannot restore the site yourself, you can contact support and ask them to restore to a previous, undamaged version.
Actionable Steps to Enhance Your Website's Security and Reliability
Now that we have painted the picture of how security and reliability play a significant role in digital success, let’s talk action.
Fortunately for your business, there are a lot of things you can do to contribute to your website’s stability. Here are some action items:
Choose a Secure Platform: Consider platforms with built-in security features and automatic updates. Those services with good reviews in regards to stability and technical support should have the priority. This minimizes vulnerabilities and reduces the need for constant manual intervention.
Implement SSL Certificates: Ensure your site uses HTTPS by installing SSL certificates. This encrypts data transmission, protecting sensitive information like passwords and credit card details.
Optimize for Performance: Favor platforms and tools that offer built-in optimization. For example, some technologies automatically optimize images upon upload (Weblow’s built-in media compression tool, for example), significantly reducing load times.
Regular Backups: Schedule frequent backups of your website. This ensures you can quickly restore your site in case of an attack or technical failure. With WordPress, businesses have backup options on both the hosting and website (using quality plugins on the latter).
Continuous Monitoring: Implement tools that offer ongoing threat monitoring and intrusion detection. This allows you to address potential issues promptly before they escalate. One favorite tool at STOA is UptimeRobot, which does an excellent job for free.
Choose Reliable Hosting: Opt for hosting solutions that offer high uptime guarantees and robust performance features like CDN (content delivery network) support. Webflow’s and Framer hosting come with standard CDN service by default while WordPress will need a little bit of extra work setting up Cloudflare or a similar technology to enable CDN.
Minimize Plugin Use: If using a platform that relies on plugins (ie. WordPress), be very selective. Each plugin can potentially introduce vulnerabilities, so use only necessary, well-maintained ones.
Regular Security Audits: Conduct periodic security assessments to identify and address potential vulnerabilities in your website infrastructure. If your business is not making a lot of changes on the website, schedule a few “test drives” a year to navigate through the website and see if there is anything off that needs to be fixed.
What’s Next?
Your website is more than just a digital storefront—it's a critical business asset. By prioritizing security and reliability, you're not just protecting your business; you're creating a foundation for growth, trust, and success.
And remember: in the online world, security and reliability aren't just technical considerations—they're key differentiators that can set your business apart in a crowded digital landscape. Just look at the numbers above. This is not meant to cause panic but instead, provide a better understanding of how a website can influence your website’s bottom line for better or worse.
The good news is that there is plenty to do that can cause massive improvements. At STOA, we understand the critical nature of these elements. Our approach to web development always places security and reliability at the forefront, ensuring that your digital presence is not just visually appealing but also stable, secure, and always available to your customers.
Your website is supposed to work for your business, not the other way around. The STOA approach to creating a business website ensures that.
If you have any questions, reach out today!
