7 Security Best Practices for Static Site Deployment

Want to lock down your static site? Here are 7 essential security steps that will protect your site from 95% of common attacks:

Security Step	What It Does	Key Action
1. HTTPS Setup	Encrypts data	Install SSL certificate
2. Security Headers	Blocks XSS attacks	Add CSP headers
3. Access Control	Limits file access	Set proper permissions
4. CDN Protection	Stops DDoS	Enable rate limiting
5. File Security	Prevents tampering	Monitor file changes
6. Build Process	Secures deployment	Lock down CI/CD
7. Monitoring	Catches issues	Watch security logs

Why this matters: Cyber attacks hit small businesses every 39 seconds. By 2031, it'll happen every 2 seconds.

Do these 3 things now:

Enable HTTPS with free SSL from Let's Encrypt
Add basic security headers (CSP, X-Frame-Options)
Set up CDN protection with rate limits

The good news? These steps are simple to implement. Most hosting platforms like Netlify and Cloudflare Pages include many of these protections by default.

This guide shows you exactly how to implement each security measure, with code samples and step-by-step instructions you can follow today.

Basic Security Concepts for Static Sites

Main Security Terms

Here's what you need to know about security basics:

Term	What It Does	Why It Matters
Authentication	Checks who you are	Keeps unwanted users out
Authorization	Sets user permissions	Controls what users can do
SSL/TLS	Makes data unreadable	Protects sensitive info
Security Headers	Sets browser rules	Stops common hacks
DDoS Protection	Handles traffic floods	Keeps your site online

Common Weak Points

CISA's 2023 report shows these major issues with static sites:

Problem	Risk Level	What Can Happen
Old Libraries	High	8 in 10 attacks start here
No HTTPS	High	Anyone can steal data
Poor File Controls	Medium	Others can take over
Basic Headers	Medium	Scripts can attack users

How to Check for Risks

Here's how to spot problems FAST:

1. Look at Your Headers

Copy these settings exactly:

X-XSS-Protection: 1; mode=block
X-Frame-Options: SAMEORIGIN
X-Content-Type-Options: nosniff

2. Check Your SSL

Here's what SSL costs per month:

Type	Cost	Best Use
Domain	$0.80-$10	Personal sites
Organization	$30-$50	Company sites
Extended	$70-$125	Online stores

3. Look for Bad Code

Check your JavaScript against the National Vulnerability Database. Fix or dump anything that looks bad.

"In 2023, hackers hit 2,200+ businesses every day. Attacks cost between $826 and $653,587." - CISA

Do These Now:

Test SSL at SSLLabs.com
Check headers at SecurityHeaders.com
Scan with OWASP ZAP
Test loads with LoadImpact

Here's the scary part: CISA says 95% of small business hacks end in big money losses. But you can stop most attacks with these simple checks.

1. Set Up HTTPS

HTTPS protects your site's data. Here's how to set it up:

Getting Security Certificates

You can get free SSL certificates for your static site. Here's what works best:

Certificate Type	Cost	Auto-Renewal	Best For
ACM (AWS)	Free	Yes	Cloudfront sites
Let's Encrypt	Free	Yes	Most static sites
Azure SSL	Free	Yes	Azure static sites

Setting Up HSTS

HSTS blocks HTTP downgrade attacks. Add this header:

Strict-Transport-Security: max-age=31536000; includeSubDomains

For Linux sites, add to .htaccess:

Header set Strict-Transport-Security "max-age=31536000" env=HTTPS

Managing Certificates

Here's what you need to do:

Task	When	How
Check expiry	Monthly	Use SSLLabs.com
Update DNS	After renewal	Update CNAME records
Test setup	After changes	Test all pages load
Back up certs	After getting new ones	Store in safe place

HTTP to HTTPS Redirects

1. Apache Setup

Add to .htaccess:

RewriteEngine On
RewriteCond %{HTTPS} off
RewriteRule ^(.*)$ https://%{HTTP_HOST}%{REQUEST_URI} [L,R=301]

2. Cloudflare Setup

Setting	Value	Why
SSL Mode	Full	Better security
Always HTTPS	On	Forces HTTPS
HSTS	Enable	Prevents downgrades

3. AWS Setup

For Cloudfront:

Pick your ACM cert
Set viewer protocol to HTTPS
Add 301 redirects in S3

"In 2023, hackers hit 2,200+ businesses every day. Attacks cost between $826 and $653,587." - CISA

Before You Go Live:

Set HSTS max-age to 10 minutes first
Test HTTPS on all pages
Check both mobile and desktop
Fix any mixed content warnings

2. Add Security Headers

Let's make your static site more secure with these essential headers.

