Most people dread shopping online due to possible vulnerabilities that may gradually seep in, exposing their personal information on the dark web. This perception only gets stronger, when the URL box on the browser pops up a red signal stating that your website isn't secure. However, this is bound to happen unless you have a wildcard SSL certificate. However, we shall discuss more on that, in a minute.
Coming back to e-commerce stores and its security concerns, a glance into the cybersecurity news would tell you that identity thefts and Denial of Service (DoS) attacks are on the rise. So, none of your customer's concerns are futile. So, as an eCommerce store owner, the first and foremost challenge that you face is to win the trust and confidence of your prospective customers.
You can only do that when you are technologically informed and well-equipped to confront the possible security threats and protect customer data. Let us now discuss some ways in which you can improve the security of your eCommerce website.
Count on a Wildcard SSL Certificate
Ecommerce store owners have an additional responsibility of protecting confidential customer data, which includes sensitive information like credit card information, addresses, and more. So, there is a sheer need to elevate security standards continually.
A wildcard SSL certificates is an ideal way to secure sensitive information, which lets you secure multiple subdomains, with a single certificate. We strongly recommend this to eCommerce store owners as using SSL certificates for each subdomain can turn out to be quite expensive, especially for a new eCommerce store owner. Nonetheless, it is critical to secure the connection between your customer's browser and your eCommerce store.
Never Save Financial info
Canva, a SaaS platform was recently under siege, exposing confidential information of over 139 million Canva users. However, Canva duly informed this to the concerned authorities and did not have much to worry about. Why? Simply because Canva never saved up any financial information of its customers, so there was no such customer data that the attackers could lay their hands on, and misuse. So, if you did the same and your eCommerce store was a victim of a cyberattack, then you wouldn't have much to worry about, either.
Backup your Data regularly
Imagine you try to log into your WordPress admin panel but are denied access. We know how frustrating that can be, but the attackers don't stop there. To add to your troubles, they block you out of your data, and you then see a message that flashes up, declaring that all your data has been encrypted. Well, this is what happens in case of DoS attacks, and usually, you need to pay in Bitcoin to get a decryption key, to regain access.
Unless you have all the data about the orders placed, processing them is impossible. Also, if you don't do that on time, then you lose out on goodwill and may even face customer litigation. An easy way out is to regularly backup your Data or to buy services that include regular data backups. Other measures that can stall the attempts made by cyber attackers include changing the path to your admin login, setting an innovative username, and locking it with a super-strong password.
Ruin Brute force attempts
E-commerce websites are prone to Brute force attacks, which is the most common form of cyber-attack. Here, the threat actors make use of sophisticated software programs to crack the password by making use of various permutations and combinations. This is done in a bid to gain unauthorized access and to steal the financial information. To ruin these Brute force attempts, you need to set specific strong parameters for your users to set their passwords. You can also consider rolling out security-related informational emails and newsletters to your customers periodically.
Use integrated logins
You can tap in the security features of some of the biggest IT giants like Microsoft and Google by making use of integrated logins. If you don't already know what that is, then here's a quick roundup. An integrated login is a simple mechanism which lets your users log in from their existing Google, Microsoft, or similar accounts.
As most users tend to have one of these accounts, they don't have to bother about creating a new one on your eCommerce store. Likewise, you don't have to worry about keeping their login credentials secure; it's as simple as that. Since Google and Microsoft are already making use of the two-factor authentication, you don't have to spend time doing the same thing all over again.
Use reliable themes and plug-ins
Currently, over 30 percent of the World Wide Web runs on WordPress, since this is a versatile platform that enables a host of functions through third-party plug-ins and is easy to install. Nonetheless, it has its own set of limitations that make it easier for threat actors to attack WordPress sites. The most enticing one is the ability to gain access by manipulating third-party plug-ins and themes. Therefore, we recommend that you limit the number of WordPress plug-ins that you install on your website. Also, using a premium WordPress theme from a reliable company can enhance your security.
Detect and prevent potential threats through CDN and Firewall
Using Firewall may seem like a straightforward thing to do, but this can go a long way in defending your website against potential threats. It is also recommended that you use a reliable Content Delivery Network (CDN) that makes it easier for you to identify where your traffic is coming from. You can consider using the services of reputable CDN service providers like Cloudflare, StackPath, Akamai, etc...
Ecommerce stores and websites are always going to remain vulnerable to security threats since financial information is involved. However, you need to incorporate measures that instill a sense of confidence in your prospective customers. By using a Wildcard SSL certificate and following the above-stated security measures, you can minimize this risk. Nonetheless, cybercriminals will continue to find innovative ways to steal data, and so you need to stay up to date with the latest security measures.
