The Beginners Guide To Dealing With Website Downtime

26 September 2019

According to recent research, the average website is down for about three hours per month as a result of downtime to web hosting servers. The 99.9% uptime guarantee and refund policies offered by most to hosting provider, won’t matter if you have lost traffic as a result of downtime. On average businesses can lose $10.6 million a year as a result of website downtime.

What Are The Major Causes Of Website Downtime?

Website downtime occur for reasons,some of them include:

Website code issues: poor programming can cause heavy loads on servers which leads to database error then eventually, makes the site unresponsive

Hacker attacks: a website can be brought down by attack from hackers in various ways – the server can be overloaded with DOS attacks, or malicious code is injected to steal security credentials – either way, the website owners are often forced to shut down the site in order to resolve the problem.

Data Centre issues: downtime can be caused by the hosting company itself. In this instance, uptime monitoring tools come in handy because they allow you to track the reliability of your web hosting company.

Increased traffic: increased traffic is probably one of the leading causes of website downtime. The only way to keep your site up and running even when there is a traffic surge is to engage the services of a reliable web hosting provider – a fully functional optimized website would be useless if your web host is unreliable.

How To Protect Your Website From Downtime

It’s been established, website downtime can negatively impact an online business bottom line, therefore it is important to have protective measures in place to safeguard your business. Some of these methods include:

DNS management: is a service that automatically reroutes traffic from the affected server to a secondary server.

Backup recovery: setting up a secondary hosting account with a different hosting provider on a different server is a great backup option, that makes it easy for you to get your website online if your primary server experiences downtime

CDN: this network will basically store and deliver all cached content from your website and will protect it, in the occurrence of any short time downtime.

The combination of DNS management, a content delivery network (CDN) and a backup host- backup listing will go a long way in protecting your website from experiencing short or long-term downtime.

How To Avoid Prolonged Downtime With A Great Website Recovery Plan

Website downtime is unavoidable -site updates, extreme weather or equipment upgrade can cause website downtime. A website recovery plan and backup are are important to keep unplanned downtime from adversely affecting your business. Before setting up a website backup and recovery plan, you would need to put up – website monitoring systems in place to track website uptime. These monitoring tools provide vital information regarding website performance and availability.

With these tools, you can create a different test (checks on your website), to accurately narrow down the root cause of the problem and take adequate steps to correct it. These checks have to be set up outside of the basic HTTPS check the include-checking against known databases of virus and malware sources, record changes to DNS records and so on.

Set up a downtime page

The best time to set up a downtime page is when you still have access to your website. It comes in handy when there unplanned downtime or planned downtime. This page informs your visitor that you are on top of the situation. Putting up a ‘service unavailable’ or a ‘website undergoing maintenance’ message on a page is a great way to keep credibility and show that you have control of the situation.

How To Handle Website Downtime

1. Confirm site downtime: before taking any major step, you need to verify that your website is really down – that is, make sure it isn’t a problem with your Internet connection or browser. To be extra certain, use a different computer to test out your website.

2. Find the cause: you should try to ascertain what caused the downtime -hardware issues, a programming error, expired domain or a DNS problem?

3. Get in touch with IT support: get in touch with the support of your web host and get assistance for the issue. if you choose a great web host, you should have ready support available.

4. Inform your website users about the downtime: it is imperative that your website visitors are not left in the dark. Put out messages on your social media account to keep your customers informed about what is going on and that your business is taking steps to address the problem. If it is a planned all downtime, it is good practice to send out a warning message detailing the date and time of site maintenance.

5. Check-in with IT: communicate regularly with IT and offer any information they may need regarding the web server or your website. You should also get an estimate of how long it would take for the problem to be solved.

6. Remain calm: this is tough to do but it is important to remember that website downtime can affect anyone and it is not the end of the world. Keeping calm is a great way to stay on top of the situation and resolve it quickly.

In Conclusion

A website is an integral part of a business’s online success. Because of the great number of website downtime, it is imperative that downtime is dealt with swiftly to avoid long-term repercussions -loss of clients loyalty, the revenue.

Thankfully, major search engine websites like Google have put measures in place to help website owners mitigate SEO ranking damage by providing a way out.

