Tips to Strengthen the Security of your eCommerce Store
83% of SMEs aren’t equipped to recover from a cyber attack.
If you’re running an eCommerce store it becomes crucial to protect customer data. As you work to create an exceptional customer experience, if there is a data breach threatening their data then all your reputation goes for a toss. With the steady rise in cyber security attacks, eCommerce stores must go beyond the basics to protect customer data. Here’s how you can walk the extra mile to protect customer transaction data in your eCommerce store:
- Train your team
Phishing attacks have become exceptionally common today. In a phishing attack, hackers target victims by sending SMS or Email by impersonating them. Your employees may accidentally fall prey to these legitimate-looking emails and reveal critical business data. As an employer, it is important to carry out security training programs educating employees on the best practices.
- Protect your passwords
Don’t overlook the basics of password security for your store. Never repeat your password for any of the internal systems you use- and update them occasionally. Creating unique passwords for each site significantly reduces the chance of hampering data security and minimizes threats. There are many third-party tools available on the market that can help you in syncing, managing and generating encrypted passwords.
- Encrypt your store
For eCommerce stores under PCI (Payment Card Industry) compliance, it is a must to get an SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) Certificate. A properly installed SSL certificate protects your site by encrypting all the data of your store. Further, it also enables HTTPS (HyperText Transfer Protocol Secure), which effectively encrypts, connects, and adds a padlock icon next to your address bar. It increases the trust factor of your online store and shows that your store is secure to use.
- Configure two-factor authentication
Many SaaS and eCommerce platforms are widely adopting the two-factor authentication method to improve security. A Microsoft report states that a multi-layered authentication process can block over 99% of cyber-attacks! So instead of a plain email and password, users are also required to authenticate via email or SMS, or even phone. This provides an additional layer of security and makes data breaches difficult. You can set this up for your eCommerce stores, social media accounts, or business apps especially if it’s installed on a phone.
- Improve customer security
While customer security is not entirely in your hands, you can take steps that boost data protection. Customers generally end up using the same password on multiple sites for easy remembrance. Poor credentials make it easy for hackers to crack easy passwords and breach security. You can enforce a rule for customers to use passwords with a mix of capital letters, numbers and special characters to increase the complexity. There should be a minimum password length, maximum login attempts, use of reCAPTCHA to make login secure.
- Don’t store credit card data
To maintain PCI compliance, no eCommerce platform stores passwords. As customers opt for card-based payment, most online stores go for third-party payment gateways. Due to a lack of adequate security, hackers can access credit card information through cloning, phishing, or skimming. Opt for secure third-party payment processors that comply with PCI guidelines and follow payment guidelines for online transactions.
Building a strong security infrastructure doesn’t happen overnight. It requires regular maintenance, security backups and needs organizations to be aware of new trends and their websites updated. It will help them save data security costs and establish customer trust.
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