1. Purpose

The purpose of this Website Security Policy is to establish rules, standards, and responsibilities to protect the website, its users, and organizational data from unauthorized access, misuse, loss, or damage. This policy supports confidentiality, integrity, and availability of information.

2. Scope

This policy applies to: – All public and private websites operated by the organization – Web applications, APIs, and supporting infrastructure – Employees, contractors, vendors, and third parties with access to website systems

3. Roles and Responsibilities

3.1 Website Owner

Ensures compliance with this policy
Approves content and functional changes
Assigns responsible administrators

3.2 System / Web Administrators

Implement and maintain security controls
Apply patches and updates in a timely manner
Monitor logs and respond to incidents

3.3 Developers

Follow secure coding standards
Perform testing prior to deployment
Remediate identified vulnerabilities

3.4 Users

Use the website in accordance with acceptable use requirements
Report suspected security issues

4. Access Control

Administrative access must be restricted to authorized personnel only
Role-based access control (RBAC) shall be enforced
Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) is required for all administrative accounts
Default accounts and passwords must be removed or disabled

5. Authentication and Passwords

Passwords must meet complexity requirements (minimum length, mix of characters)
Passwords must not be shared or reused across systems
Credentials must be stored using strong cryptographic hashing
Account lockout mechanisms must be enabled to prevent brute-force attacks

6. Secure Configuration

Servers, frameworks, and CMS platforms must be hardened using industry best practices
Unused services, ports, and plugins must be disabled or removed
Configuration files must not be publicly accessible

7. Data Protection

Sensitive data must be encrypted in transit using TLS 1.2 or higher
Sensitive data stored at rest must be encrypted using approved algorithms
Personal and confidential information shall be collected and retained only when necessary
Data handling must comply with applicable privacy laws and regulations

8. Secure Development Practices

Secure coding standards (e.g., OWASP Top 10) must be followed
Input validation and output encoding must be implemented
Protection against common attacks (XSS, SQL injection, CSRF) is required
Code reviews and security testing must be performed before deployment

9. Patch and Vulnerability Management

Operating systems, web servers, applications, and dependencies must be kept up to date
Security patches must be applied based on risk severity
Vulnerability scans should be performed regularly
Identified vulnerabilities must be tracked and remediated

10. Logging and Monitoring

Security-relevant events must be logged (authentication, access, errors)
Logs must be protected from unauthorized access and alteration
Monitoring and alerting should be in place for suspicious activity

11. Incident Response

Security incidents must be reported immediately to the designated contact
An incident response process shall be followed for investigation and remediation
Evidence must be preserved when possible
Users and regulators shall be notified as required by law

12. Third-Party Services

Third-party integrations must be reviewed for security risks
Vendors must meet minimum security requirements
Access granted to third parties must be limited and reviewed regularly

13. Backup and Recovery

Website data and configurations must be backed up regularly
Backups must be protected and tested periodically
Disaster recovery procedures must be documented and maintained

14. Compliance and Auditing

Compliance with this policy is mandatory
Periodic audits and reviews shall be conducted
Violations may result in disciplinary action or termination of access

15. Policy Review and Maintenance

This policy shall be reviewed at least annually
Updates will be made to address changes in technology, threats, or regulations