6 eCommerce Website Security Measures That You Can’t Ignore

Starting an eCommerce store has become easier ever since platforms like Shopify and WooCommerce have entered the game, but website security remained an unattended threat even in 2020. New web store owners ignore cybersecurity measures due to lack of knowledge and think that their store is too small to be attacked. However, here a few eye-opener statistics that might surprise you:

• Small businesses were at the target of 43% of the cyber-attacks.
• After facing a cyber-attack, 60% of the small businesses go bankrupt within six months.
• Every year, small businesses lose $2.2 million to cyber-attacks.
• Cybercrimes against small businesses increased by 424% last year. (And experts say this might increase after the surge in online retail sales post-COVID-19 pandemic.)

Thankfully, securing your web store isn’t rocket science, and there are a few methods that you can apply to ramp up your online business’s security. This article is developed with the help of our technical team at i95Dev. Dive in deeper to get 6 eCommerce website security tips that you can implement right away.

Cyber Security Measures To Prevent Threats for eCommerce Websites

As we discussed above, smaller web stores can be an easy target. Businesses commonly face threats like malware, spyware, injections, cross-site scripting, and brute force attacks. The following steps will ensure the safety of your organization as well as your customers’ security:

• • Move Your eCommerce Store To HTTPS
    The first step in securing your website is installing SSL certification from your web hosting company. SSL encryption ensures user data safety and their sensitive information; it is displayed as a green lock on the URL bars of the user’s browser. While having an HTTPS website is a ranking parameter for Google, it is a must-have for eCommerce stores to build trust among their users. HTTPS protocol prevents threats like cross-site scripting (XSS) and makes it tough for cybercriminals to crack your passwords.

   

  • Secure Servers and Admin Panels
    Having weak passwords is yet another common mistake. Having simple passwords like website_name@123 or your_name@123 are easy prey that doesn’t even require a brute attack. Make it a point to secure your servers and admin panels with complex passwords that use a variety of characters with no logical interpretation connected to you. Also, change them periodically to safeguard your interests. You should also provide gated access to your employees if multiple staff members have access to your cPanel.

   

  • Take Frequent Back Ups
    Taking regular backups of your data is another easy method of minimizing the damage if a security breach occurs. In most cases, the problems arise due to data loss, which can be easily prevented with auto backup services. Manual backups are equally effective, but most users can easily neglect them. As an additional measure, you can also create a copy of the backup and store it separately. This security measure is to be followed, no matter what other security tactics you apply to your online store.

   

  • Security Plugins, Multilayer Security, and Firewalls
    This is where the choice of platform can make things simple or complicated. If you are a WordPress user with the WooCommerce plugin, you can simply use a security plugin. For Shopify users, it takes installing a third-party app to take care of cybersecurity. Multilayer security measures like CDNs and two-factor verification help address various issues. Firewalls are yet another arsenal for cybersecurity that secures a network by acting as a mediator that allows only designated traffic. However, platforms coded from scratch could face troubles as they don’t have ready to install apps, and they require dedicated support.

   

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  • Right eCommerce Platform
    Your eCommerce platform plays an important role in determining the safety of your business. The platform companies have dedicated teams that look after the security protocols and infrastructure maintenance. Like having shared servers or privately assigned servers, the key differences also determine the stability and overall safety. Apart from the implementation and maintenance charges, the level of security offered should be your priority.

   

  • Payment Gateways
    eCommerce websites need to secure their payment gateways thoroughly. This starts with not storing sensitive customer information like credit card credentials on your website. The best way to address all concerns related to payment gateways is by using a recognized third party payment app like Paypal or Stripe. Another reason behind this approach’s popularity is that your customers use these payment gateways for many other purposes in their day-to-day life. You should include most of the payment apps used by your customers to extend convenience.

   

Summing Up

In this blog, we had a look at some of the standard best practices, and before concluding, we would like to add a few more things. Firstly, ensuring 100% security is never possible. It is a continuous process. Secondly, cybersecurity starts when you start building your eCommerce store. It is an approach to the overall online business and is not limited to the tools used for securing websites. At i95Dev, we offer the best eCommerce website development guidance for cloud-based ERP integration along with a security-based approach. Request a call with the i95Dev Expert Team today to get the best guidance on the subject.