Fortify Your Online Business – Security Tips for Starting an e-Commerce Website

From installing firewalls to choosing secure hosting, every aspect is crucial in online business.

Are you in the process of creating an e-commerce website? Many entrepreneurs choose to open online businesses because they can save a lot of money on overhead costs. But if you don’t have the proper security in place, it may cost you thousands of dollars to recover after a website breach.

Every day, cybercriminals are finding new ways to hack into people’s business accounts to steal information and money. To help safeguard your online store, we’ve provided a guide on how to build a secure e-commerce website to protect your business from potential threats.

****Choose a Trustworthy Platform to Build Your Website****

For people to buy your products and services, you must create a website where customers can order and pay for what they need. The top website builders will have a plethora of features to help you build a secure website for your customers, such as drag-and-drop tools and customizable templates.

On the other hand, web builders must guarantee the safety of your customer’s information. The builder you choose must not steal information and sell it to third-party organizations. You should also choose a website builder with hosting services so your site loads faster.

Choose a dedicated web hosting service that is more secure compared to sharing a server with other websites on the internet.

****Utilize HTTPS for Your Site** **

Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure (HTTPS) provides a secure and encrypted connection between a user’s browser and the website server. The encryption ensures that sensitive data like bank account details, credit card information, and addresses are protected from cybercriminals.

What’s more, websites that have HTTPS addresses are recognized as being more trustworthy. It provides a padlock icon on your website’s URL that shows the user the site is secure and protected from threats.

Using HTTPS can also boost your page ranking on search engines like Google because they prioritize sites with these credentials.

Lastly, HTTPS requires a Secure Socket Layer Certificate (SSL) to transfer data securely. If your online business accepts card payments, then you must have an SSL certificate to remain compliant with Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards.

****Utilize Web Application Firewalls****

E-commerce websites rely heavily on complex web applications such as SQL injections and cross-site scripting. However, these applications can have vulnerabilities. A Web Application Firewall (WAF) can give your website an extra layer of protection by detecting and blocking these threats to prevent breaches.

When there are potential threats, you may have to temporarily shut down the website to protect your customers. This can be a costly exercise. But a Web Application Firewall can prevent website downtimes by filtering out malicious traffic that can cause your website to shut down.

****Strong Password Policies** **

When you create your e-commerce website, you must administrate strong password policies for both your staff and customers. Encourage customers to create strong passwords that are at least 8 to 10 characters long using numbers, special characters, and capital letters.

Furthermore, you should allow your customers to set up two-factor authentication so they can be notified if someone is trying to gain access to their accounts. Advise your customers not to use their names, ID numbers, or cell phone numbers to sign into the website.

You can prevent users from creating weak passwords by not allowing them to go to the next stage of the sign-up process unless they meet the password policies. Or you can have a password generator on the site so users can automatically create secure passwords.

****Update Your Website Regularly** **

Another way you can prevent cyber threats when creating an e-commerce website is to update your site and plugins regularly. There will be regular security patches that can address new vulnerabilities. These updates can include enhanced security measures to strengthen your website’s defences.

Updating your website and plugins will ensure that your e-commerce business stays compliant with industry standards. It can also improve your website’s overall performance by fixing bugs and enhancing certain functionalities. This will improve the user’s experience whenever they visit your website.

With a fast and secure website, your customers and visitors will feel more at ease, and it will provide a level of credibility to your online business.

****Final Thoughts** **

Creating a professional e-commerce website is a long and complex process. If you’re not careful, you’ll create a site that’s easy for hackers to gain access to.

But with the right tools, strategies, and knowledge, you can create a secure site that customers feel comfortable signing in to. Use the tips in this article to build a successful website that’s secure and trustworthy.

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