Read Also:

Content Rally

Content Rally wrapped around an online publication where you can publish your own intellectuals. It is a publishing platform designed to make great stories by content creators. This is your era, your place to be online. So come forward share your views, thoughts and ideas via Content Rally.

View all posts

How U.S.-Based Appointment Reminders Can Help Customers Keep Track of Their Schedule

With so many things going on in our lives, and with so little time, it’s easy to lose track of the things you’ve planned on doing unless you take the extra steps to track your time coherently. Additionally, the older we get, the more difficult it becomes to remember stuff. We all juggle family, our professional careers, and hobbies, among many other personal matters. As such, a little help in the form of appointment reminders would go a long way in helping us plan our time better. An appointment reminder service will communicate to your clients via automated phone calls, SMS, or email to remind them of upcoming scheduled activities such as office appointments, service visits, and deadlines. Let’s walk you through some of the benefits you can expect from using an appointment reminder service. 1. Avoid the Inconvenience of Last-Minute Cancellations or No-Shows It’s estimated that between 5-30% of Americans don’t show up for their medical appointments. Missing an appointment may seem a harmless thing to do since you’ll only have to reschedule but it costs service providers tens of billions of dollars every year. Many people tend to forget about their appointments, especially those that are booked so far ahead. But a reminder the week or few days before the appointment date will allow you to remind your clients in advance so they can either confirm or cancel the appointment. This way, you’ll be reminded of 2. Allows You to Plan Ahead of Time U.S.-Based Appointment Reminders will not just remind you and your clients of the time and day you’re scheduled to meet but also additional information about the meeting. This way you’ll be better prepared for your meeting or appointment. In some instances, the agenda of these meetings might involve certain documents or materials from either party. This could be the case in depositions, medical consultations, or court appearances. 3. Make Your Services More Efficient By integrating U.S.-based appointment reminders within your customer service, you’ll find yourself spending less time and resources trying to get in touch with patients to follow up on meetings. This will give you more flexibility to focus on other productive tasks, including the customers you’re attending to at any given time. 4. Gain More Insight Into Your Client Service Top-of-the-line U.S.-based appointment reminders come with reporting capabilities that allow you to record important customer-business relationship metrics such as no-show rate, duration of a wait after rescheduling, and employee performance. Compiling this information over time will provide high-value insight into your clients, business performance, and customer service. U.S. Based Appointment Reminders Are the Way to Go Are you frustrated at having to reach out to client after client to remind them of their meetings? Has a patient ever caused you incredible inconvenience after not showing up for an appointment? U.S.-based appointment reminders can help sort out all those issues while saving you and your business time and money. Just make sure you do diligent research to find an appointment reminder service that’s ideal for your business needs. Read Also: How to Develop A Healthcare App? Top Non-Physician Career Opportunities in the Healthcare Sector in 2021 How Cutting Edge Technology is Helping Dubai Improve its Healthcare Services

