Is SSL Essential for eCommerce Sites?

As the number of eCommerce websites grows, the security software must improve to protect webmasters from hackers acquiring sensitive customer information. One such technology is Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) which permits the site administrator to transfer the contents of web pages to visitors over a secure protocol (HTTPS versus HTTP). One example of this technology is with banking websites.

Should eCommerce Websites Use SSL?

However, this begs the question, should eCommerce websites also use this type of security? They all handle important customer data that could be harmful if released to the wrong hands. This really depends on the type of business and functions the website serves. For instance, for websites like online stores that collect credit card numbers, addresses, emails, phone numbers and names, SSL is a necessity.

SSL and the Front-End Store

However, there are a multitude of websites that only serve as the front-end of the store and all transactions are managed by a third-party payment processor which utilizes SSL encryption. In this situation, SSL may not be a requirement. However, webmasters in this situation may still wish to add the security software. This is especially important if collecting user information such as names and email addresses; even if no financial information is transferred.

Find an eCommerce Package

For websites that only provide basic contact information, SSL encryption is not necessary. If you decide to implement SSL encryption onto your website, it is critical to find a web hosting provider that offers some type of eCommerce package. Many of these plans provide a specific IP address for SSL to ensure the highest level of protection.

Ask About Specific Items Included in the Package

In addition to the basic eCommerce plan, you will also need to purchase an SSL certificate which is a digital item that may be provided as part of your eCommerce web hosting package. It is always a good idea to ask about the items specifically included in the eCommerce package prior to signing a contract.

SSL technology has become a vital part of the eCommerce industry. However, it is not essential to every site. Those that will be most affected by the technology are sites that collect specific information such as banking, detailed contact information, telephone numbers and email addresses. Since this could compromise the most important data about an individual, it should always be protected by SSL encryption.

Are SEO Services Worth the Money?

Since the launch of Google, SEO services have been around to assist webmasters with ranking high in the search engine results. Many startups, bloggers and online entrepreneurs eventually reach a point where they must work on the SEO of their website. Therefore, two choices arise: learn about the subject to become an SEO guru or pay a company to complete the task.

Internal SEO Development and Implementation

Luckily, SEO is not difficult to implement but takes a large amount of time and effort. Once you become proficient at the practice and understand the process, it is not that difficult. Therefore, from a financial aspect the question arises: Is it more time consuming to implement SEO myself?

Webmaster Priorities

This is a tricky question as it really depends on the webmasters priorities. If you know redeveloping the content of a website to be more SEO compliant would only take several days of work but an online company can do it for $200, you need to decide how your time and money are best spent. At the same time, you must have confidence that the SEO organization will do a good job.

Learn the Tactics

From a “best practices” standpoint, it is always better for the webmaster to be self-empowered prior to outsourcing SEO tasks. You should know how to do the job yourself prior to hire consultants, that way you can confirm they are accomplishing your SEO goals to your liking. If you are not privy to SEO practices, you will never know what you are getting out of the deal.

Making Informed Decisions for Selecting a Provider

Keep in mind that since Google has so many websites to index, the SEO changes made to your website can only impact the results on the search engine as quickly as Google can update. On the other hand, if you have learned about SEO then you can make better selections for hiring consultants. You will have a better understanding of the job and a reasonable price.

Knowing what needs to be improved on your website can be one of the most difficult aspects of forming and implementing a solid SEO strategy. Repetition of practices in the search engine world can be important. Once you have obtained this information, it is much easier to separate the process into smaller tasks that can either be handled internally or by an external SEO provider.

Establishing a Strong Content Management System Strategy

When overhauling a web content management system, it is critical to always consider the end user. These end users could include customers or internal employees who simply engage in the interface of a website. When revamping a content management system, organizations typically also include the end user throughout the entire process. Also, all departments should take part in strategy discussions to ensure each segment is given the functions they require.

Involving all Departments in Discussions

If all departments are not involved in discussions, there will be more work fixing the functions left out at a later date. However, firms can get carried away with this idea. Therefore, the main focus of the implementation of a new content management system is to make the lives easier of those who are using it.

