The first step in securing websites is to conduct a thorough review to identify security loopholes. This can be done via scanning tools, and applying the relevant software upgrades and patches.

A web application firewall (WAF) should be put in to protect the website. WAFs are able to detect and prevent common web application attacks such as cross-site scripting and SQL injections.

A proactive monitoring mechanism will allow the organization to act quickly before external parties discover the security breach.

Organizations need to have an incident response plan in the event of an attack, which includes mechanisms on backing up and securely restoring their web presence.

After the web presence is restored, the organization should once again carry out a security review. Website security is best achieved if it is viewed as a continuous process.