In this blog post, we’ll explore the security benefits of server-side tagging and how server-side tagging can improve website and data security and mitigate these risks.
Reduced Client-Side Vulnerabilities
Client-side and Server-side tagging (SST) both have advantages. These include real-time data collection, flexibility, ease of use, and granular client-side tracking and server-side tracking. However, moving to server-side processing can improve website performance and reduce client-side vulnerabilities in several ways, including:
Minimizing Client-Side Code
By executing tags on the server, you can significantly reduce the amount of client-side code required. This reduces the chances of attackers taking advantage of weaknesses in the code. Such deficiencies can include cross-site scripting (XSS) attacks or injection attacks.
Limiting Access to Data
With server-side tagging, the data is collected and processed on the server before being sent to the client. Sensitive data is not available to the client-side code. This reduces the risk of data breaches or unauthorized access.
Controlling Third-Party Tags
Server-side tagging gives organizations control over third-party tags. These tags could include advertising and analytics tags. Limiting their access to user data is how organizations can control these tags.
Enforcing Security Policies
Organizations can use server-side tagging to protect against potential vulnerabilities. They can enforce security policies and implement security measures, such as access controls and authentication.
Improved Data Privacy
By implementing server-side tagging, data privacy can improve in several ways, including:
Reduced Exposure of User Data
Unlike client-side tagging, data collected from users is processed and stored on the server. This data is then sent to third-party or analytics platforms.
Data Access Controls
Server-side tagging allows organizations to implement data access controls to restrict access to user data by unauthorized parties. This can help prevent leaks when sending data and ensure that only authorized personnel can access sensitive user data.
Mask Sensitive Data
Sensitive data can be masked by server-side tagging. Data can be protected before it is shared with third-party or analytics platforms. This includes email addresses, phone numbers, and credit card information. This can help protect user privacy and prevent data breaches.
Privacy Regulation Compliance
By reducing the amount of user data exposed to third parties and implementing data access controls, server-side tagging can help organizations comply with privacy regulations such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
Better Control of Third-Party Tags
Organizations can have a much more secure approach to website analytics and tag management by:
Limiting Third-Party Access to Data
Organizations can limit the data that third-party tags have access to. This can help prevent data breaches and unauthorized access to sensitive user data.
Managing Third-Party Tags Centrally
Organizations can manage third-party tags centrally rather than relying on individual pages or applications to manage them. This can help prevent unauthorized or inappropriate use of user data by third-party tags.
Facilitating Transparency and Auditing
Server-side tagging provides better transparency and auditing capabilities, allowing organizations to track the use of third-party tags and monitor their compliance with policies and regulations.
Enhanced Compliance
Organizations that handle sensitive user data or operate in highly regulated industries will benefit from enhanced compliance by:
Complying with Data Protection Regulations
The security benefits of server-side tagging can help organizations comply with data protection regulations, including the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR in the European Union) or the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) in the United States. This type of tagging reduces the amount of user data exposed to third-party tags and allows organizations to implement data access controls.
Meeting Industry Standards
Organizations can meet industry standards such as the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) for online transactions or the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) for healthcare organizations by using server-side tagging. Server-side tagging allows them to implement security measures and control access to sensitive data.
More Secure Business
The security benefits of server-side tagging are essential for businesses looking to improve their security. They include:
Protecting Sensitive Data
Increased web and data security with server-side tagging helps protect sensitive data, such as personal, financial, or confidential business information, from unauthorized access, theft, or misuse. This can prevent data breaches, identity theft, and other cybercrime that can cause significant harm to organizations.
Maintaining Trust
Web and data security is essential for maintaining trust between organizations and their customers. By ensuring data confidentiality, integrity, and availability, organizations can demonstrate their commitment to protecting sensitive information and maintaining high security standards.
Preventing Financial Losses
Web and data security can prevent financial losses due to cybercrime, such as data breaches. By investing in security measures and protocols, organizations can avoid the costs associated with these attacks, including remediation costs, legal fees, and reputational damage.
Implementing Server-Side Tagging
Server-side tagging offers many advantages, such as faster page loading and better site performance. But where does this tagging take place? It can happen in Google Tag Manager (GTM).
While mainly a client-side tag management system. GTM can also enable server-side tagging by utilizing server-side containers.
Overall, GTM can be a powerful tool for implementing server-side tagging and managing tags across both client-side and server-side environments. It allows organizations to take a more comprehensive approach to web and data security while providing flexibility and ease of use associated with tag management systems.
Get Started Now
To learn how server-side tagging and server-side tracking can benefit your business, consider exploring our services and working with New Path Digital. We have a team of digital website, advertising, and data experts ready to help you grow your business.
Schedule a free consultation to learn more.
Blog Last Updated on 10 months by New Path Digital
