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Cybersecurity isn’t just a technical concern. It’s a cornerstone of customer trust. As an online seller, you receive sensitive customer data daily, including credit card numbers and home addresses. Buyers hand them over willingly, expecting that you’ll keep the information secure.
It’s a big responsibility. But you don’t need to be a cybersecurity expert to minimize cyber threats and build a safer e-commerce environment.
So, what can you do as an online merchant? Let’s walk through the most essential aspects of cybersecurity to help you build a strong security posture and maintain it.
The digital marketplace has completely changed how everyone shops and sources hard-to-find items. Unfortunately, it also exposes consumers to numerous e-commerce security threats. Some use SQL injection attacks to bypass security measures and manage records in the database. Others use cross-site scripting (XSS), one of the few client-side threats that introduces data-stealing scripts on a web application or browser.
Regardless of the entry point or cyberattack method, here’s how to prevent data breaches from ruining your online business:
Your e-commerce website’s hosting provider is a core element of your online store. If it’s shaky, everything else is at risk. In recent years, for instance, a few entities have fallen victim to Magecart attacks. This electronic skimming method injects malicious code into an online store’s payment pages to steal credit card information.
You can prevent many cybersecurity challenges proactively by building a reliable network infrastructure and choosing an e-commerce platform that offers built-in security features. Most reputable e-commerce hosting providers offer firewall protection and malware scanning, alongside security checks. Some provide the latest web technologies for increased protection.
Ecommerce websites should have Secure Sockets Layer and Transport Layer Security or SSL/TLS certificates. To get one, send a request to a Certification Authority for validation. You can then install the certificate on your server.
A certified store has ‘https’ in the address bar and a little padlock icon. Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure or HTTPS encryption ensures that the data between your server and customer’s browser stay safe.
Trying to manage complex updates and configurations with continuous monitoring is a recipe for burnout and data breaches. That’s why many e-commerce web owners rely on experts for peace of mind. PrimeWave IT's experience shows that outsourcing security offers reliable and extensive protection.
Apart from handling essential tasks, they implement a strict content security policy and 24/7 threat intelligence that identify and prevent threats from wreaking havoc on your website.
Running old software exposes you to the many dangers of digital fraud. That’s because hackers are working overtime to exploit site vulnerabilities.
E-commerce platforms regularly issue updates to prevent common and emerging threats. They serve as patches that safeguard your systems from malicious attacks, so make sure to apply all updates as soon as they’re available. At the same time, penetration tests are necessary after every application or system upgrade.
Although some of these tips are easy to do, it takes time and basic technical knowledge to make them work. As per TrustSphere IT's experts, security and performance are crucial for e-commerce websites. By offering much-needed tech support and regular security risk assessments, online store owners can minimize downtime and maintain smooth functionality that encourages positive user experiences.
Cross-border e-commerce is highly competitive, and building a solid defense really matters. You assume a huge amount of responsibility just by taking a customer’s data or processing payments. These types of information are invaluable to hackers who put in a lot of effort to bypass security protocols.
Encryption makes sensitive information unreadable to unauthorized parties. It’s a great tool for preventing credit card fraud because it immediately scrambles data, including credit card numbers and shipping addresses.
If online fraudsters are able to intercept data, all they see is garbled text that they can’t use. Most hosting providers offer this tool for free.
An e-commerce store should never store full credit card numbers on its server unless it’s compliant with the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard. PCI DSS is rigorous and typically absent in most self-hosted solutions.
You can ask your chosen IT service provider to help you meet the latest protection and regulatory compliance standards. Alternatively, you can tap payment gateways that use payment processing scripts to process online transactions smoothly. These payment platforms can take on the heavy lifting of compliance and security. Most have an inherent Address Verification Service (AVS) that compares the buyer’s billing and credit card addresses to prevent fraud.
Your website relies on external services and plug-ins to keep a smooth supply chain. This means that their vulnerabilities become yours, too. It’s crucial to vet your vendors before integrating their apps into your site.
Implementing strong data protection and compliance with security standards is a must. Apart from preventing costly lawsuits, they’re crucial for encouraging repeat transactions and building trust in an online business.
Human error is the primary contributor to cyberattacks. Sometimes, it doesn’t take a brilliant hacker to get into your system. An honest mistake can open the floodgates of costly data breaches. That being said, there’s no room for complacency when it comes to securing your operations.
Here’s what you can do to minimize the risks:
You and your team should use unique and complex login credentials for each account. The only way to manage this without getting locked out is through a password manager. However, pick a platform that uses encryption for added protection.
A strong password isn’t enough to prevent stolen passwords and unauthorized access. Add a layer of protection by implementing multi-factor authentication.
MFA can help prevent credential stuffing, where cyber fraudsters use stolen access details from the dark web or in previous API attacks. If someone guesses your password, they still can’t get in without a biometric scan or code sent to your mobile phone.
Customer relationship management software provides a goldmine of information for automating marketing and personalizing shopping experiences. But do your customer service reps need to access the entire database? Probably not.
A good rule of thumb is to practice data minimization. Provide them with the least amount of information they need to do their job. This minimizes the damage in case an account is compromised.
Phishing attacks and social engineering tactics won’t work unless a user clicks on malicious links attached to a phishing email. Teach your employees to be suspicious. Discourage them from clicking any link or downloading assets from unsolicited messages, even if they seem legitimate.
Whether you’re using a self-hosted or Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) solution, it still means that you’re trusting someone else with your infrastructure. Many e-commerce platforms guarantee cloud security, but you and your hosting service provider still share certain responsibilities.
Cybersecurity is an ongoing task. You must implement security protocols and threat intelligence measures to ensure round-the-clock protection. Achieving this means using several tools, for example, fraud detection software (FDS) and intrusion detection systems (IDS).
IDS uses real-time monitoring to detect any unusual activity, for instance, a sudden spike in traffic from multiple IP addresses caused by Distributed Denial of Service or DDoS attacks. FDS, a staple in the fintech sector, can prevent account takeover by flagging and preventing anomalous transactions from getting through.
Some platforms offer built-in analytics and security dashboards. If you notice something odd, investigate immediately or use security software with malware removal capabilities.
The saying, “hope for the best but prepare for the worst” may not be the first thing that comes to mind when running an e-commerce site. But with cyberattacks getting more sophisticated, you must be proactive if you want to stay resilient in the midst of disruptions.
Developing an incident response plan shows your customers that you value them. This document should detail the steps you’ll be taking the moment you suspect a data breach and how you intend to handle and contain it.
You can ask your IT partner to help you build efficient response mechanisms. Some government and private organizations likewise offer face-to-face and online cyber incident response training programs for you and your team.
A secure and multi-layered backup system is another great safety net. Do this so that you can restore your data even if the attacker successfully locks you out with ransomware. Make sure to test your restoration process so you’ll know it works when the unthinkable happens.
Cybersecurity is a mindset rather than a checklist. As an online business owner, you’re not just selling products or services. You’re selling trust. A buyer hands over their data and hard-earned money with every purchase, and it’s your responsibility to send not only the item that they’re buying but peace of mind as well.
The least you can do is to show them that trust is something that you take seriously. Review your systems regularly and don’t be afraid to seek professional help when you need it. Get these essentials right so you can focus on what you do best: selling your products and increasing sales.