Content Security Policy Setup

CSP headers tell browsers which content sources to trust. Here's what you need:

Resource	Policy	Effect
Scripts	`script-src 'self'`	Only your domain's scripts work
Images	`img-src 'self' s3.amazonaws.com`	Images from your site + S3
Styles	`style-src 'self' fonts.googleapis.com`	CSS from your site + Google Fonts
Frames	`frame-ancestors 'none'`	No iframes allowed

Here's a basic CSP header you can copy-paste:

Content-Security-Policy: default-src 'self'; script-src 'self'; style-src 'self'; img-src 'self'; frame-ancestors 'none';

Stop Clickjacking

These headers keep your site from being loaded in malicious iframes:

Header	Value	What It Does
X-Frame-Options	DENY	Blocks ALL iframes
X-Frame-Options	SAMEORIGIN	Only YOUR domain can iframe
CSP frame-ancestors	'none'	Modern iframe blocking

Block MIME Sniffing

Add this one-liner to stop MIME-based attacks:

X-Content-Type-Options: nosniff

This stops browsers from second-guessing file types (which can lead to XSS attacks).

XSS Protection

Two headers that work together to stop cross-site scripting:

X-XSS-Protection: 1; mode=block
Content-Security-Policy: script-src 'self'

Control Link Info

Pick how much info your site shares when users click links:

Level	Best For	Header
None	Max Privacy	`Referrer-Policy: no-referrer`
Basic	Normal Use	`Referrer-Policy: same-origin`
HTTPS	Most Sites	`Referrer-Policy: strict-origin-when-cross-origin`

Copy this into your Apache config:

Header set Content-Security-Policy "default-src 'self'; script-src 'self'; style-src 'self'; img-src 'self'; frame-ancestors 'none'"
Header always set X-Frame-Options "SAMEORIGIN"
Header set X-Content-Type-Options "nosniff"
Header set X-XSS-Protection "1; mode=block"
Header set Referrer-Policy "strict-origin-when-cross-origin"

Head to securityheaders.com to check if your headers work right.

3. Control Site Access

Here's how to lock down your static site and keep it safe from unwanted visitors.

File Access Rules

Your site needs the right file permissions. Here's what to set:

User Type	Permissions	Command
Owner	Read, Write, Execute	`chmod -R 750`
Web Server	Read, Execute	`chgrp -R www-data`
Public	None	N/A

Need the web server to write to specific folders? Use this:

chmod g+w /var/www/my-website.com/<writable-folder>

S3 Bucket Security

Lock down your S3 bucket with these settings:

Setting	What It Does	How to Set It
Private ACL	Stops direct access	Make bucket "private"
Block Public Access	Extra protection layer	Turn on account-wide
CloudFront OAI	Safe content delivery	Connect bucket to CloudFront

AWS Access Control

Here's an S3 policy that only lets specific IPs access your content:

{
    "Version": "2012-10-17",
    "Statement": [
        {
            "Effect": "Deny",
            "Principal": "*",
            "Action": "s3:*",
            "Resource": "arn:aws:s3:::your-bucket/*",
            "Condition": {
                "NotIpAddress": {
                    "aws:SourceIp": [
                        "<office-ip>",
                        "<dev-team-ip>"
                    ]
                }
            }
        }
    ]
}

Access Methods

Pick the right tools to control who sees what:

Method	Best For	Setup Needs
IP Limits	Office access	AWS WAF rules
Pre-signed URLs	Short-term access	S3 URL creation
Domain Lock	Stop content theft	Referer checks
SSO	Team access	ID provider config

Want to limit access to your domain? Use this bucket policy:

{
    "Version": "2012-10-17",
    "Statement": [
        {
            "Effect": "Allow",
            "Principal": "*",
            "Action": "s3:GetObject",
            "Resource": "arn:aws:s3:::your-bucket/*",
            "Condition": {
                "StringLike": {
                    "aws:Referer": [
                        "https://your-domain.com/*"
                    ]
                }
            }
        }
    ]
}

Keep an eye on your CDN logs for weird activity. Set up WAF rules to block bad actors automatically.

