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Over the past decade many businesses and organizations have accepted the Web as an inexpensive way to communicate with customers as well as conduct business. This includes the use of web-based apps that gather and store data including customer information provided via content management systems shopping carts, inquiry or submit forms, and login fields.

Because these applications are connected to the Internet and frequently accessible from anywhere in the world, they are vulnerable to hacking attempts that exploit vulnerabilities in the application’s infrastructure. SQL injection attacks that exploit weaknesses in databases, could compromise databases that store sensitive data. Attackers could use the leverage they gain by breaching your Web application to discover other systems that are more vulnerable in your network.

Other common Web attacks include Cross Site Scripting attacks (XSS) that exploit weaknesses in the web server to inject malicious code into web pages, and which executes as an infected script in the victim’s browser. This allows attackers to gain access to private information, or redirect users to phishing sites. XSS attacks are most prevalent on message boards, blogs and web forums.

Distributed attacks on service (DDoS) comprise hackers banding together to bombard a website with more requests than it is able to handle. This can cause a website’s performance to drop or even shut down completely. This can affect the ability of the website to process requests, rendering it inaccessible to all. This is why DDoS attacks are especially devastating for small businesses that depend on their websites to run, such as local bakeries or restaurants.