The vastness of the internet cannot fully be described. Looking at it from one angle, this means that any site on the internet is at risk of getting a security breach from seasoned hackers. This is fact that is well appreciated, and one that has created the need for security establishments to be made. If a site has a financial inclination to it- as in it has enabled web transactions, then the importance of doing this is even greater. So who is responsible for guaranteeing the security of a website? That would be the webmaster, alternatively known as the web developer or simply the website administrator.
Most visitors leave their details in at least one website they frequent, even if it is simply their email address. These details are important for the aggressive marketers who think it is okay to take them and use them in their marketing and advertising efforts. Any site would want to protect any information entrusted to it, and this is why having a security protocol is necessary- to protect the information from being hijacked and used to contact the subscribers. When a site is a virtual marketplace, selling products that cost anything from a few cents to thousands of dollars, the security levels have to be heightened. A firewall has to be put in place, together with severely complex encryptions to secure any transactions made. With a world-class security system, credit card information can be preserved, and used for the good that it is meant for. For virtual banks, the encryptions are even more complicated, and the webmasters placed in charge of the sites work with different professionals who know more about securing a site.
Webmaster’s administrative duties stretch to the legal issues of a site. For instance, the webmaster may include statements at the end of some content created, when the accuracy of the information given is not complete, for instance, when it’s based on hypotheses and not actual events. This exonerates the website from blame, should the information be used in any way that it other than what it was intended. Creation of private policies, terms and conditions, disclaimers and user agreements also fall in the job description of a webmaster. It is not unusual for them to consult with professionals with a legal background, to ensure that the legalities are fully addressed. When a website is of great commercial importance, chances are it attracts heavy traffic. This gives the site greater legal importance, and a webmaster is placed in charge of ensuring that the site is in accordance with any legal expectations.
These duties stretch past those that are conventionally known, such as website maintenance of internet marketing. They are rarely, sometimes because they are entrusted to someone else. But if a webmaster is placed in charge, they are compelled to learn about them, in whatever way that they can. In any case, there are no technical aspects in the legal part, and website security falls under programming, and this is one area a webmaster is expected to be skilled in.