Web attacks or cyberattacks are becoming increasingly frequent and varied. Whether you have a simple showcase website, a web platform, or an e-commerce site, a security flaw can have serious consequences for both you and your users. A significant 43% of small websites experience cyberattacks, which often lead to data loss or theft. More than just a moral obligation, website protection is a responsibility governed by the GDPR as well as the Computer and Freedom law, which requires every website operator to take satisfactory precautions regarding data protection.
Defending your website is therefore a daily challenge that is best entrusted to true subject matter experts. Each web platform, such as WordPress, Wix, Webflow, Shopify, etc., has its own security methods, but there are basic rules to follow to secure your website. Using a website creation platform is a way to partially delegate the management of your site’s protection.
We often hear about Webflow as the ideal website creation tool for web design and SEO, but what about its security features?
At Webflow, we take security seriously. We tailor our security program to industry standards such as ISO 27001 and critical security controls outlined by CIS.
Webflow aligned with SOC 2 standards
Developed by the AICPA (American Institute of Certified Public Accountants), the SOC 2 standard, “Service Organization Control 2,” requires companies to implement extensive web security practices and keep them regularly updated. To validate its SOC 2 compliance, Webflow underwent a comprehensive security audit, verifying the reliability of its protection systems. This audit encompasses five key criteria:
- Security: The systems used and the information collected on Webflow sites must be protected against any unauthorized access.
- Availability: Webflow systems must be consistently available for use.
- Processing Integrity: Webflow systems must operate in a timely and accurate manner.
- Confidentiality: Information designated as confidential must be protected.
- Protection: Information is collected, retained when in use, and securely disposed of.
Since December 2020, Webflow has been certified SOC 2 Type 1 and is currently undergoing the audit to become SOC 2 Type 2. You can check their SOC 2 security profile at any time.
Secure and encrypted Webflow hosting
A web host is a secure storage space where all the data of your website will be recorded. To visualize what a host is, think of it as the home of your site, and it is crucial to lock it securely to prevent unwanted intrusions. Your site is therefore visible online thanks to a web host, which must be secure to protect all your data as well as that of your users. A good hosting service should be secure, fast, and reliable to provide your visitors with an optimal experience.
Webflow hosting on AWS
Webflow hosts its sites on AWS, Amazon Web Services Hosting, benefiting from the quality and security of the service. Whether for a marketing webflow site, an e-commerce platform, or any other web platform, AWS is one of the best cloud hosting services in the world, meeting both performance and cloud infrastructure security needs.
Hosted on AWS, Webflow sites therefore have reliable protection against cyberattacks as well as massive traffic surges. In addition to essential features, Webflow also offers an advanced security plan for large enterprises.
Webflow SSL encryption
Data encryption refers to converting data into a form that only authorized individuals can decrypt using a decryption key. Simply put, encrypted data will be inaccessible without authorization or a password.
All data held by Webflow is protected by an SSL protocol that encrypts every exchange between a search engine and Webflow servers. By default, your site will have an SSL certificate that encrypts and protects the data exchanges on your site. The SSL certificate is essential, for instance, to reassure your users during sign-ups, logins, or online payments. To check if a site has SSL security, simply look if its URL contains an “S” in HTTPS://, not just HTTP.
Webflow site without plugin vulnerabilities
One of the main vulnerabilities encountered on CMS platforms like WordPress is the use of third-party plugins. Plugins are essentially extensions of your website that you use for various functions, such as adding a contact form, a payment module, or even security features. These extensions are developed and owned by different third parties, each with their own responsibilities for security. Some abandon their plugins, and security updates are no longer implemented. Others, less visible, are not scrutinized as thoroughly as integrations and may contain flaws. You are thus dependent on a multitude of third-party developers, sometimes independent, making it challenging to ascertain their reliability in terms of security at any given moment or for future updates.
On Webflow, everything is developed natively with the tool, which minimizes the stacking of tools on your site. For integrations, Webflow only collaborates with large companies such as Mailchimp for marketing and Stripe for payments. These companies have a transparent and reliable data security and protection policy, significantly reducing the risks of hacking your Webflow site.
Secure payments
If you're looking to build a Webflow e-commerce site, you may be wondering about payment security. Until now, Webflow has chosen a single partner for online payments: Stripe. All transactions and payment-related data are fully managed by this specialized and certified Level 1 Service Provider.
Stripe uses the latest security protocols, such as TLS and HTTPS, to protect data, and checks all its users for PCI compliance (global payment account data security standards).
General information about Stripe security:
- PCI compliance and TLS & HTTPS protocols
- Stripe security
- SSO authentication
- Fraud prevention
- Credit card testing
Information on managing sensitive Stripe data
Secure Webflow account
In addition to strict security measures for your visitors, Webflow is committed to protecting your personal data.
Protection of your Webflow access
Your Webflow login credentials provide access to your entire account and therefore to your site or web projects. Webflow offers a two-factor authentication system to ensure extra security for your account. This type of authentication is currently the highest level of security for a web account. It involves confirming every new login on another device. Thus, if someone logs into your Webflow account, you will be alerted of this new connection and can choose to allow or deny it.
Additionally, there are other features to manage permissions in Webflow:
- SSO authentication with G Suite
- Single sign-on based on subscriptions
- Role-based permissions defined
Protection of your Webflow pages
In Webflow, you have the option to protect each of your web pages with a password. The goal is to restrict access to certain pages on your website. Thus, access to a page, a set of pages, or even the entire site can be restricted with a password.
Recorded Webflow data
Recording your data is also a way to protect your site and design safely. Firstly, recordings are automatic in the Webflow design mode. Every change is therefore saved on Webflow's servers, and with a ctrl + Z you can easily revert back.
Beyond the ability to revert during development, Webflow also keeps track of your website's entire history. You can very simply revert to a previous date to restore your site if necessary.
Contact Webflow security
For any questions regarding the security of Webflow sites, we invite you to contact a member of the Digidop team or directly reach out to Webflow's dedicated support at: security@webflow.com
For more information, you can consult the Webflow security policy at any time.
Protecting your users' data, protecting your personal data, securing your site, and maintaining a history of data, Webflow is a fully secure website creation tool. Webflow incorporates best practices in security for your website, and we continually update this article to keep you informed about the latest Webflow security methods.
