Data breaches are a constant threat to companies and customers around the globe. According to Statista, over 350 million people in the United States were exposed to some sort of data breach in 2023. AT&T was the latest victim of massive hacking. They got caught up in a large dark web data leak, exposing millions of client information and personal details.
Traditionally, web designers only often focus on aesthetics and functionality, such as logo design and color theory. But today’s landscape demands designers a holistic approach. In web design, security is just as crucial. A website compromised by a data breach can damage user trust, lead to financial losses, and even legal repercussions.
This is where web designers with a grasp of data security come in. They play a vital role in building the first line of defense by incorporating security best practices throughout the design process.
What is data security?
Data security refers to the practices and technologies employed to protect digital information from unauthorized access, use, disclosure, disruption, modification, or destruction.
In simpler terms, it's about safeguarding the sensitive information collected through a website, such as customer names, addresses, passwords, and financial details.
Here's a real-world example of why data security is critical:
Real-world data breaches are serious. Not only is money lost, but so is the trust of the employees, and the potential growth of the company is hindered. Here are some data thefts that shocked the world:
The Equifax breach (2017)
This massive data breach exposed the personal information of nearly 150 million Americans, including Social Security numbers, birth dates, and home addresses.
The breach occurred due to a vulnerability in Equifax's website, allowing hackers to access sensitive data for months. The fallout was significant, with Equifax facing hefty fines, plummeting stock prices, and a severe loss of consumer trust.
Marriott International Hack (2018):
Hackers breached Marriott's reservation system, compromising the personal information of approximately 339 million guests.
This included names, addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, passport numbers, and loyalty program details. The breach went undetected for months, highlighting the importance of continuous monitoring and security updates.
Such incidents underline the importance of data security in website design. By neglecting security measures, a website becomes vulnerable, putting user data at risk and potentially causing devastating consequences for the business itself.
How to design websites with security in mind:
It’s really a cause for concern for all stakeholders involved, from executives to security personnel. Web designers have a role, too. While they are not the first person to come to mind when dealing with security, they’re the first to create and manage the website.
Hence, web designers should be knowledgeable and equipped with security safety skills to keep up with modern online business requirements.
As web designers, you are responsible for considering security from the beginning of the design process. This means not only relying on design principles but also security principles in the development stage.
This combination of skills ensures the website is built with a strong foundation to protect user data. In today's digital age, building trust with users is paramount.
By prioritizing data security, web designers can contribute to a positive user experience and foster stronger brand loyalty for their clients.
Here's how you can incorporate data security best practices into your website design workflow:
Some of these are common knowledge, but not all designers have the technical skills to deliver and execute them fully.
If you plan on developing your skills and relearning some concepts, here are some features you want to consider mastering:
1. Craft careful passwords
Strong, unique passwords are the first line of defense against unauthorized access. Educate your clients on the importance of password hygiene. Encourage them to use password managers that generate and store complex passwords for different accounts.
Discourage practices like using birthdays, pet names, or dictionary words – these can be easily cracked by hackers.
2. Access control
Not everyone needs access to all areas of a website's backend. Implement a user role system with varying permission levels.
This ensures that only authorized personnel can access sensitive information like customer data or administrative settings. This minimizes the risk of accidental exposure or malicious intent.
3. Authentication
Multi-factor authentication (MFA) adds an extra layer of security beyond just usernames and passwords.
This can involve a code sent to a user's phone or a fingerprint scan. MFA significantly reduces the risk of unauthorized access even if a hacker steals a login credential.
4. Encryption
Sensitive data like credit card details and login credentials should always be encrypted. This means scrambling the information during transmission (using HTTPS) and while stored on the server (using secure storage mechanisms).
Encryption makes it virtually impossible for hackers to steal this data even if they breach the website's defenses.
5. Have backups
Regular backups are crucial for disaster recovery. Cyberattacks or technical failures can lead to data loss.
Implement a robust backup strategy that creates regular copies of website data. Store these backups securely off-site to ensure they're not affected by an attack on the main server.
6. Input validation
User input forms can be a vulnerability if not properly secured. Malicious code can be injected through these forms, allowing hackers to gain unauthorized access or disrupt website functionality.
Implement validation techniques to ensure users can only submit the intended data format. For example, only allow numbers in a phone number field and limit text length in comment sections.
7. Physical Security
For websites hosted on physical servers, physical security measures are essential.
This means restricting access to server rooms with security badges or keycard entries. Video surveillance and logging systems can also deter unauthorized physical access.
8. Secure Authentication
Secure login protocols are vital for protecting user accounts. Avoid storing passwords in plain text – a hacker could easily steal them if they breach the system.
Use hashing and salting techniques to encrypt passwords before storing them. Hashing transforms passwords into a unique string of characters, while salting adds an extra layer of randomness to further protect the data.
9. Updates
Outdated software is a major security risk. Hackers are constantly looking for vulnerabilities in older software versions.
Ensure the website's content management system (CMS), plugins, and server software are kept up-to-date with the latest security patches. These updates often address known vulnerabilities and improve overall system security.
Final thoughts
Website security should no longer be an afterthought. Web designers, take note! You have a responsibility to integrate data security best practices from the get-go.
By implementing measures included in this article and more, you can build websites that are not only beautiful and functional but also trustworthy and secure. Not only are you able to focus on features like logo design and QR codes but also password and authentication features.
Remember, prioritizing data security fosters user trust and strengthens brand loyalty for your clients – a win-win for everyone involved. So, keep these security essentials in mind as you design your next website, and together, we can create a safer web for all.