Avoid Formally Defining the Project

Another successful development strategy is to avoid defining it as a project with a beginning, middle and end. Due to maintenance, content management systems do not contain an end only ongoing development. Therefore, including the strategy to ensure the site is vibrant and fresh is important. The plan must include how frequently the content on the site will be changing.

Implement a Dedicated Employee

This is another area where companies fail miserably. There must be a dedicated individual that owns the various aspects the website delivers. This employee must be proficient in both information technology and business that way they are able to take care of and feed the website.

Remain Flexible

An additional strategy is to always remain flexible. In many instances, an organization focuses on revamping versus a complete redesign of its strategy. If this occurs, the best choice is to call in a professional. Since there are many new technologies available on the market that can be used together, it can be difficult to decide the exact direction to take.

Select the Correct System

The final strategy is to select the right system for your business needs and update the way you work with it. Many organizations are utilizing in-house content management systems and never updating them due to currently used legacy software. Therefore, end-users do not have the access to the latest and most efficient technology available.

Strategizing about and implementing a new content management system can be a difficult and complicated task. However, by following the aforementioned strategies, you are headed in the right direction toward success.

New Customer Support Options at HostingZoom

Web hosting provider, HostingZoom, recently launched around the clock phone, ticket, live chat and email customer support. HostingZoom offers a variety of web hosting services including cPanel clustered failover, VPS, reseller and dedicated server hosting. Customers will now have instant access to knowledgeable training sales and technical support staff anytime of the day to ensure quick responses to questions regarding their accounts.

Providing an Unparalleled Level of Service

Since HostingZoom continues to expand, it is important that their customers have an unparalleled level of service to ensure they receive the most value from cPanel hosting solutions. The support is fast, reliable and available at anytime through a number of different mechanisms. Also, the hosting provider guarantees quick response times for every inquiry. This includes even the most complicated technical issues.

A Statement from HostingZoom

HostingZoom representatives published a statement saying that the key to maintaining their brand image is through an increase in high quality support. This expansion has been a lengthy process and is only the beginning of the company’s goal to establish the best reputation in the industry for customer service. Also, since customer support is their top priority, it is a continuous improvement process.

24/7 Support is Basic with all Hosting Packages

The 24/7 support is standard with all clustered, VPS, cPanel dedicated server hosting and all other packages. If a customer needs assistance with any aspect of their hosting account, customer support will be available and ready to answer questions. The numerous support options allow customers to reach the support staff in a method they feel comfortable. Should a technical issue occur, HostingZoom is available to assist its customers.

HostingZoom Company Information

Located in Houston, Texas, HostingZoom is a privately held firm with over ten years of hosting experience. The firm has powered thousands of enterprise and personal websites allowing for the development of unique identities and branding across the Internet. HostingZoom services include, clustered hosting, web design, SSL certificates, cPanel dedicated hosting, VPS hosting, reseller hosting and web design.

Any type of additional support for web hosting providers can only strengthen the business. Adding around the clock customer service is one of the most important aspects of a successful host. This allows clients from across the globe to have questions answered immediately. The move toward this multi-channel support should increase the number of new account holders at the provider.

5 Simple Ways to Retain Website Visitors

Whether you’re a seasoned website designer or a novice web developer with the hopes of launching an impressive web presence to make your competition envious, it’s quiet easy to fall into the trap of making careless mistakes that could potentially cost your online business venture loss profits but also your company’s reputation.

Issue #1 – Missing Contact Information 

Perhaps one of the most annoying experiences when visiting a website is not being able to locate the relative contact information.  Whether an e-mail address, physical address, driving directions or a toll-free telephone number, information should be readily available to share with website visitors.  Doing so could potentially mean the difference between a strong sales lead and an actual purchase.  Ideally, contact information should be placed above the fold in a conspicuous location with at least three different methods of contacting the company for various inquiries.

