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The ccommerce sector is booming and more and more medium-sized companies are taking advantage of online trading. The security of a store system is crucial for building customer trust, preventing data loss and protecting the store from potential threats. With the right security measures and a secure store system, online retailers succeed in creating a protected platform on which they can sell their products securely and provide customers with a worry-free shopping experience.
Table of contents
The security risks in Ecommerce
Online commerce poses several types of threats that store owners should be aware of. Here are some of the most common risks that merchants and customers may face:
Data loss
The loss of sensitive customer and business data can be devastating for companies and shoppers. Hackers can attempt to penetrate a store system's database and steal personal information such as credit card numbers, sensitive customer data and payment information. To avoid such unwanted access and data loss, store operators should implement reliable security measures and perform regular backups.
Phishing attacks
Phishing attacks are a common way to obtain customer data. Criminals pose as trusted companies and send fake emails or set up websites to trick users into revealing confidential information. To prevent phishing attacks, online merchants should educate their customers about such scams and show them how to recognize suspicious emails and links.
Malware and viruses
Malware and viruses are a constant threat to ecommerce websites. So-called malware is often used by hackers to steal personal information from customers, damage a website or interfere with its operation. A reliable firewall as well as good antivirus software and regular scans are essential to detect and eliminate such threats at an early stage.
Security measures for highest ecommerce Security
To protect an online store from security risks, implementing best security practices alongside a reliable store system is an absolute must. If online retailers take these following measures into account, they will be on the safe side with their ecommerce website.
Use secure ecommerce platform
A secure Ecommerce platform that provides updates at regular intervals and continuously complies with the latest security standards is the best basis for a secure online store. Many major store providers, such as Shopware, have high security standards that prevent unauthorized access by hackers. Before companies decide on a store solution, they should take a close look at the system's security precautions.
Strong passwords and two-factor authentication
Security-conscious password policies are critical to protect ecommerce account access. For store administrators, it is advisable to use strong passwords consisting of a combination of letters, numbers and special characters. For customers, online retailers should also define such password rules to prevent unauthorized access to customer accounts. Two-factor authentication also provides additional security and allows only authorized persons to access the backend of the respective store.
Regular updating of software and plug-ins
It is important that store operators always keep their Ecommerce platform, the associated CMS (content management system) and all plug-ins used there up to date. Updates often include important security patches that fix known vulnerabilities and close security holes. To minimize unauthorized access by hackers and prevent future attacks, these updates are absolutely necessary.
Implement secure payment systems
One of the most sensitive aspects of ecommerce is payment processing. Store operators should ensure that their payment platform is PCI-DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard) compliant. Compliance with this security standard is mandatory for stores that offer their customers payment via credit card. To ensure maximum security for buyers, annual certification of compliance is required.
In addition, the entire store with all payment methods should be secured by SSL encryption to protect customers' sensitive payment data. Also, implementing trusted and reputable payment providers minimizes the risk of fraud and data leaks.
Employee training
The security of an online store depends not only on technical measures, but also on all employees. Store operators should teach their employees about data security and train their security awareness in best practices. Education about potential threats such as phishing attacks, malware, Trojans and other risks, and knowledge of how to recognize and report suspicious activities also make an important contribution to ecommerce Security.
Monitoring and regular safety audits
It is important to continuously monitor an Ecommerce website and perform regular security audits. Online retailers should always keep an eye on activity on their platform to detect unusual incidents or suspicious access at an early stage. Repeated check-ups can reveal potential weaknesses in the security architecture.
Data archiving and backups
Regular backups are essential to protect against ransomware attacks and prevent data loss. The most important requirement for this is that the backup is stored on another server or system. Copies of the data are thus not damaged or deleted in the event of an attack on the server. Most store providers offer a whole range of plug-ins that automatically create backups of all relevant store data at regular intervals. To be on the safe side, store operators should occasionally check the backups created to ensure that their data can be fully restored in an emergency.
Use captchas in forms
The biggest spam traps on an ecommerce website are forms on contact and login pages. Unsolicited spam messages from bots are not only annoying for the sales department, but may also contain harmful malware. Store operators prevent this problem by using so-called captchas. Users are then required to enter a sequence of numbers or letters displayed on an image before submitting a form in order to verify themselves as human.
Quality seals signal safety to buyers
Users are more likely to decide to buy from an online store if they can be sure that their sensitive data is in good hands. There are several seal of approval providers that issue certificates for secure stores. In this way, online retailers not only gain the trust of their prospects and buyers, but also receive a qualified audit of their store by IT experts. One of the most popular is the Trusted Shops seal of approval, which is available as an extension in many renowned store solutions, such as Shopware.
The following criteria are evaluated for quality seal providers:
Store security
Payment Security
Compliance with data protection guidelines
Buyer protection
Authenticity of customer reviews
Cooperation with safety experts
The topic of ecommerce Security is very extensive and represents a challenge for many companies. In order to save internal resources, but above all to be guaranteed to always be on the safe side, it is advisable to hire IT security experts. Such specialists conduct security audits, identify security gaps and support online retailers in eliminating them and implementing effective protective measures.
The right way to handle sensitive customer data
A secured store also includes the protection of customer information. Store operators must meet legal requirements (data protection guidelines) that protect consumers and their personal information. At the same time, the secure handling of sensitive data creates trust among customers and increases the sales opportunities of online retailers.
Follow privacy policy
According to the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), companies are obliged to inform website users and customers about the type of data collected and how it is processed. This applies not only to the information that is stored within the purchase process, but also to data that is used by various analysis tools for marketing purposes. The collection of personal information (e.g. via cookies) is only permitted with the express consent of the user. Store operators should inform themselves comprehensively about the applicable data protection regulations and comply with the guidelines in order to avoid expensive fines.
Secure storage of customer data
Secure and encrypted storage of personal information is a top priority to protect customer data. Strong access controls (strong passwords, authentication) ensure that only authorized persons can access confidential customer and payment data. This reduces potential attacks and the risk of phishing.
Transparent communication in the event of data breaches
If a data breach occurs, store operators should inform their customers immediately. Likewise, customers themselves should have clear communication channels through which they can report incidents. It is important that companies respond proactively and quickly to a problem with data protection in order to limit the damage and restore the customer's trust.
Frequently asked questions
Why is ecommerce Security an important topic for all online retailers?
Unauthorized access to an online store can result in data misuse and loss, and damage a company and its customers. A secure store protects online retailers and buyers from cyberattacks and prevents hackers from gaining access to sensitive company or customer data. In addition, a high level of security strengthens customer trust in the ecommerce platform and contributes to positive sales development.
Which ecommerce security measures are necessary for a secure store?
To ensure the security of an online store, online merchants should consider the following:
Use secure and updated ecommerce platform.
Implement strong access controls, including strong passwords and two-factor authentication.
Use SSL encryption for secure transmission of sensitive data.
Perform regular updates of the software and plug-ins to keep the system up to date and close security gaps.
Continuous monitoring of the website so that potential security threats are identified and eliminated early.
How does ecommerce Security contribute to payment processing security?
There are various measures that increase the security of payment methods in online stores:
Using trusted payment providers that have high security standards.
Implement additional layer of security, such as 3D Secure authentication for credit card transactions.
Track suspicious transaction patterns and use fraud detection systems.
Refrain from storing credit card data, instead use tokenization or secure payment gateways.
Conduct regular security audits to identify and remediate payment infrastructure vulnerabilities.
