A growing number of people on the global level want to try their business luck online. The current trend can be compared to the times when settlers from Europe were moving to the New World. Although the context is different, the key features are the same – the new virtual world has enormous potential, but it also hides many unknown dangers. So, if you want to keep your assets safe in the web surroundings, you need to equip yourself with proper tools.
Introduce multi-level security
When you look at any website from the outside, i.e. from a hacker’s point of view, the number of layers it has might be the key element, security-wise. Since business owners are usually knowledgeable entrepreneurs, but not so proficient IT experts, they should learn what basics they should pay attention to. First and foremost, you should insist on installing firewalls, as the first layer(s) of your website protection. It is the shell that protects the core of your website. Furthermore, other levels of protection, like registration for full access, as well as search queries, are also high on the list of security priorities. By doing so, you will keep both the website and your clients safe from Structured Query Language attacks.
Complex password rule
You know those annoying websites that require passwords that consist of a proscribed number of characters, together with a combination of letters and numbers? Well, your ecommerce website should follow those exact rules. Too many people approach the issues of online security in a laid-back way. For instance, an average Facebook user reveals their birth date to all their friends on that network. It gives a skilful hacker a great basis to guess everyone’s password pretty easily, since people usually combine their names and birth dates to create passes. So, a serious website will insist on complex passwords. It might annoy their customers, but protection of clients’ data has to be the most important goal when it comes to security.
Strict verification system
More and more ecommerce websites ask their customers to type the CVV number from their credit cards during the checkout stage of purchase – the three figures on the back of the card – to allow them to make transactions. This is a good sign, since business owners have realized how important it is for their clients to verify their identity. In addition to the CVV number, another useful protective feature is the AVS, aka the address verification system.
On the other side, ecommerce website owners need to know that they are not allowed to keep the data about their customers, such as the abovementioned CVV codes or card numbers. This is why they should delete the old data and retain only the ones necessary for some customer-friendly issues, like refunds. By purging such confidential data, you reduce the chance of having your clients’ data hacked.
Renowned platforms for better security
You can implement all the protective measures there are in the world and your customers could still get e-robbed; if you choose a no-name platform. Although less known platforms for ecommerce websites might offer better rates and more services at a lower price, such options should be avoided. It might only be their try to win a share of the market for themselves, but you can never tell who is behind them. So, to keep your business on the safe side of the web, build your ecommerce on a tested and well-rated platform. Out of such platforms, the features offered by Magento commerce platform provide the highest level of ecommerce protection.
Detailed behavioral analysis
Using efficient and practical analytics tools can bring at least two benefits to your ecommerce website. Firstly, you will be able to observe your visitors’ behavior in real time, which will give you great feedback on the functionality of the site. Secondly, such an insight will allow you or your website manager to spot any suspicious behavior. The tools that enable you to watch your visitors’ habits on your website, as if they are under CCTV surveillance, should give you enough information to play your next moves for increasing the data security on the website. Read more about these tools in a piece brought by Search Engine Journal.
Whether or not your ecommerce website will have a safe shelter depends on you – its owner – and the platform on which you launch it. If you follow our guidelines and join forces with a trustworthy platform, hackers that attack you are doomed to failure.
Dan Radak is a web hosting security professional with ten years of experience. He is currently working with a number of companies in the field of online security, closely collaborating with a couple of e-commerce companies. He is also a coauthor on several technology websites and regular contributor to Technivorz.
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