These days, people are more aware than ever of the importance of cybersecurity. When they choose a business like yours to meet their needs, they rely on you to be a responsible custodian of all their data. If you misplace it or leave it vulnerable to criminals, it can cost you your reputation.

And where is data most vulnerable? When it's in transit to or from your website. All real estate agents and brokers need a website, but it creates a trade-off: It is an obvious target for would-be data thieves. Even if you're not technologically inclined, your website needs certain key features for safety.

Sensitive data can be anything personally identifiable, like name and address. It can be contact information, like email or phone number. And, of course, it can also include anything tied to financial information. A worst-case scenario leaves customers vulnerable to identity theft due to the loss of their credit card or Social Security data.

Here's how to make sure you've done everything you can to safeguard sensitive data on your website:

1. Implement HTTPS

These days, HTTPS is a must-have. HTTPS is a secure protocol that supersedes old-fashioned HTTP, which doesn't have its own integrated encryption features. HTTPS protects your end user by ensuring the information they send to or receive from your website is encoded so it can't be intercepted in transit.

Websites without HTTPS are now flagged as unsafe by most browsers. The average person won't jump through the hoops necessary to go to a flagged website. Luckily, HTTPS is easy to implement and usually free. It simply requires you to sign up for an HTTPS certificate from a registered provider.

2. Implement Secure Authentication

Authentication refers to everything that helps make data accessible only to the people who are supposed to have it. Passwords are the traditional way of authenticating anything, but they're not always enough. Think about implementing other forms of authentication, such as two-factor authentication.

Two-factor authentication sends a one-time code to a user's phone or email address that they need to put into your website after they input their regular password. This means that even if someone guesses the password, they won't be able to grab the user's data unless they've also broken into their email or stolen their phone.

3. Perform Regular Software Updates

Most websites today run on Content Management Systems (CMS). A Content Management System, such as DeltaNET®, is all the back-end software that allows you to quickly and easily update, manage, and maintain your website. 

Content Management Systems are built on software like just about any other application, and they need to be updated regularly as new security vulnerabilities are found. Every CMS has its own specific process for getting updates, so check it out or make sure the person who runs your website back-end is doing it routinely.

4. Encrypt Other Data Where Possible

There are many ways to encrypt other data, such as your emails. Some email services perform encryption automatically. Others allow encryption as a secondary, standalone step. Unfortunately, some of the most common business-class email services are not built with data encryption in mind.

Data encryption can also be performed on attachments, making them more secure. This can be helpful if you are forwarding important documents, such as sales contracts, through email. You could also use specialized secure file-sharing platforms specially designed for this purpose.

5. Use Secure Hosting

Hosting refers to the actual hardware your website "lives" on somewhere in the world. Every time someone accesses your website, what they are actually doing is tuning in to this hardware, which then "serves" them your website exactly the way you designed it.

Once you've chosen a website host, you don't really have direct control over it. That's why it's crucial to look at a variety of options and make an informed decision from the start. Be aware of the security features offered by different hosts so you can select the one most likely to protect your customers' sensitive data.

6. Integrate Security Tools and Plugins

Websites built on a Content Management System can also benefit from a wide variety of security tools. Plugin refers to optional software that provides additional features. In many cases, plugins are free. Security plugins are often created by professional data security researchers as a side project meant to help the community.

What kind of security plugins are available? This varies by platform, but there are some common ones. For instance, a plugin might automatically block access to any computer that repeatedly, rapidly accesses your website. Or it might turn off traffic from areas of the world where you do not do business.

7. Perform Regular Security Audits

A security audit means intensively examining all the functions of a website to identify security vulnerabilities that might not be obvious at first. A security audit will result in recommendations that help you understand how to resolve potential security vulnerabilities without having to give up on the features you need.

To be most effective, a complete security audit should be performed at least twice a year. Many businesses opt for quarterly security audits. It is also a wise idea to do a quick audit whenever you implement a new plugin, so you understand what potential risks it might entail.

8. Publish a Privacy Policy and Terms of Service

These days, search engines such as Google automatically check your website to see if you have a privacy policy and Terms of Service (TOS). These documents might seem like an afterthought — considering how few people actually read them — but they are crucial to protecting your business.

A privacy policy helps first-time visitors and current customers feel more confident that you are doing all you can to defend their data. Plus, research shows that having a privacy policy and TOS is one way to positively influence your position in search engine rankings related to your business.

9. Secure Files Regularly

There are many effective ways to secure your files. In addition to backing up data (discussed below), you can secure files using physical media. Make sure you know how files are arriving in your life — by email, file sharing, and so on — and where they go next. Don't let files accumulate in email where you can't find them.

10. Back-Up Mission Critical Business Data

File backups are crucial to protecting your business if the worst happens. Many companies succumb to what's called a ransomware attack. In these attacks, files on your computer systems are encrypted and the attacker holds the encryption key. It can cost thousands or even millions of dollars to buy the key from the criminal.

In these attacks, hackers don't actually access your data. Simply having file backups on hand eliminates all the risks. Plus, data backups can be automated using a third-party service that performs the service once a day.

Data security might seem complicated, but it becomes much easier once you have the right tools and techniques. After that initial setup period, maintenance is a matter of minutes a month — and both you and your customers will be protected.