Security Series: How to Avoid Being Held Hostage by a Web Developer
Posted: Tue Dec 10, 2024 10:20 am
The most common problem business owners face when establishing an online presence is the inability to access their digital assets.
Most business owners outsource the creation of their business website to an outside resource, such as a web service company, a freelance web developer, or even a relative.
The business then continues to grow, and it becomes unclear who has access to which account until the website needs to be further developed or optimized. That's when problems can arise.
Some Hostage Situations to Avoid
1. Domain name
Even if the web service company you are dealing with offers a domain name registration service, it is essential that you have access to the domain administrator for the purposes of renewals, transfers, acquisition offers, etc. The whois.com site allows you to check the contact information of the current administrator.
2. Web Hosting Services
Since many business owners don't have a server to host their overseas chinese in canada data website on, they often enter into a hosting agreement with their web developer. However, it's a good idea to get administrator rights from the start so that you can move the website to another server if the partnership breaks down.
3. Content Management System (CMS)
Most websites use a CMS to manage content (text, images, forms, etc.). Administrator rights will allow you to continue managing your website if, for example, your web developer ceases to operate.
4. Email Marketing Tool
Since the federal government's anti-spam law came into effect , it is essential to have administrator rights to your email marketing tool.
5. Web analytics
Web analytics tools, such as Google Analytics , provide valuable data about your website visitors and other performance metrics. If you don't have administrator rights to access them, your ability to analyze this critical information will be limited.
6. Social Media Channels
Sometimes companies outsource the management of their social media pages to external companies, and these are sometimes located abroad. It goes without saying that it is essential that the owner or management team of the company has direct access to these accounts in order to be able to respond directly to a social media “crisis”.
Protecting your digital assets is your business .
Be sure to record administrator rights information in a password-protected Excel spreadsheet or using tools like PasswordBox and 1Password.
We also strongly recommend revoking temporary administrator rights granted to external resources once a project is completed.
If you are unsure about the exact CMS, analytics tools and social media presence strategy that have been implemented for your business, you can run BDC's free website assessment .
Most business owners outsource the creation of their business website to an outside resource, such as a web service company, a freelance web developer, or even a relative.
The business then continues to grow, and it becomes unclear who has access to which account until the website needs to be further developed or optimized. That's when problems can arise.
Some Hostage Situations to Avoid
1. Domain name
Even if the web service company you are dealing with offers a domain name registration service, it is essential that you have access to the domain administrator for the purposes of renewals, transfers, acquisition offers, etc. The whois.com site allows you to check the contact information of the current administrator.
2. Web Hosting Services
Since many business owners don't have a server to host their overseas chinese in canada data website on, they often enter into a hosting agreement with their web developer. However, it's a good idea to get administrator rights from the start so that you can move the website to another server if the partnership breaks down.
3. Content Management System (CMS)
Most websites use a CMS to manage content (text, images, forms, etc.). Administrator rights will allow you to continue managing your website if, for example, your web developer ceases to operate.
4. Email Marketing Tool
Since the federal government's anti-spam law came into effect , it is essential to have administrator rights to your email marketing tool.
5. Web analytics
Web analytics tools, such as Google Analytics , provide valuable data about your website visitors and other performance metrics. If you don't have administrator rights to access them, your ability to analyze this critical information will be limited.
6. Social Media Channels
Sometimes companies outsource the management of their social media pages to external companies, and these are sometimes located abroad. It goes without saying that it is essential that the owner or management team of the company has direct access to these accounts in order to be able to respond directly to a social media “crisis”.
Protecting your digital assets is your business .
Be sure to record administrator rights information in a password-protected Excel spreadsheet or using tools like PasswordBox and 1Password.
We also strongly recommend revoking temporary administrator rights granted to external resources once a project is completed.
If you are unsure about the exact CMS, analytics tools and social media presence strategy that have been implemented for your business, you can run BDC's free website assessment .