Ecommerce is a booming business. In the United States alone, it totaled $408 billion in the first two quarters of 2020, and it’s projected to surpass $933 billion by 2021.
Ecommerce also provides a new level of convenience that can’t be matched by traditional brick and mortar stores. However, eCommerce has its drawbacks as well.
Ecommerce websites are increasingly targeted by hackers who make away with millions of dollars.
To help you get started on your journey towards safe eCommerce practices, we’ve compiled this list of five eCommerce security tips every budding entrepreneur should know.
1. Use SSL Encryption
Make sure your eCommerce platform encrypts all communications to and from the site using an SSL certificate. This is often indicated by a padlock icon in the browser address bar or URL beginning with “HTTPS.”
This will help keep you protected against threats such as man-in-the-middle attacks. This one relies on intercepting sensitive information by rerouting it through third parties.
While not foolproof, SSL encryption can provide some protection to eCommerce sites. It also sends a strong message about your eCommerce business’ commitment to safe and secure transactions. And this can be an important factor when it comes to consumer trust.
To avail SSL encryption, you need to first get an idea about the number of domains, and on that base, you can encrypt the data flowing between the server and the user. In this case, if your site runs on subdomains then, a single certificate like AlphaSSL wildcard can be great security. It comes with many advantages and low-cost benefits. Once the site is secured, customers easily interact with the site.
2. How to Secure an Ecommerce Shop: Focus on Patches and Updates
According to research, nearly 60 percent of all eCommerce sites are vulnerable to attacks due to unpatched vulnerabilities.
As a result, you’ll want to make sure your eCommerce business is religiously focused on applying the latest patches and updates for any software or plugins that could be a target of hackers as avenues into your website.
Cybercriminals have an endless list of entry points they can exploit. So, it’s important to focus on every aspect of your eCommerce site’s security protocols.
You should also consider running automated tests so that new versions can be rolled out as soon as they’re available.
3. Carry Out Malware Scans
Regular malware scans will help you identify potential threats that could compromise your eCommerce business’ website or servers.
These include bots, keyloggers, Trojans, and other types of malware designed specifically for e-commerce sites. Many hackers will install a backdoor on the site to gain access whenever they want without being detected by administrators.
You’ll need an automated solution that can check all files against over 560,000 new pieces of malware every day.
4. Put a Strong Password Policy in Place
To keep eCommerce sites safe, you’ll need to ensure your eCommerce business has a strong password policy. This means preventing weak passwords that can be easily guessed or hacked by cybercriminals with brute force attacks.
This will require businesses to include a mix of password strength requirements into their eCommerce platforms.
This includes requiring that passwords are complex with at least eight characters in length and contain letters, numbers, special characters, and symbols. It’s also important to require regular changes so customers can’t use the same password for several years.
5. Ecommerce Safety Tips: Don’t Use Shared or Public Hosting
Your eCommerce website should not be on the same hosting account as any other site, even if they’re related.
Hackers will often go after low-hanging fruits like sites hosted by shared servers and free web hosts. This can lead to an infiltration of your eCommerce business without you ever being aware until it’s too late.
This is why security experts recommend running eCommerce platforms from dedicated domains and accounts.
For professional help with eCommerce security, please click here.
Tighten Ecommerce Security
Ecommerce security can seem like a daunting task. However, by following these five eCommerce security tips and staying vigilant about web-based threats in general, you’ll be well on your way to keeping yourself and your visitors safe online.
We hope you found this guide has shown you how to keep an eCommerce shop safe. Please keep reading our blogs for more interesting topics.