4. Secure Content Delivery

Your CDN needs proper security settings to protect your static site. Here's how to set it up:

CDN Security Basics

Setting	What It Does	How to Set It Up
HTTPS Only	Forces encrypted connections	Turn on "HTTP to HTTPS redirect"
SSL Setup	Handles encryption	Install cert via AWS Certificate Manager
Access Control	Blocks direct S3 access	Enable Origin Access Control
DNS Setup	Routes traffic through CDN	Point DNS to CloudFront

Edge Protection

CloudFront gives you these security tools:

Tool	Where to Find It	What It Does
WAF	CloudFront Console	Stops bad traffic
Geo-Blocking	Security tab	Blocks unwanted countries
Security Headers	Behaviors tab	Adds protection headers
Cache Rules	Cache settings	Sets content freshness

Cache Protection

Keep your cached content safe:

Protection	Setup Location	Purpose
Cache Headers	CloudFront settings	Controls content lifespan
Private Access	OAC settings	Blocks S3 direct access
CORS Setup	S3 bucket	Manages cross-site requests
Content Versions	S3 settings	Tracks content updates

DDoS Defense

Stop attacks with these tools:

Tool	Where to Set Up	How It Helps
Request Limits	WAF console	Stops traffic floods
Attack Mode	Cloudflare	Adds browser checks
Bot Blocking	WAF rules	Blocks bad bots
AWS Shield	AWS console	Stops DDoS attacks

For sites getting attacked, use this Apache config:

# Security headers for Apache
Header set Strict-Transport-Security "max-age=31536000"
Header set X-Frame-Options "DENY"
Header set X-Content-Type-Options "nosniff"

Watch your CDN logs and set up alerts for traffic spikes - they might mean you're under attack.

5. Protect Site Files

Your site files are like your website's DNA. Let's make sure they stay safe.

Check File Safety

Here's what you need to watch for with your static site files:

Security Check	How to Do It	Why It Matters
File Integrity	Use checksums	Spots any sneaky file changes
Access Logs	Monitor file access	Shows who's been poking around
Permission Checks	Set read-only access	Keeps files locked down
Backup System	Store offsite copies	Gets you back up fast

External Resource Checks

Don't let third-party content become your weak spot:

Resource Type	Check Method	Protection Level
CDN Files	Hash verification	Catches modified files
Scripts	SRI validation	Blocks altered scripts
Images	MIME validation	Stops file spoofing
Fonts	Subresource checks	Confirms clean sources

File Testing

Before files go live, put them through these tests:

Test Type	Tool to Use	What It Finds
Malware Scan	ClamAV	Bad code hiding inside
Size Check	File system tools	Files that don't fit
Type Check	Unix "file" command	Files pretending to be something else
Content Check	Hash comparison	Content that's been messed with

Code Storage Safety

Here's how to lock down your code:

Storage Area	Protection Method	Security Benefit
Upload Folder	Outside webroot	No direct web access
File Names	Auto-rename files	Makes names unpredictable
Permissions	Read-only access	Stops unauthorized edits
Size Limits	Max file settings	Prevents overload attacks

Here's what you NEED to do:

Put uploads on a separate partition
Set hard limits on file sizes
Scan everything for malware
Lock down those file permissions

Here's a wake-up call: cybercrime will cost $10.5 trillion by 2025. In 2023, websites got hit with 6.8 billion attacks. That's why this stuff matters.

Want an easier way? RushHoster's got your back with secure storage and one-click publishing - plus built-in security checks for HTML and ZIP files.

6. Secure the Build Process

Build systems are prime targets for attackers. Here's how to protect yours.

CI/CD Safety Steps

Security Layer	What to Do	Why It Matters
Clean Builds	Start each build from scratch	Stops bad code from spreading
Reviews	Set up required approvals	Blocks unwanted changes
Build Signing	Use key pairs	Shows builds are legit
Key Updates	Switch access keys often	Cuts risk if keys leak

Build Protection

Your builds need these checks:

Test Type	Tool Example	What It Does
Code Scan	SonarQube	Spots code problems
Package Check	Dependabot	Finds bad packages
Cloud Scan	Cloud tools	Checks settings
Code Review	SCA tools	Tests external code

Safe Automation

Lock down your automated builds:

Protection	How To Do It	Why It Helps
OIDC	Link to cloud services	No stored secrets
Limited Access	Use basic permissions	Smaller attack space
Log Safety	Stop secret leaks	Keeps data private
Build Proof	Sign your code	Proves it's yours

Secret Data Protection

Keep sensitive info safe:

Secret Type	How to Store It	Setup Steps
API Keys	Use env variables	Keep out of code
Build Keys	Use Vault/KMS	Lock in safe spot
Cloud Keys	Use OpenID	Skip storing keys
Deploy Keys	Split the process	Build ≠ deploy

Do these NOW:

Put GitHub secrets in encrypted storage
Build in clean spaces
Sign everything you build
Keep secrets away from logs

GitHub's team says attackers hit build systems first. That's why GitHub Actions now scans for secrets and updates security automatically.

"With OIDC, enterprises complete a one-time setup with their cloud providers like Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud Provider (GCP), and HashiCorp Cloud."