Issue #2 – Slow Server Download Time

In today’s fast-paced world – time equals money.  Ask anyone viewing a website connecting via a 56k modem that takes longer than 10 seconds to download pages and see exactly how long they will wait around for the rest of the site to download at the speed of molasses.

When developing a website, it’s important to keep in mind that every website visitor may not have access to high-speed Internet connections, therefore, it’s always a good idea to keep graphics and data files small so web pages have the ability to download at a much quicker rate.  It’s easy to test the download speed of your website by simply connecting on a 56k modem, and then start your stop watch to determine exactly how long it takes for the entire site to download.

Issue #3 – Usability

Along the lines of efficient webpage download speeds, website visitors also appreciate usability features incorporated into the website.  Features such as skip navigation, title bars, site maps, Contact Us page, driving directions, hours of operation, and so on and so forth goes a long way when accommodating an array of needs for various website visitors seeking pertinent information.

Other useful information that you may consider advertising is product or service guarantees, customer support features, and a website privacy policy.  Although such usability features may not seem much on the grand scheme of the overall website, however, website visitors are sure to appreciate the extra time and devotion spent addressing their individual needs.

Issue #4 – Requiring Website/Newsletter Subscriptions

As a website owner, keeping track of a subscription base is considered a good way to keep website visitors in the loop as to special promotions, discounts and other exclusive offers.  On the other hand, website visitors being prompted to first subscribe to a site or newsletter before actually turning the golden key to access what lies beneath the cyber gates of splendor is a sure bet of turning away the masses of visitors and potential sales leads.  Although some website visitors may not mind subscribing to your website, however, the choice should always be left up to the individual as to whether or not they wish to divulge personal contact information.   Leave the reigns of control in the hands of the website visitors.

Issue #5 – Hassel-Free Checkout

Just as shoppers in a grocery store expect a quick and speedy checkout when purchasing items, online shoppers don’t expect anything less when making an online purchase transaction.  The online storefront should be neat and clutter free, with no more than three or four up-sell items in the attempts of trying to sell a related item a shopper has dropped in the shopping cart.  Shoppers shouldn’t be bombarded with non-relevant items or services just in the hopes of making a sale.  Additionally, all items and services should be described in great detail along with any money back guarantees, preferred payment methods, shipping and handling charges, sales tax, special promotional discounts, return policies, and any other relevant information beneficial to the customer.

Conclusion

With a little thought and consideration when developing your website, it’s simple to implement strategies to help retain website traffic and keep them coming back to visit often!

LulzSec’s Hacking Career Slated to End

Well-known Internet mayhem group LulzSec recently announced to its followers that it will cease its campaign of web-based attacks. The group implemented numerous DDoS (Distributed Denial of Service) attacks on a variety of targets during its 50-day spree of chaos. Many of the attacks were a result of poor security measures.

Utilizing Twitter Feeds

Ironically, the group left numerous tips on its Twitter feeds for its victims. For instance, when Fox Broadcasting was attacked, LulzSec released a Twitter update stating, “Don’t use the same password twice. Your laziness will not end well.” Another guideline announced was to not using prepaid credit cards to conduct online purchases. The slew and successful hit of targets included giant conglomerates, law enforcement agencies, governmental organizations, television networks and ATMs.

The Goal of the Mayhem

LulzSec stated in the letter that their goal was to have fun, entertain other followers and share “lulz.” During the period from May 6^th, 2011 to June 26^th, 2011, the group left information technology experts wondering who they will be attacking next.

Fox.com

One of the first attacks conducted by LulzSec occurred on May 6^th, 2011. The group targeted the Fox.com website due to a leaked database of X-Factor contestants. LulzSec also defaced 14 LinkedIn accounts of Fox Broadcasting employees.

ATMs

Through the 50-day period, the group harvested 3,133 individual bank account details from ATMs in England which were posted on Twitter and Pastebin. The details included machine identification number, latitude and longitude, the address, company owner and transaction amounts recently made.

