Web Host - Using Secure Server for Securing Data

A Web Hosting Article Contributed by Raj Rao

Web Host - Security Requirements

Web Hosting is a highly risky business owing to the large number of hackers, crackers and cheaters taking advantage of the impersonal and technology driven Internet marketplace.

Web Hosting service provider acts as a custodian of sensitive data stored on the servers offered by the Web Host. Most of the web sites seek personal information about the visitors in order to offer a personalized service. This information is the prime target of hackers and cheaters.

Most of the e-commerce websites maintain a database of their users online along with a history of their purchases and other transactions. Web Hosting provider needs to have Dummy Text Do Not Read Dummy Text Do Not Read

Web Hosting service provider themselves maintain a database of their users and email accounts that gives the users access to browser-based control panel for managing their website. It is necessary that this database and access accounts are stored securely online.

Web Host - Offering Ssl to Customers

Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) is a security protocol that is used when any data is transferred between the Internet Browser and the Server. The data sent from the users' Browser is encrypted using an encryption key that belongs to the website. And only the concerned website is in a position to decrypt the data being sent from the browser.

Web Hosting service providers need to have special Secure Servers that have the encryption software to enable the users to use SSL for transmitting data. The Secure server is normally shared by many users because the encryption key is separate for each web site.

In addition to the Secure Server, the Web Host needs to arrange a Secure Certificate for each web site to enable the Internet Browser to know that the website is really the one that it claims to be. This server is issued by authorized Certifying Authorities like Verisign and Thwate.

Web Host - Tips for Each Ssl Integration

Setup a separate Server for Secure transactions by the customers hosting their websites using your service. Each website needs to be authenticated in the Secure Server to receive and transmit data.

Tie-up with a Certifying authority to issue a Web Site Security Certificate to each of your Web Site customer on a bulk-pricing basis. This ensures that the users can buy the Certificates from you at a discounted price instead of applying to the Certifying Authority and pay the full price.

Create a separate sub-domain for each website and point the sub-domain to the Secure Server. This will ensure that all the users automatically get access to the secure server without any further configuration. There could be a one time charge for integrating the SSL Certificate for each website into the Secure Server.

By offering Secure Server and SSL Certificate, all the data that is required to be encrypted like Form for collection of Personal Data, Secure Login to Member only area, sensitive databases etc. will be stored securely and easily.