cPanel web hosting is incredibly easy to use, and takes care of your most essential security processes for you. Simply using the cPanel control panel ensures that access to your settings and web hosting configuration is secure by using SSL connections and a confidential username and password pair.
However, there are certain best practices every webmaster should keep in mind to maintain the best possible security on a web hosting plan. As you make the most of every feature in cPanel, you will potentially open up more weaknesses in the security of your system. And it is your responsibility as the webmaster to do everything you can to control access and user authentication.
Fortunately, cPanel comes with the features you need to secure your website quickly and easily. Read on to learn three effective guidelines for improving web hosting security and how cPanel can help you follow them.
1. Change your cPanel hosting passwords regularly
If you have ever used a username and password combination to access a company computer network, you know such passwords are time-limited. Depending on settings, employees may be prompted to change their passwords as often as every 30 days. As a result, any passwords that are breached or divulged to third parties only open a short window of access to the network.
There is no core feature of cPanel that forces users to change passwords, so you should manually ensure that this is done on a regular basis. Ideally, you will need to change passwords for the following:
- Overall cPanel access
- FTP accounts
- Mailboxes
- MySQL databases
In cPanel, you can change these passwords quickly, by re-entering your existing password and typing the new one. If performed regularly, this simple step can significantly improve your security.
2. Monitor FTP sessions from cPanel
As your website grows, you may need to grant access to your server through multiple FTP accounts. Under the “Files” section of cPanel, you can create as many accounts as you need, each with its own permissions and disk space allocation.
But the more accounts you have, the harder it is to maintain control and monitor access. cPanel includes an FTP Session Control feature, which, when opened, lists every current FTP connection to your cPanel web hosting account. From here, you can view IP addresses and login details, and if you notice connections that should not be allowed, you can terminate them immediately.
The FTP Session Control tool is particularly useful if you are concerned that you have a breach of security, as the tool makes it easy for you to see connections as they occur.
3. Password protect your confidential data
Finally, although the main purpose of a web hosting plan is to share content with your visitors, there are certain things you may want to keep private. If, for example, you use WordPress, your administration panel needs as much protection as possible.
By password protecting specific directories on your server, you can add an additional layer of security to any section of your hosting plan. Under the “Security” section of cPanel, click “Password Protect Directories.” You can then select the required folder and add a username and password to it.
Using this simple form of username and password protection, you can confidently test applications on your server, upload confidential data for specific users, or deploy two-tier security on your most mission-critical login forms and control panels.
Get cPanel hosting services from Hostek.com
Experienced web hosting provider Hostek.com has selected cPanel as its preferred web hosting control panel on Linux based web hosting accounts. Whether you are looking for Linux shared hosting, virtual private servers (VPS hosting), or even a reseller plan, cPanel is included free of charge in every Hostek.com hosting plan.
With cPanel and WHM, even novice webmasters can work with domain names, databases, mailboxes, files, and folders, without using any external software. Alternatively, cPanel allows you to manage logins and accounts for access through an email client or FTP application.
Hostek.com cPanel hosting services are deployed on the company’s High Availability Cloud, ensuring that your website is always available. Customers can also get support and assistance 24/7/365 via phone, ticketed support, or email.
For more information on Hostek.com cPanel web hosting plans, call 918-392-7870 or visit hostek.com today.
Tags: VPS HostingCategories: Developers, Hosting, Security