PBS.org

Next on their list was the PBS.org website in which the group posted a fake story claiming the dead rapper Tupac Shakur was still alive in New Zealand. Also, many passwords were stolen and a number of web pages defaced. The attack was in response to a documentary on Julian Assange which displayed him in a negative light.

Sony PlayStation Network

The Sony PlayStation Network was the next target due to the lack of security measures. LulzSec stole information from 1 million user accounts to prove the company did nothing to improve their security. Other hacker groups condemned LulzSec from exposing the user data which could have led to identity theft.

The most interesting aspect of the group was their telephone hotline. By dialing 614 LULZSEC, angry callers could request a target to be DDoS’d. During its reign, the group missed more than 5,000 calls and had over 2,500 voicemails. Additionally, the group redirected phone numbers to World of Warcraft customer service, a hosting company and FBI office in Detroit. LulzSec proved their point by wreaking havoc on Internet companies and groups that they simply did not like.

Joomla Expansion Efforts

Joomla recently released version 1.7 of their self-titled software which has been redesigned to support functions outside the scope of traditional web content management. Developers and website administrators will now be able to use the software as a framework for other types of web applications.

New Development Lifecycle

The updated version is also the beginning of a new development lifecycle for open-source software in general. This variant allows for quick updates and long-term support for corporations. The two primary goals for the software were to release an on-time, complete platform.

Scheduled Releases

The Joomla team plans to release a new version every six months; in January and July. Also, every third release will carry the designation of a long-term release (LTS) which will offer support for 18 months complete with security upgrades and bug fixes. The next version of the software, which is due in January, will be LTS. However, the current version will provide support for the next seven months.

Achieving Benchmarks

The release of this new schedule should force specific benchmarks for the development cycle. In the past, new versions of Joomla were only released when all new features were completely developed. Under this type of scheduling it took Joomla 1.6 three years to be released.

Two User Preferences

The development team is faced with two types of user preferences. The first is that many users demand to have access to the most recent advancements immediately. The second is many large websites utilize Joomla so it is difficult for them to update their software every six months.

However, the new development timeline will allow the best of both worlds. Users who need long-term releases will be supported while users that want the latest and greatest can upgrade every six months.

Joomla Company Information

First released in 2005, Joomla is one of the most widely-used open source content management systems. Major clients include McDonald’s, Sony, Citibank, eBay and General Electric. Since 2007, the software has been downloaded over 24 million times and growing. Contributing developers have created over 8,000 extensions, most of which are available for free.

The new timetable for releases should greatly improve the efficiency and performance of Joomla. The nice aspect is if a small website does not like the new versions, they only have to wait six months for an update. At the same time, major websites will have support for almost two years. Sounds like this is a rare win-win situation.

How to Combat a DDoS Attack

Companies with a web presence can expect to experience a DDoS (Distributed Denial-of-Service) attack at any given time without prior warning.  It isn’t a matter of if; it’s a matter of when.  DDoS are a result of an overwhelming demand of server requests, typically caused by heavy traffic to a specific website.  Additionally, a DDoS attack can occur when online data is attacked by computer network or other websites with malice intent.  In addition to knocking websites offline, the attacks have the potential to crash e-mail, cloud services, or a variety of other client services.

Power house companies including Amazon, Visa, MasterCard, as well as federal government websites haven’t been immune from DDoS attacks.  The disastrous event causes numerous headaches for business owners with online ventures as they have little control over the attacks, however, planning and preparation for a DDoS attack helps to alleviate the detrimental consequences.

Taking the First Step

The first step in combating a DDoS attack is taking an initial assessment of the company’s risk.  For businesses that tend to do the majority of their transactions online or utilize Web-dependent services, the chances increase for being a target of a DDoS attack; therefore it’s important to develop a contingency plan.

Consulting with an IT team, along with the network administrator, is the best line of defense when devising a game plan.  It’s important to secure the company’s risk of exposure.  When analyzing potential security breaches, it’s vital to implement caching, static home pages, CDNs, standby servers, scaling/burstable network connections, and adequate infrastructure to handle heavy traffic flow.  Additionally, proper configuration and altered performance monitoring can assist in detecting when a site is actually under attack.