RushHoster adds extra protection by storing files safely and checking HTML and ZIP files during builds.

7. Watch and Update

Here's how to keep your static site secure through monitoring and updates:

Track Security Events

Your site needs eyes on 4 key areas:

Area	What to Watch	Tools
CDN	DDoS attacks, WAF blocks	Fastly, CloudFlare logs
Files	Build directory changes	Git history, checksums
Access	Login tries, blocked IPs	Server logs, WAF data
Speed	Load time, errors	CDN stats, status pages

Keep Records

Track these security items:

What to Log	Details	How Often
Config	Headers, CDN settings	Each change
Alerts	IP blocks, attacks	Daily
Updates	Package versions	Weekly
SSL	Cert expiry, HSTS	Monthly

Stay Current

Here's what to update and when:

Item	Schedule	How to Check
SSL Certs	90 days	Auto-renewal
Headers	Monthly	Security scans
CDN Rules	Weekly	Dashboard
Build Tools	New releases	Version control

According to CloudFlare, static sites get hit with about 2,000 bot attempts each day. Their WAF stops 95% automatically.

"Watch your CDN security events and logs. They'll tell you about threats so you can act fast to protect your site."

Do These Things:

Look at CDN logs daily
Stop suspicious IPs
Update security headers monthly
Check SSL weekly

Quick Checks:

Turn on security alerts
Save build logs (30 days)
Review file changes at deploy
Watch CDN stats daily

Hosting Platform Security

Here's what you need to know about security across major static site hosting platforms:

Core Security Features

Each platform comes with built-in protections:

Platform	Security Features	Monthly Limits
Cloudflare Pages	DDoS protection, WAF, bot blocking	500GB storage, unlimited bandwidth
GitHub Pages	SSL/TLS, branch protection	1GB storage, 100GB bandwidth
Netlify	Auto HTTPS, WAF, DDoS protection	100GB storage, 100GB bandwidth
Vercel	Auto SSL, edge protection	Free SSL, CDN included
Firebase	SSL, DDoS protection	1GB storage, 10GB bandwidth

RushHoster's Approach

RushHoster keeps it simple with:

SSL by default
Protected file uploads
One-click publishing
Secure file storage

Platform Setup Basics

Platform	Must-Do Setup	Extra Options
Cloudflare	Enable WAF rules	Set rate limiting
GitHub	Branch protection	Add deploy keys
Netlify	Force HTTPS	Set build plugins
Vercel	Enable edge config	Add security headers
Firebase	Set access rules	Add custom domains

How Platforms Stack Up

Feature	Cloudflare	GitHub	Netlify	Vercel
SSL	Auto	Auto	Auto	Auto
DDoS Protection	Yes	Basic	Yes	Yes
WAF	Full	No	Basic	Basic
Bot Protection	Yes	No	Yes	Basic
Build Isolation	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Price (Basic)	Free	Free	Free	Free

Static hosting powers 32% of top websites (BuiltWith data). Why? Static sites have fewer moving parts = fewer security holes.

Platform Highlights:

Netlify: SOC 2 type 2 and ISO 27001 certified
Cloudflare: Blocks 95% of bot attacks
GitHub Pages: Stops directory attacks
Vercel: CDN-level protection

"Your CDN logs are like security cameras - check them often to spot and stop threats fast." - Fastly Security Documentation

Quick Security Checklist:

Turn on HTTPS redirects
Set up WAF rules
Add rate limits
Watch security logs
Keep SSL up to date

Setup Steps

Here's how to lock down your static site:

Security Setup Guide

Step	Action	Setting
1. SSL Setup	Enable HTTPS	`Always redirect HTTP to HTTPS`
2. Headers	Add security headers	`Content-Security-Policy: default-src 'self'`
3. Access Control	Set file permissions	`Deny from all` for sensitive directories
4. CDN Config	Enable DDoS protection	Rate limiting: 100 requests/minute
5. Build Process	Set environment variables	Store API keys in `.env` files

Core Settings

Here's a battle-tested config for Netlify:

{
  "headers": [
    {
      "source": "/(.*)",
      "headers": [
        {
          "key": "X-Frame-Options",
          "value": "DENY"
        },
        {
          "key": "X-Content-Type-Options",
          "value": "nosniff"
        }
      ]
    }
  ]
}

Security Checks

Make sure your setup passes these tests:

Check	Tool	Expected Result
SSL Test	SSL Labs	Grade A or higher
Headers Check	SecurityHeaders.com	Grade B or higher
File Access	curl commands	403 for protected paths
HTTPS Redirect	Browser test	Auto-redirect to HTTPS

