Guide for E-Commerce Owners to Protect Their Websites And Businesses

E-commerce is one of the most popular gateways for entrepreneurs to solidify their stand in the digital world. However, e-commerce owners face a risk. They are more prone to digital attacks, which might result in a potential loss. Most importantly, e-commerce is lucrative; that said, it is more susceptible to attacks as cybercriminals can cover their tracks. Also, statistics show that cyber-attacks are on the rise, with a 75% global surge in quarter three of 2024.

Yet, for every issue, you will find a solution. Especially for e-commerce owners, there are methods they can adopt to safeguard their businesses and websites. Securing your e-commerce website will eventually lead to protecting your company data and your customer data.

The Steps in Safeguarding Your E-Commerce Business and Website

There are many practical methods for protecting your e-commerce website. Depending on your approach, you can combine many measures to ensure a strong wall against malicious attacks.

Selecting a Secure Platform

Before you start your business, the first step is to select a secure e-commerce platform. Also, you will come across a variety of open-source platforms. Due to the sheer number of options, choosing the right premium web hosting services can be overwhelming. However, your primary concern should be the platform’s security system.

Additionally, make sure to run scans and also verify whether the platform adheres to PCI compliance. Again, it is wise to ensure that the security measures are optimized so as not to harm any other aspect of your website. So, never set your bar low regarding security when choosing the right platform for your e-commerce business.

Using SSL Certificates

SSL refers to the Secure Sockets Layer. It is the primary requirement for securing your website’s online transactions. SSL certificates verify the user’s identity and encrypt the data for transit and storage. Therefore, SSL ensures a safe connection between your e-commerce website and the end-user system.

Implementation Example

Consider implementing SSL on your website by following these steps:

1. Acquiring a Certificate

Purchase an SSL certificate from a reputable Certificate Authority (CA) such as DigiCert, GlobalSign, or Let’s Encrypt (which is free and widely trusted).

1. Installing the Certificate on Your Web Server

Follow the guidelines for your specific web server software (Apache, Nginx, IIS, etc.). For Apache, you typically need to modify the configuration file to point to your certificate files.

1. Configuring HTTPS Redirection

Ensure that all incoming HTTP traffic is redirected to HTTPS. This prevents unencrypted access to your site and helps enforce secure connections.

Another critical factor is acquiring SSL certificates from a certified authority. Typically, prominent browsers alert users if a website lacks the proper SSL certificates. A customer is more willing to pay if the e-commerce website is secure. SSL certificates from a renowned authority are a must if you want customers to trust your business.

Using Two Factor Authentication

Stolen user credentials are one of the most common causes of security breaches. Again, there are many ways criminals can use to steal your user credentials. You won’t even realize how they steal it. When they steal user credentials, it will compromise the security of your online store. Yet, there is a way to tackle this problem.

Most e-commerce websites implement two-factor authentication, which adds an extra layer of protection for users. Since two-factor authentication requires an additional set of passwords that only you know, it becomes hard for criminals to steal your data. Thus, two-factor authentication drastically reduces the number of data breaches.

On that note, two-factor authentication is a vital security component for online stores. It ensures that users have their credentials protected. Moreover, it builds trust between you and the customer as they are more likely to return to a safer store.

Using VPN

When handling sensitive consumer data over public networks, such as for financial transactions, it is crucial to protect your conversations from interception. A Virtual Private Network (VPN) guarantees that the data sent over public networks stays private by means of a secure, encrypted tunnel between your device and a remote server.

While you deal with customer data on a public network, especially regarding financial transactions, you are prone to a data breach. Moreover, the data you transfer over public networks is vulnerable to malicious attacks. However, you can use a VPN to prevent data breaches in this situation.

VPN offers a secure connection to an off-site server, preventing hackers from breaching your data transfer, even in public networks. SSL VPN is another alternative for data protection.

An SSL VPN leverages the SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) protocol—the same technology used to secure websites—to create a secure VPN connection. Although modern implementations actually use TLS (Transport Layer Security), the term SSL VPN is still commonly used. SSL VPNs are often easier to deploy (since they typically work through standard web browsers) and offer similar levels of encryption and security.

Provide Knowledge to Your Employees and Customers

No matter what security measures you adopt, educating your employees and customers is a pragmatic step in securing their e-commerce shopping experience. Most importantly, try to inform your employees and users regarding security practices and emphasize the necessity of data security while shopping from online stores.

Also, they should be informed about the necessity of protecting their bank details and credit card information. Any malicious attacks can breach their financial information, and hackers might misuse it, which is precarious for the customers. Additionally, warn them about suspicious links, especially those masked using an online link shortener, as these are often used to disguise phishing sites or malware. Again, train your employees regarding safe data practices. Tell them not to share sensitive data with suspicious people or over insecure networks.

