In the last few years, the eCommerce industry has grown at a rate never seen before. It is because more and more businesses are moving their operations online. But as eCommerce grows, so does the chance of computer threats, which can have terrible effects on companies and their users. As an eCommerce website owner, it is essential to take the steps needed to protect your site from hackers and other bad people. In this piece, we’ll give you ten essential tips you can use to keep hackers out of your eCommerce site and keep it safe. We will discuss everything you need to know to keep your website safe and secure, from ensuring your passwords are vital to setting up two-factor authentication. So, whether you run a small business or a big company, keep reading to find out how to keep online risks away from your eCommerce site.
How important is it to protect your eCommerce site?
Keeping your eCommerce site safe is essential for more than one reason:
It protects your website and the information about your users from online threats. These attacks can lead to data breaches, costing companies money and their good name.
Protecting your website can help you follow data guard regulations, such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), which says businesses must protect their customers’ data.
Making your website more secure can help customers trust and believe in it more, leading to more sales and money.
Common ways that eCommerce websites can be broken
Because eCommerce websites store a lot of information, they are more likely to be attacked online. Most eCommerce sites store private information about their customers, like their credit card numbers, names, and contact information. It makes them easy targets for hackers, who can use the information to steal identities and use stolen credit cards. Some of the most common problems with eCommerce sites are:
- Weak Passwords
- Software and plugins that are too old
- SSL encryption is missing.
- No plan for backups and recoveries
eCommerce sites are often vulnerable because users have weak passwords. Many people use passwords like “password” or “123456,” which are simple to guess and are easily crackable by hackers. It can let hackers access private data, like customer and payment information.
Software and apps that are too old Cyberattacks can also happen on eCommerce websites with old software and apps. Hackers can use holes in old software to get into the back end of a website and steal private information.
We do not have SSL security.
SSL/TLS encryption is necessary to keep private data safe while in transit. Hackers can get hold of and steal data that isn’t encrypted. Cetera SSL keys should be used on eCommerce sites to secure data in transit.
No backup or rescue plan
eCommerce sites can lose data if they don’t have a backup and recovery plan. It can happen because of a hacking attack or a problem with the technology. A backup and recovery technique can support and prevent data loss and ensure the website can be quickly fixed if something goes wrong.
Ten essential tips to keep your online store safe
You must take the proper steps to protect your eCommerce website from online dangers and keep it safe. Here are 10 essential things you should do to keep your eCommerce website safe:
1. To keep your website safe, use an SSL certificate.
For eCommerce websites to be safe, they need an SSL certificate. SSL certificates secure data while it’s being sent, which helps protect private information like credit card numbers, addresses, and other contact details. When a website uses a global SSL certificate, readers will see a padlock icon in the address bar. It shows that the website is safe.
SSL certificates use public-key cryptography to create a safe relationship between a website and a user’s web browser. This secured connection ensures that all received data stays private and can’t be changed. When a user goes to a website protected with an SSL certificate, “https://” and a minor key appear in the address bar of their web browser. It shows that the link is safe.
2. Set up two-factor authentication for entry to the Admin panel.
With two-factor authentication, your eCommerce site is even more secure. To get into the website’s backend, users must provide two kinds of authentication: a password and a one-time code sent to their phone. It helps keep people from getting into the back part of the website without permission.
Website owners can use login apps to create time-based one-time passwords (TOTP) to set up two-factor identification for admin access. For each manager user, this means making an identity key and putting the authentication app on their phone. When a manager tries to log in, the app on their phone will give them a one-time code to enter with their password.
3. Make sure your software and add-ons are up-to-date.
To keep your eCommerce website safe, you must keep your software and apps current. Hackers can take advantage of flaws in software and apps that haven’t been updated in a while. You can protect your website from known flaws by ensuring your software and apps are always up-to-date.
When software makers like WordPress, Joomla, or plugins release changes, they often fix flaws or bugs that have just been found. These software changes are meant to fix security holes that hackers could use to get into websites if they were not specified. When website owners don’t update to the latest versions, they open themselves to known problems hackers seek.
4. Make regular copies of your website.
It is essential to back up your eCommerce website regularly to avoid losing data. A backup and recovery plan can ensure that your website can be fixed easily if it is hacked or something goes wrong with the technology. Backups on a portable hard drive or in the cloud should be kept safe.
Websites should be backed up at least once daily, and businesses that always add or change data should do it even more often. Regular backups create multiple recovery points that act as a safety net and let website owners return to a previous version if something goes wrong. Without backups, a single problem cause data loss that keep a website offline for a long time.
5. Keep an eye on your website for anything that seems odd.
Keeping an eye out for strange behavior on your eCommerce site can help you find computer threats early. It can include looking for bizarre login attempts, file changes, and other odd behavior. Any abnormal behavior should be examined right away. Setting up warning systems that tell website owners when certain levels are reached is essential for website tracking. It could be sending out emails, warnings on the screen, or even text messages. The faster website owners learn about strange behavior, the faster they can fix problems before they get worse.
6. Have a professional security check done.
Hiring a professional to do a security check on your eCommerce website can help you find flaws you may have missed. A security audit can include penetration testing, looking for vulnerabilities, and a code study. This can help protect your website from online threats and ensure safety.
Security checks done regularly by an experienced professional or website security service provider are a great way to evaluate a website’s security, find fundamental problems that need to be fixed, and make sure that security controls and practices are working. They are the best practices that every website should go through regularly.
7. Use a safe server service.
You must use a secure server service for your eCommerce website to be safe. A safe hosting service should have firewalls and breach detection systems to protect against computer threats. They should also have a backup plan to regain their information if they lose it. It makes a website’s security much better in a big way. Threats can happen in any hosting setting, but reputable companies build security into every part of their technology, policies, and processes. Unlike uncontrolled servers, shared hosting, or personal computers, they are a much safer way to run a website.
8. Use a content delivery network or CDN.
A content delivery network (CDN) can help your eCommerce site run faster and more securely. A CDN saves your website’s content on computers all over the world. This speeds up the time it takes for pages to load and makes DDoS attacks less likely. The CDN works as a “perimeter” that absorbs and sorts out bad traffic before it gets to the website that started it all. It is easy to grow up so that it can handle large spikes in traffic and take some of the load off the computers of the original website. Visitors get information faster because the CDN computer is closer to them, reducing delays.
9. Don’t let anyone into the back part of your website.
Limiting access to the backend of your website can only stop people from getting in with your permission. The base of the website is accessible to people who are allowed to do so. There should be two-factor identification and IP address restrictions on access. Limit the IP addresses that can log in, use strong passwords, and limit the powers of each account. By blocking IP addresses automatically, Watch all action on the back end. Limit what CMS files, server folders, etc.
10. Teach your team the best ways to keep their computers safe.
For your eCommerce website to be safe, you must train your staff on best practices for hacking. It can include teaching people how to use strong passwords, spot fake emails, and spot strange behavior. Regular training can help ensure employees know about the latest online hazards and how to defend themselves. By giving your staff ongoing cybersecurity education and training, you can make them more aware of hazards and teach them safe habits and behaviors that will enhance your website’s and organization’s safety. For the most effective, make training engaging, based on real-life situations, and give repeat classes over time.
