Creating an e-commerce site can be relatively simple with the right tools, but cyber security is something that many businesses overlook. As online shopping becomes the norm, it is very important that you take cyber security seriously, no matter the size of your business. Below we look at creating a safe e-commerce site for customers and yourself.
Why is Cybersecurity Important for an E-commerce Site?
Even if you are not downloading anything and do not handle customers’ card details yourself, there are many ways that your e-commerce site could be hacked. This is bad for business, causing a loss of custom and a bad reputation. For this reason alone, making sure your site is protected, regardless of the size of your business, is a must.
One example of an e-commerce cyber security problem is cross-site scripting, also known as XSS. This injects malicious and harmful scripts into your website, which redirects customers to a harmful website full of malware. Customers may not even see your website, meaning a loss of traffic too. If you are unsure of the safety of your website, you should enlist the help of a professional cybersecurity consulting firm.
Don’t Store Customer Data
To protect customers and prevent the risk of data loss, the best practice is to not store or keep any customer data. When using an e-commerce platform, you can easily set up payments through encrypted third-party web pages. All you need to do is find a payment platform that works with your web host. Offering debit and credit card payments, as well as PayPal, is the best way to make the checkout process quick, easy, and safe for customers.
Use a Secure E-commerce Platform and Web Host
When creating your website, you will need to find a secure e-commerce platform, as well as a secure web host. This offers the most protection and reduces the risk of any cyber security attacks. Many site builders have some kind of protection already in place, but this depends on which site you use and what you pay for. Not all sites are made equal, meaning you should do your research beforehand.
Back-Up Your Site Regularly
Backing up your website doesn’t necessarily make it safer, but it is very useful if anything goes wrong. Whatever security threats come your way, reducing the damage done will save time and makes it easier to republish your website quickly. It can also protect your site and information from becoming corrupted, held hostage, or lost forever.
Back up your data whenever you change your e-commerce site or use an automatic back-up feature, which is included with many website hosts and builders. It is best practice to perform back-ups every day, or at least once every three days.
A secure e-commerce site is vital for your business and your customers. Any website can be a target of a cyberattack, so make sure you understand how to keep your data safe. Follow the guide above to get started and ensure your computer is also protected with the latest cybersecurity software.