Responding to DDoS Attacks

Responding efficiently to a DDoS attack is equally as important as preparation.  It’s imperative to have a comprehensible hierarchy of support staff and providers in place to contact immediately upon being attacked.  Often such individuals include in-house IT staff or hosting providers, ISP, and vendors to quickly coordinate an effective response to the event.   The quicker a response is launched, the faster the issue is resolved.

Opting for Anti-DDoS Solutions

In addition to having contingency plans in place, anti-DDoS solutions also serve a beneficial purpose in combating the attacks.  Cisco is one example that utilizes such a line of defense.  Specific solutions include Cisco/Arbor Clean Pipes 2.0 and Arbor PeakFlow.  Also, having a massive amount of bandwidth has the potential to thwart a DDoS attack.   This is best achieved by outsourcing to a large hosting provider that can provide adequate bandwidth to support heavy traffic peaks.  Furthermore, outsourcing to a third party provider is that it reduces the chance of DDoS attacks as well as having in-house DDoS mitigation procedures already in place.

Insuring Websites from DDoS

It can’t be stressed enough as to the importance of backing up websites and important data.  It’s advised website owners should always use a backup mirror website that can be a viable option if the original site goes down under attack.  It’s also recommended the backup site be supported at a different location, hosted b y a different provider.  Optimal strategies for successful backup include server farms, load balancing, and global server load balancing spread across various data centers and physical/geographical locations.

In addition to insuring your website by backing up websites, many business ownwers with online ventures are opting for cyber insurance.  When it comes to companies protecting their websites from DDoS attacks, the best insurance is a policy that covers crisis management.  The policy is intended to help recover the costs of restoring the network and retrieving lost data.  The leading providers of cyber insurance include CyberSecurity, Chubb’s Safety Net and AIG’ s netAdvantage.

Due to the fact that DDoS attacks are becoming increasingly easier to carry out, website owners must remain vigilant to protect online business ventures as well as important data in the event of an unpredictable attack.

Data Foundry Opens Data Center in Austin

Colocation web hosting provider Data Foundry recently opened its newest data center in Austin, Texas. The company claims the facility is the first “purpose-built, carrier-neutral data center in the Central Texas region.” Preparations for the opening of the new data center began in May 2011 when the company held a large job fair in Austin to hire talented employees for the new location.

Location of the Data Center

The data center is located on a 40-acre data ranch campus in Austin. The opening is the initial phase of the 250,000 square foot facility which is fully functional. Despite the recent opening, the first customers have already begun to move in. Data Foundry currently operates two other carrier-neutral data centers in the state. The first is the ADC which is also located in Austin. The second is the HDC in Houston.

Texas 1 Specifications

Aptly named, “Texas 1”, the infrastructure boasts a diversity of independent power sources, water and network connections with no single points of failure in its cool, power and network systems. The location’s power system is maintained by two independent substations. Also, there is an unground power connection that is enclosed in a concrete duct. This is an extremely rare feature at colocation facilities.

Cooling Solutions

The water system is chilled allowing for flexible cooling solutions which include high-density configurations and single cabinet deployments. Therefore, the most complicated, high performing computing environments can be effectively cooled by the Texas 1 data center. Furthermore, the location boasts over 17 network carriers so customers have a choice between providers.

Announcement from Data Foundry

According to representatives from the Data Foundry implementation team, Texas 1 is the result of 17 years of experience in the operation of data centers. Throughout those years, the team has toured many facilities across the globe which has led to the creation of the Texas 1 data center. These visions will allow the company to compete on a global level. The facility provides an innovative design with flexibility which will benefit customers for many years.

The amount of planning that went into the design, development and opening of the data center is incredible. The company is even offering a full online tour of Texas 1 so customers can view the incredibleness of the location. No detail was missed so customers have complete security and control over their equipment in this high-tech colocation facility.