Use the Web Firewall Application

Designed to shield your online store from a great variety of cyber attacks, a Web Application Firewall (WAF) is a security tool. Unlike conventional network firewalls that mostly regulate access at the network layer, a WAF selectively watches, filters, and blocks HTTP/HTTPS traffic to and from a web application. Its main function is to guard against web-based assaults, hence guaranteeing that only valid traffic gets to your site.

You should consider using a web firewall application to protect your online store. A web firewall application filters traffic by blocking malicious traffic, such as cross-site scripting attacks and SQL injection. Moreover, this software ensures that only legitimate customers enter your website.

Regular Data Backups

Perform consistent backups for your database and website, and store this data securely. You can store it on prominent cloud websites or in multiple locations. However, it can be stored on a renowned cloud website where there is no chance of security breaches. Data backups can help you restore your website quickly in case of a system failure or a cyber attack.

Using Secure Payment Gateways

When a customer buys a product from your online store, the transaction between your store and the customer must be secure. For this, you can use secure payment gateways. However, you have to select a gateway with a high-security layer. If the gateway has poor security standards, data breaches can happen.

Additionally, select a gateway that complies with the PCI DSS. It is the standard, and PCI DSS uses innovative encryption methods that protect the client’s card information. As a result, your client data will be safe from any cyberattacks.

Access Control Based on Roles

In your e-commerce organization, it is wiser to restrict user access to sensitive information based on your employees’ roles. Giving access to all employees may prove to be risky since an inexperienced worker may unknowingly provide an opening for a data breach.

Also, access control based on roles will create a proper organization, and the right person assigned should be given that access. Most importantly, a mistake from a person in access control can cost your company, so be vigilant and provide access control to an experienced employee suitable for that role.

Check for Suspicious Activity

Monitoring suspicious activity is essential since cyberattacks are becoming stealthier and more lethal. A malicious script can latch onto your website, and you may be completely unaware if you are not actively monitoring for activities. It will secretly steal your data and cause you and your customers a considerable loss.

You can use monitoring tools to identify unusual patterns. When you notice unusual patterns, such as a significant transaction from a single IP or other unusual activity, you can immediately stop any potential threats to your online store. Also, it’s wiser to keep employees who solely focus on this monitoring. Active monitoring can significantly reduce the chance of cyberattacks.

Why is it Vital to Secure Your E-Commerce Website?

Security is the main area you should prioritize to establish a successful e-commerce website. By guaranteeing client data safety, you can prove your brand value and build your reputation as an online store by creating trust with your customers.

• Protecting Customer Data: If you own an e-commerce business, your first and foremost step should be to protect your customer data. Criminals always find ways to steal your customers’ data, and you should focus on your web security to prevent data breaches.
• Building Trust: Trust is the main factor in business success. Especially for e-commerce businesses, a secure platform will always create a bridge of trust between you and your customers. So, a safe platform will strengthen your customers’ trust, and they will always choose your website for purchasing.
• Saving Money: Data breaches may cost you a considerable amount of money. For that, you have to pay extra when hackers breach your website. Also, the cost to secure and investigate is enormous after a data breach. Therefore, preventive measures are less expensive.
• Security Compliance: An Online business must also adhere to security compliance to be legitimate. If you do not follow your online business’s security standards, you may face repercussions like fines or other penalties.

• Protect Yourself and Your Business: Don’t forget to protect yourself with Terms and Conditions. This document is not always required by law, but it will help deal with potential problems or prevent them from happening in the first place. It’s crucial for e-commerce stores because it contains legally required information about conditions of sale, as well as information about payment methods, delivery, shipping, refunds and cancellation policies, etc. Take a look at this terms and conditions template to fully grasp this crucial document for online stores.

Final Note

To summarise, security is everything in the world of e-commerce. Customers always investigate a website’s safety before purchasing anything from it. So, if you want to establish your e-commerce store successfully, focus on increasing your website’s security.

The above guide will help you adopt the most pragmatic security measures to safeguard your business. Remember, being aware of the internet is always safe, as cyberattacks may happen at any time. Also, you know that prevention is better than a cure. On that note, securing your website beforehand will save you costs, as the aftermath of a cyberattack will lead to a vast expense in recovering and dealing with it.

Additionally, never let your guard down and never compromise the security of your online store. Building trust is the key to developing a successful e-commerce business, and you can earn that trust by providing your customers with a secure platform. When a customer safely buys something from your website, they are more likely to return, which will build your reputation.