With content being such a major business these days, WordPress now accounts for over 40% of all websites, making it a top choice for bloggers, businesses, and developers. Despite this, that widespread popularity also makes WordPress sites more vulnerable to cyber threats. To combat this threat, while WordPress plugins do offer some built-in security benefits, a server antivirus solution is needed for a more comprehensive level of protection. This is so a broader range of potential threats can be catered to. In today’s business world, a server antivirus is essential for protecting against cyber threats like malware, ransomware, and other complex threats that grow more advanced all the time. This article explores why having a server antivirus is crucial for WordPress sites, especially for businesses that manage sensitive data.
Why Do Businesses Need Server Antivirus Software?
1. Corporate Servers: A Prime Target for Hackers
Corporate servers are vital as they are used to store records like customer data and financial records. Unfortunately, this also makes them a prime target for hackers. Antivirus software is essential for safeguarding business servers by identifying and removing threats before they can cause harm. According to tech writer Ilijia Miljkovac, the most common vectors for cyber attacks include corporate servers as they represent a treasure trove of sensitive data for hackers to leverage.
To guard against such threats, popular server antivirus solutions scan and protect business emails, and crucial systems like remote servers, and cloud servers against threats like malware. In addition to these solutions, regular updates help keep the software effective against new threats, ensuring that corporate data remains secure and protected. This proactive approach is key to maintaining the integrity of sensitive information.
2. Remote-Access Servers: Protecting Remote Connections
The growth of remote work has made remote access servers crucial for many businesses, allowing employees to connect from anywhere. However, these servers are vulnerable to cyberattacks, with hackers often exploiting weaknesses in remote access protocols to gain unauthorized access and potentially compromise data.
Antivirus software for servers is crucial for monitoring remote-access servers and blocking suspicious activities. It also ensures that devices connecting to the network are free from malware, providing comprehensive endpoint protection.
3. Email Servers: A Gateway for Malware
Cybercriminals are renowned for using emails that sneak in harmful attachments or links. When opened, these trojan elements can spread malware quickly through the network—threatening multiple systems simultaneously.
However, a server antivirus works by protecting email servers against these threats and others. It does so by scanning both incoming and outgoing messages for a variety of known threats. The method uses something known as heuristic analysis to detect new or unknown malware.
In the process, it can filter out harmful content before it ever reaches users. This helps prevent data breaches and reduces financial risks associated with malware infections.
The Importance of Server Antivirus for WordPress Sites
1. The Need for Additional Security
Anyone familiar with WordPress knows it caters to a variety of plugins. Those like Wordfence and iThemes can offer a great deal of protection against common attacks like malware. However, the problem is these solutions can only secure the WordPress environment.
On the other hand, a server antivirus is like a broad-spectrum antibiotic for systems. It can protect you against a far larger field of threats, safeguarding all websites and other features on the server. This is vital for websites that have shared hosting capabilities.
In shared hosting environments, multiple sites share the same server, so a breach on one site can potentially affect others. A robust server antivirus scans the entire server, reducing the risk of widespread infections and protecting all hosted sites from cyber threats.
Also Read: Why Your Business Needs Cloud Antivirus Protection
2. Protecting Against Zero-Day Vulnerabilities
Zero-day vulnerabilities are hidden security flaws that hackers exploit before developers release a fix, leaving systems exposed. WordPress sites are especially vulnerable if they use outdated themes or plugins, as they may not have defenses against these newly discovered threats.
A server antivirus provides proactive protection by detecting unusual activity and isolating compromised files before patches are available. It uses heuristic and behavior-based detection to identify and address potential threats, reducing exposure during zero-day attacks.
Also Read: How to Remove Malware & Clean a Hacked WordPress Site
3. Guarding Against Brute Force Attacks and DDoS Attacks
Another common but very effective active type of attack is Brute force attacks. These work by trying to crack login credentials through repeated attempts that utilize a massive number of password combinations. Meanwhile, Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks work by flooding a server with unwanted traffic, essentially slowing down or completely crashing the site.
Although WordPress plugins offer some protection, a server-level antivirus is essential here since it provides a more dedicated and comprehensive defense against threats like this. It does this by constantly examining server traffic patterns to detect and block brute force and DDoS attacks. It automatically stops malicious IPs and works like a sentry that guards a perimeter all day and all night.
Key Features to Look for in a Server Antivirus
1. Compatibility with Your Hosting Environment
It’s also essential to verify the compatibility of the server antivirus with your hosting environment. This should be done regardless of whether you are utilizing a shared, VPS, or dedicated server as the principle is applicable to all these server types.
However, also keep in mind that some antivirus solutions are specifically designed for certain server types, optimizing their performance and effectiveness. Variables in the way your site runs like whether you run a content business, cater to affiliate marketing, or allow guest posting can affect the type of server you need.
Compatibility with your hosting environment ensures that the antivirus will not interfere with server operations or other software running on the server. It also guarantees optimal performance, allowing the antivirus to provide thorough protection without causing server slowdowns or other issues.
Also Read: 17 WordPress Security Plugin To Secure Your Website
2. Comprehensive Scanning and Threat Removal
Strong antivirus solutions should also provide extensive scanning functionalities. In most cases, these encompass complete server scans, scheduled scans, and on-demand scans. Features like these ensure that every aspect of your server is regularly examined for malware and can drastically reduce the threat level against your server.
Effective threat removal features are also vital. These offer options to quarantine, delete, or repair compromised files when detected. Advanced capabilities like rootkit detection, ransomware protection, and thorough malware removal enhance overall security, ensuring robust defense against diverse threats.
Also Read: Most Common Cybersecurity Challenges for Small and Medium Businesses
3. Centralized Management and Reporting- Server Antivirus
Things can be a little more complicated for businesses that utilize multiple servers or extensive networks. In these cases, centralized management and reporting are vital. These kinds of advanced features use a system where dedicated IT administrators exercise oversight and control over antivirus protection via a single dashboard.
This helps streamline the monitoring and maintenance of a company’s cyber security. Detailed reporting can be a crucial step to identify threats and deal with them through security protocols. By using a central approach like this, security management is streamlined.
4. Customer Support and Documentation
Providing adequate customer support and reliable documentation that comprehensively covers you are crucial factors when choosing a server antivirus. In the event of a security breach or a technical issue, prompt after-sales service can make a massive difference in minimizing downtime and data loss.
Comprehensive documentation should include user guides and knowledge bases as these aid users in configuring and optimizing antivirus software for optimal protection. Reliable support then goes a long way in ensuring that users can efficiently deploy the antivirus to secure their servers and WordPress sites.
Also Read: Free WordPress Login Page Security Plugins To Protect Your Site From Hackers
5. Server Secuirty- Server Antivirus
WordPress plugins protect a site’s front end but fall short of securing the entire server. To make up for this, a server antivirus is vital to provide comprehensive protection against advanced threats like zero-day vulnerabilities, brute force attacks, and malware.
Selecting a strong and compatible antivirus for your server can and does boost a WordPress site’s security. It also safeguards its sensitive business information, ensuring visitors and customers to the site are also safe.
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