Welcome to SecurityBot University! Learn everything you need to know about website security monitoring and best practices.
Getting Started with SecurityBot
What is SecurityBot?
SecurityBot is a comprehensive security monitoring service that continuously watches your website for potential security issues, configuration problems, and compliance concerns.
What We Monitor
- SSL/TLS Certificates: Expiration dates, validity, and configuration
- Security Headers: HSTS, CSP, X-Frame-Options, and more
- DNS Configuration: Records, nameservers, and security settings
- Server Status: Uptime, response times, and availability
- Security.txt: RFC 9116 compliance and contact information
- Robots.txt: Search engine directives and potential security issues
SSL/TLS Certificate Monitoring
Why SSL Matters
SSL certificates encrypt data between your website and visitors, providing:
- Data encryption in transit
- Authentication of your website's identity
- Trust indicators in browsers (padlock icon)
- SEO benefits from search engines
Common SSL Issues
- Expired Certificates: Causes browser warnings and loss of trust
- Self-Signed Certificates: Not trusted by browsers
- Mixed Content: HTTP resources on HTTPS pages
- Weak Cipher Suites: Outdated encryption methods
Best Practices
- Use certificates from trusted Certificate Authorities (CAs)
- Enable automatic renewal (Let's Encrypt, etc.)
- Implement HTTP to HTTPS redirects
- Regular security scans and updates
Security Headers
Essential Security Headers
| Header | Purpose | Example |
|---|---|---|
Strict-Transport-Security |
Forces HTTPS | max-age=31536000; includeSubDomains |
Content-Security-Policy |
Prevents XSS attacks | default-src 'self' |
X-Frame-Options |
Prevents clickjacking | DENY or SAMEORIGIN |
X-Content-Type-Options |
Prevents MIME sniffing | nosniff |
Referrer-Policy |
Controls referrer information | strict-origin-when-cross-origin |
Implementation Tips
- Start with basic headers and gradually add more restrictive policies
- Test thoroughly before deploying to production
- Use report-only mode for CSP during development
- Monitor for any broken functionality after implementation
Server Monitoring
Response Time Optimization
- Target: Under 200ms for optimal user experience
- Monitoring: Track 95th percentile response times
- Alerts: Set up notifications for performance degradation
Uptime Monitoring
- Monitor from multiple geographic locations
- Set appropriate alert thresholds (99.9% uptime = 8.76 hours downtime/year)
- Include dependency monitoring (databases, APIs, CDNs)
Security.txt Implementation
What is Security.txt?
Security.txt is a proposed standard (RFC 9116) that helps security researchers contact organizations about vulnerabilities.
Required Fields
Contact: mailto:[email protected]
Expires: 2025-12-31T23:59:59.000Z
Optional but Recommended Fields
Canonical: https://example.com/.well-known/security.txt
Policy: https://example.com/security-policy
Acknowledgments: https://example.com/security-acknowledgments
File Placement
Place your security.txt file at:
https://yourdomain.com/.well-known/security.txt(preferred)https://yourdomain.com/security.txt(fallback)
Incident Response
When SecurityBot Alerts You
- Assess the severity: Critical vs. informational
- Investigate immediately: Don't ignore security alerts
- Document the issue: Keep records for compliance
- Implement fixes: Address root causes, not just symptoms
- Monitor closely: Watch for recurring issues
Emergency Contacts
- Ensure security.txt contact information is current
- Have an emergency response plan
- Know your hosting provider's emergency contacts
- Maintain an updated incident response playbook
Resources
Further Reading
- OWASP Security Headers Guide
- Mozilla SSL Configuration Generator
- Google Web Security Guidelines
- NIST Cybersecurity Framework
SecurityBot Resources
- Integrations Guide
- Contact Support
- API Documentation (coming soon)
Keep learning and stay secure! If you have questions, don't hesitate to contact our support team.