Your company’s e-commerce site is important for business. It’s vulnerable to cyber threats, though. In addition to purchasing e-Commerce Security Insurance, use these tips to keep your e-commerce site secure and give your customers confidence as they shop.
Select a Secure E-commerce Platform
Your company could choose from dozens of e-commerce platforms, but prioritize security. At a minimum, the platform should use an object-oriented programming language and offer a secure checkout page, sitewide SSL security, two-factor login authentication, and login session timeout.
Consider a platform that enforces strong passwords and includes a PCI-compliant payment processor to reduce cardholder data risks.
Choose Safe and Secure Web Hosting
The best web hosting option for your e-commerce site will utilize an SSL certificate and regular backups. Secure web hosting will also limit downtime, which affects customers’ experience and can expose vulnerabilities.
Verify the available technical support and ensure you have access to the help you need. Your hosting and business operations may intersect with broader coverage needs, for example Insurance for Chambers of Commerce.
Implement HTTPS
HTTPS indicates that the website is secure and that data between the browser and server is encrypted. It boosts customers’ confidence and can improve search ranking.
Implement a Secure Checkout Connection
Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) or its modern equivalents encrypt and protect data during checkout. Using a validated certificate is essential for secure transactions and customer trust.
Protect Against DDoS Protection
DDoS (Distributed Denial of Service) attacks happen when bots flood your site with requests to overload servers and cause downtime. A DDoS mitigation service inspects incoming traffic to verify users and keeps your site functioning properly.
Use Multiple Layers of Security
Redundancy matters for e-commerce security. Implement firewalls and maintain backups at every point of entry, with recovery options for those backups.
These layers reduce the number of potential holes through which attackers can access your site.
Store the Minimum Amount of Information
Only store essential customer information and avoid retaining card numbers, CVV codes, or other sensitive payment details unless absolutely necessary and properly protected. Regularly purge outdated records and files.
Require Strong Passwords
Require customers to use strong passwords and consider enforcing length and complexity rules. Combine password rules with two-factor authentication for better account security.
Set up System Alerts
Receive alerts for suspicious behavior so you can respond quickly. Alerts can flag multiple orders from the same IP, different cards used by one buyer, or mismatched recipient and cardholder names.
Protect your company’s e-commerce site with these tips. They improve your cybersecurity as your customers shop.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does HTTPS differ from SSL?
HTTPS is the secure protocol used by browsers that relies on TLS/SSL certificates to encrypt data between a user and your site.
What is PCI compliance and why does it matter?
PCI compliance is a set of standards for handling cardholder data; meeting them reduces fraud risk and is required by many payment processors.
How quickly should I respond to a security alert?
Respond as soon as possible; initial triage within minutes and a thorough investigation within hours helps limit damage and restore services.
What data should I never store on my e-commerce site?
Avoid storing full credit card numbers and CVV codes unless you have a validated, secure storage solution and explicit need to retain them.