3 Encryption Trends and How They Make Communication More Secure

Over the past three years, encryption has become a major concern for organizations of all sizes. Corporate hacks and Hillary Clinton’s email scandal have raised public awareness about the ubiquitous risks of unsecured data, and a growing number of businesses, government agencies, and individuals have started employing software that can effectively protect their communications from third-party surveillance. There are many reasons why the encrypted smartphone has become the tool-of-choice for those concerned about the risks of cyber attack, but one of the most significant is the fact that encrypted smartphones are constantly being upgraded to meet the latest threats. Here are three of the most significant ways that cutting-edge encryption software is evolving to protect communications: 1. More Sophisticated Encryption Algorithms Creating effective encryption solutions means staying ahead of hackers and cybercriminals, which is why the best encryption providers are exploring new, stronger encryption algorithms that can protect users from the newest malware, spyware, and hacking techniques. But in order for it to be effective for business communication, encryption also needs to be widely used and widely available. The latest encryptions solutions from companies like ChatMail Secure solve this problem by providing multiple levels of encryption. Users default to ChatMail’s proprietary messaging and parsing protocol when communicating with other ChatMail users, but they can also use the more widely available PGP encryption from the same interface. 2. Improved Ease-of-Use For most encrypted smartphones users, functionality is just as important as security. In the fast-paced world of business and government affairs, an encrypted smartphone that isn’t set up to allow for voice messaging, image sharing, and chat is an impediment to effective communication. One of the things that makes an up-to-date encryption tool like ChatMail different from older encrypted smartphone technology is its ability to provide a wide range of tools and a seamless interface without compromising the integrity of its encryption software (you can click here to learn more about the CAMP protocol’s unique approach to encrypted messaging). 3. Better Features In order for encryption software to provide adequate protection, it needs to do more than simply encrypt messages. It also needs to ensure that users have control over the encryption keys, and can easily generate new keys as needed. The latest encryption software from ChatMail Secure goes even further, allowing users to set automatic expiration dates for the messages they receive and favorite messages they want to keep beyond the automation expiration period, and provides options for remote wipes should a device be lost. The World Economic Forum listed cyber attacks as the third most likely threat facing businesses this year, and it is likely that it will continue to be ranked as one of the most serious threats in 2019. This is why it is important for businesses not simply to adopt encryption, but to adopt the most cutting-edge encrypted smartphones that can keep their communications safe from cyber threats on every front. Only encrypted smartphones from providers like ChatMail can guarantee secure, practical encryption solutions that can keep sensitive information confidential without impeding communication, which is why you should get in touch with an encryption provider today to explore how encrypted smartphones can make your communications more secure. Read Also: Securing Mobile App Development With Blockchain Technology Bitdefender Antivirus For Mac Review Top 10 Computer Security Mistakes