First Deployment of R1Soft Data Protection by Servers Australia

Australian-based web hosting provider Servers Australia recently announced the launch of a well-known, highly respectable backup solution from software developer R1Soft. This program provides customers with exclusive backup options and disaster recovery while protecting data on web hosting provider’s servers. According to Servers Australia, the company will offer CDP backups to all virtual private servers and dedicated hosting customers regardless of the management level.

Cross-Platform Compatibility

Furthermore, the company stated the new backup system will be able to protect Windows and Linux-based servers as well as physical and virtual servers due to the cross-platform compatibility. The software will also feature reliable data protection for use with MySQL database services.

Robust and Secure Software Solutions

R1Soft is well-known in the web hosting industry for robust and secure software solutions which puts the minds of clients at ease. Also, Servers Australia has conducted extensive internal testing and confirms that CDP software is consistent with the claims. In a recent press release the Chief Information Officer of Servers Australia confirmed that R1Soft provides an excellent solution for data protection that is reliable and affordable.

Bare Metal Restore

The hosting provider has also implemented R1Soft’s Bare Metal Restore feature which quickly recovers an entire server file system. This will cut current restore times in half which equates to less downtime in the occurrence of a server issue.

Statement from R1Soft

The Global Marketing Manager of R1Soft followed-up with a statement indicating that the company is extremely excited to be working closely with one of Australia’s leading web hosting providers. R1Soft expects this partnership to help propel Servers Australia further ahead of the competition. By providing such robust backup software to the company, Servers Australia is sending a clear message that they are fulfilling the data protection needs of their clients.

Recent Security Issues

Ironically this announcement comes shortly after domain registrar and Australian web hosting provider Distribute.IT suffered a major attack from hackers that resulted in the company changing to another hosting provider. This advanced protection software should help Servers Australia avoid a similar fate.

One of the most important responsibilities of a web hosting provider is to keep their client’s information safe at all times. Luckily, R1Soft has developed an excellent software program to do just that through redundant backup and recovery systems. Due to the reputation of R1Soft’s products, Servers Australia will greatly expand their client base.

Domain Name Expansion Expected to Create Major Problems

The number of top-level domains is expected to become much more populated in the coming years. The landscape for this explosion will begin in the coming months so battles for branding and digital turf are expected to get ugly. This is a result of the decisions made by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers to create new domain name extensions for a more brand-able online appeal. For instance a DuPont top-level name could be .DuPont.

Current Preparations

A local Internet lawyer is already preparing to fight for one of his clients for .Philly. New York City officials have clearly indicated that .NYC is a civic asset and has already taken the necessary steps to preserve the domain name. Additionally, large companies are scooping up their domain name extensions such as .Microsoft, .Google and .Ford.

Application Process

Unfortunately, the rules enforced by ICANN will not stop at new entrants. Beginning January 2012, the application process will become official. However, ICANN is only expecting several hundred domain registrants to pay the $185,000 application fee. Unfortunately, qualified applicants will be able to create domain names based on any word.

Supporter Reaction

To supporters of the new extensions, this has been a long time coming. They are claiming that customers are looking for a way to capture their preferences. Therefore, businesses should not be restricted by the usual .com’s, .net’s and .org’s. Instead, they should be able to try .Music or .Food.

Recognition of Upcoming Challenges

Unfortunately, these same supporters recognize that the new rules will inevitably cause turf-battles and they are unsure how they will pan out. During the early years of the Internet, similar legal turf-wars were over the control of generic domain names with high value. The new laws will indefinitely change that aspect of domain names by depreciating the value of generic .com domain names as a result of the endless possibilities.

Critic’s Reaction

Critics of the new Internet law view this as creating duplication (from the past) and redundancy rather than implementing a value-added system. The only positive impact it will have on business is for those in the domain name registry industry.

It appears as if this change implemented by ICANN is going to cause more problems than its worth. At the same time this could improve company branding and increase online business. It is difficult to predict the outcome once the dust settles.