Test Your Setup

Run these checks to spot issues:

Test Type	Command/Tool	Purpose
SSL Check	`nmap --script ssl-enum-ciphers`	Verify SSL configuration
Headers	`curl -I domain.com`	Check security headers
Access Control	`nikto -h domain.com`	Find exposed files
Load Test	Apache Bench	Test DDoS protection

For RushHoster users, update these settings:

Setting	Value	Location
SSL	On	Security tab
File Upload	Restricted	File Manager
Access Control	IP-based	Security Settings

"Our data shows that 95% of static site attacks target misconfigured file permissions and weak SSL settings. Focus on these first." - Netlify Security Documentation

Fix Common Problems

Known Problems

Problem	Cause	Fix
SSL Certificate Invalid	Expired or misconfigured certificate	Check expiration date, reinstall if needed
Mixed Content Error	HTTP resources on HTTPS page	Update all resource URLs to HTTPS
.git Folder Exposure	Public access to version control files	Move .git folder outside public directory
DDoS Vulnerability	No rate limiting or protection	Set up CDN with rate limiting (100 req/min)
Unencrypted Traffic	Missing HTTPS redirect	Force HTTPS through server config

Here's what you need to know about each issue:

SSL problems? They're more common than you think. Most of the time, it's just an expired certificate or wrong configuration.

Mixed content is trickier. Your page might be secure, but those HTTP resources? They're putting your users at risk.

The .git folder issue is a BIG one. If hackers can see your version control files, they can see EVERYTHING.

Quick Fixes

Error	Impact	Solution
Default Server Settings	Shows server info to everyone	Hide headers, turn off directory listing
Missing Security Headers	Opens XSS attack risks	Add CSP and security headers
Weak SSL Config	Lets old, unsafe protocols work	Use TLS 1.2+, block old versions
Public Access Logs	Leaks user data	Move logs away from web root
Unsecured Build Files	Shows your source code	Use .gitignore, protect build files

Fix It Now

1. Check Your SSL

Copy these commands:

curl -vI https://yoursite.com
openssl s_client -connect yoursite.com:443

2. Look at Your Headers

Your headers should match this:

{
  "X-Frame-Options": "DENY",
  "X-Content-Type-Options": "nosniff",
  "Content-Security-Policy": "default-src 'self'"
}

3. Test Your Security

Run these tests:

curl -I https://yoursite.com/.git
curl -I https://yoursite.com/.env

Protection Checklist

Task	Priority	Check Method
Update SSL Certificate	High	SSL Labs Test
Configure Security Headers	High	SecurityHeaders.com
Set File Permissions	Medium	File access test
Enable DDoS Protection	Medium	Load testing
Check Build Output	Low	Manual review

"The WannaCry and Petya ransomware attacks in 2017 exploited vulnerabilities in outdated software. Keep all components updated to prevent similar issues." - UK's National Cyber Security Centre

Attack Type	How to Stop It	Success Rate
Brute Force	Rate limiting, strong passwords	95% reduction
XSS Injection	CSP headers, input sanitization	90% reduction
DDoS	CDN protection, rate limiting	85% reduction
Data Theft	SSL/TLS encryption	99% protection

Wrap-Up

Here's what you need to know about static site security:

Security Area	Main Action	Impact
HTTPS Setup	Install SSL certificate	Stops data theft
Headers	Add security headers	Blocks XSS
Access Control	Set file permissions	Blocks bad actors
Content Delivery	Use CDN protection	Stops DDoS
File Protection	Check external resources	Blocks bad code
Build Process	Secure CI/CD pipeline	Safe deployment
Monitoring	Set up alerts	Quick fixes

Want to lock down your site? Here's how:

1. HTTPS

Get SSL running with Let's Encrypt and Certbot. Set up HSTS.

2. Headers

Add CSP and X-Frame-Options. Test with SecurityHeaders.com.

3. Access Control

Lock down files with .htaccess. Set up strong login rules.

4. CDN Setup

Use Cloudflare with rate limits (100 requests/minute).

5. File Security

Run SonarQube scans on your code.

6. Build Process

Keep secrets safe with HashiCorp Vault.

7. Monitoring

Watch logs with ELK Stack. Update when needed.

Here's what to check and when:

Task	When	How
SSL	Monthly	SSL Labs
Headers	Weekly	curl
Files	Daily	Auto-scan
CDN	Monthly	Speed test
Code	Each deploy	CI/CD

"Security is not something where you can go 'well, if I can't have absolute perfect 100% foolproof unhackable security forever, I'm going to have NO SECURITY WHATSOEVER...'" - Troy Hunt, Security Expert