Ensuring Compliance And Security In Digital Signature Technology

In today's rapidly evolving digital landscape, the need for secure and legally recognized signatures has become increasingly vital. Digital signature technology offers a robust solution, enabling individuals and organizations to sign, send, and track documents with efficiency and confidence. Unlike traditional handwritten signatures, digital signatures provide enhanced security features and legal validity, making them indispensable in various industries. With the emergence of electronic signature (e-sign) APIs, such as Lumin, organizations can streamline their document management processes further. e-sign APIs facilitate seamless integration of digital signature functionality into existing workflows, allowing customers to sign, send, and track documents directly from their preferred applications. This not only enhances efficiency but also ensures compliance with regulatory standards and maintains high levels of security throughout the document lifecycle. Compliance Standards And Regulations Digital signature technology operates within a complex regulatory framework to ensure legal validity and compliance with industry standards. Key regulations, such as the Electronic Identification, Authentication, and Trust Services (eIDAS) Regulation in the European Union and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), govern the use of digital signatures and electronic transactions. Compliance with these regulations is essential for organizations to establish the legal validity of digital signatures and protect sensitive data. A. Understanding Key Regulations The eIDAS Regulation establishes a uniform legal framework for electronic signatures, ensuring their recognition and enforceability across EU member states. It outlines specific requirements for electronic identification, authentication, and trust services, including electronic signatures, to enhance security and facilitate cross-border transactions. Compliance with eIDAS is crucial for organizations operating within the EU to ensure the legal validity of digital signatures and foster trust in electronic transactions. Similarly, the GDPR mandates stringent data protection measures, including the use of secure digital signature solutions, to safeguard individuals' privacy rights and prevent unauthorized access to personal data. Organizations must implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to ensure compliance with GDPR requirements when using digital signature technology, thereby mitigating data breaches and non-compliance risks. B. Implementing Standards For Legal Validity Organizations must adhere to established standards and procedures to ensure the legal validity of digital signatures. This includes implementing robust authentication mechanisms to verify the identity of signatories and validate the integrity of electronic documents. By adhering to industry standards and regulatory requirements, organizations can establish the legal validity of digital signatures and ensure their enforceability in legal proceedings. Security Features Of Digital Signatures Digital signatures incorporate advanced security features to ensure the integrity, authenticity, and confidentiality of electronic documents. Understanding these security features is crucial for organizations seeking to implement digital signature solutions while maintaining compliance and protecting sensitive information. A. Encryption And Authentication Mechanisms Encryption lies at the heart of digital signature technology, serving as a fundamental mechanism for securing electronic documents. Through the use of encryption algorithms, digital signatures protect the content of documents during transmission, ensuring confidentiality and preventing unauthorized access. Digital signatures also employ robust authentication mechanisms to verify the identity of signatories and validate the integrity of electronic documents. Authentication plays a pivotal role in establishing the trustworthiness of digital signatures, allowing recipients to verify the authenticity of signed documents and the identity of the signer. Furthermore, digital signature solutions often integrate with existing authentication methods, such as biometric authentication or two-factor authentication, to enhance security and ensure that only authorized individuals can sign documents. B. Preventing Tampering And Ensuring Integrity One of the primary objectives of digital signatures is to prevent tampering and ensure the integrity of electronic documents. Digital signatures achieve this by incorporating mechanisms that detect any unauthorized alterations to the signed documents. Digital signatures include a unique digital fingerprint, known as a hash, which is generated based on the content of the document. This hash is encrypted using the signer's private key, creating a digital signature that is unique to both the document and the signer. Any modifications made to the document after it has been signed would result in a mismatch between the original hash and the altered document, thereby detecting tampering attempts. This tamper-evident feature ensures the integrity of electronic documents and assures recipients of the authenticity of the signed content. In addition to detecting tampering, digital signatures often include timestamping mechanisms that record the exact time when the document was signed. Timestamps further enhance the integrity of digital signatures by providing a reliable record of the signing event, enabling parties to verify the chronological order of signatures and detect any discrepancies. Best Practices In Digital Signature Management Adopting best practices is essential for organizations to ensure compliance and security in digital signature management, safeguarding against potential risks and vulnerabilities. A. Regular Audits And Compliance Checks Regular audits of digital signature processes and systems help organizations proactively identify and address compliance or security vulnerabilities. Conducting compliance checks ensures that digital signatures adhere to regulatory standards and legal requirements, mitigating non-compliance risks and ensuring electronic documents' legal validity. B. Training And Awareness For Users Effective training and awareness programs educate users about the importance of digital signatures, legal implications, and security best practices. By promoting user awareness and understanding, organizations can prevent misuse of digital signature solutions and enhance overall compliance and security. Technological Advances In Digital Signatures Technological innovations play a pivotal role in enhancing digital signature solutions' security and compliance capabilities. These advancements continually evolve to address emerging threats, improve user experience, and ensure legal validity in electronic transactions. A. Innovations Enhancing Security And Compliance Enhanced Encryption Algorithms: Recent advancements in encryption algorithms have bolstered the security of digital signatures, making them more resistant to cryptographic attacks. Advanced encryption standards, such as Elliptic Curve Cryptography (ECC) and RSA, offer stronger cryptographic primitives, ensuring the confidentiality and integrity of electronic documents. Authentication: The variants of biometric authentication methods, like facial recognition, fingerprint recognition, and iris scanning, have emerged as robust mechanisms for verifying the identity of signatories in digital signature solutions. By integrating biometric data into the signing process, organizations can enhance security and mitigate the risk of unauthorized access or impersonation. Multi-factor Authentication: In addition to traditional password-based authentication, digital signature solutions increasingly incorporate multi-factor authentication (MFA) methods to enhance security. MFA requires users to authenticate their identity using multiple factors, such as passwords, biometrics, and one-time passcodes, significantly reducing the risk of unauthorized access and enhancing compliance with regulatory requirements. Advanced Audit Trails: Digital signature solutions now offer advanced audit trail capabilities, allowing organizations to maintain detailed records of signature transactions. Audit trails provide visibility into the signing process, including the signatories' identity, the signatures' timestamp, and any modifications made to the document, ensuring compliance with regulatory standards and facilitating forensic analysis in case of disputes. Conclusion In conclusion, ensuring compliance and security in digital signature technology is essential for organizations seeking to leverage electronic signatures in their document management processes. By understanding key regulations, implementing robust security measures, and adopting best practices, organizations can harness the benefits of digital signatures while maintaining legal validity and protecting sensitive information. Read Also: Ensuring Compliance And Security In Digital Signature Technology Behind The Filter: Understanding YouTube Restricted Mode’s Functionality Privacy In The Digital Age: Managing Your ‘My Activity’ On Google

The Beginners Guide To Dealing With Website Downtime

What Are The Major Causes Of Website Downtime?

How To Protect Your Website From Downtime