Step by Step Guide to Secure an Ecommerce Website in 2024

INTRODUCTION: With the increase in the number of internet users worldwide, there is a rapid inclination seen in fraud activities over the internet. In the meantime, it has become a great challenge for eCommerce website owners to protect their websites from such losses over the internet. 

As a result, it is estimated that the total value of such losses caused due to fraud activities is going to increase further in the year 2024.

 According to the experts, a $17.5 billion loss was recorded in 2024 and is expected to reach more than $20 billion in 2024. So, let’s dive in and discuss the measures one has to take to secure their website from any cyber-attacks.

Choose a secure web host and eCommerce platform 

Amidst several issues related to the eCommerce complications, a secure web host and eCommerce development back you up like a pillar that you can completely rely on. 

Furthermore, with the emerging number of built-in security features in the web hosts and platforms, it is required to address the cases in which such features are absent. 

Therefore, several factors should be considered while selecting the web host, which includes handling the traffic on the website, security patches, storage specifications, and the hosting plan’s pricing. 

With the main target of regular backups, the hosting plans must be selected with utmost care as it will pose consequences in terms of security coverage. Therefore, it is always suggested to explore the available options and choose the one fulfilling your requirements.

Backup Your Data Regularly

According to the experts, backups are like an insurance scheme for the eCommerce website. Unfortunately, most of the website owners are not regular at it, so they go through losses that can be avoided in case of any attack. Data backup plays a vital role in both cases, either when there are partial losses or in the case of complete data loss. 

There are often accidental losses in which a product is deleted, and other times the servers get hacked, and entire products get deleted from the store. In this way, one should choose the hosting based on the backup it provides in case of data loss. 

The speed of data backup also depends on the type of hosting one is choosing.  Such measures are comparatively low in cost and are easy to set up with few clicks. There are also special backup plans available for eCommerce websites that can save them from any such losses.

Promote Good Password Hygiene

Practising good password hygiene is the essential security measure to deter online hackers. It is generally seen that people choose passwords based on how easy they are to remember rather than based on how secure they are. 

With the increasing cases of online data theft and breaches, the owners of the organizations must encourage and teach employees to practice the necessary measures for password protection and avoid any losses in cases of cybersecurity mishaps. 

One of the most trusted ways for having secure passwords is two-factor authentication. According to the experts, using a paraphrase over a password provides more security as it is hard for hackers to crack passwords that are more than ten characters. 

Use HTTPS

With the increase in data users and sites, having an SSL certificate is no longer a luxury but necessary nowadays. The most primary function of the SSL is to protect server-client communication. It is mandatory now for accepting online payments. 

To be PCI compliant, one of the requirements is to have an SSL certificate. You can search for affordable or cheap SSL certificates that can secure your website and help you boost search ranking in Google.

Customers’ trust is an important factor in online business, which should be maintained, and the easy way to retain customers’ trust is to have an SSL on your website. You should buy an SSL certificate if you haven’t already as there are many options available in the market.

Employ Your Own Website Monitor

Testing for the vulnerabilities at fixed time intervals can help you keep your best foot forward in the market. In addition, monitoring and repeated analysis can help you in amplifying the security with time. Monitoring involves keeping an eye on all the recent integrations and plugins to ensure that the security is uptight.

Integrations that are not meant for the existing software and components need to be tracked well in time. Such integrations should be removed, and the security circle must be closely guarded again.

Create Manual Security Policies & Procedures

As the security policies identify with the regulations for all members accessing and utilizing the organization’s assets and resources, it is mandatory to create manual security policies and procedures as a reference tool. 

Securing the organization’s information should be an indispensable part. To ensure smooth functioning, there should be more emphasis on the manual policies that must be practised throughout the organization. While policies are not the solutions on their own, if defined and followed properly, they can bring the organization together.

Keep your store updated 

Stores with outdated content and static websites are the prime spots of attraction for the attack. Such sites are usually targeted by cybercriminals, considering their outdated software that will not survive the attack. 

Apart from the above mentioned, the users can also be educated in the same direction. They should be assisted in guiding towards their periodic password update and frequent checkups to avoid any hassle. A store with updated content is less likely to get attacked and thus can work smoothly without hindrance in the long run.

Security badges that you must opt for

Security badges and seals play a crucial role in attaining user trust and making the website secure. As per statistics, 18% of users abandon sites lacking these trust seals and badges. Ecommerce security can be tricky, but with the right amount of effort, one can build a brand name easily and achieve sales targets throughout the year. 

According to a survey, 48% of people accept that the trust badges are their primary factor in deciding the trustworthiness of any specific website, which helps them make a purchase. 

According to the experts, security badges are of three main types: website security badges, payment security trust badges, and antivirus trust badges. Each of these badges plays a crucial role in making the experience of visitors or buyers in a positive manner which leads to the increase in chances of having further re-purchases and revisits by them in future. 

CONCLUSION

Every website is prone to malicious activities and threats; it is therefore totally up to you to keep it secure in the cybersphere. The measures mentioned above can guide you through the same and take you the way towards betterment. This is a key field in nailing the eCommerce game, and there’s always a scope of improvement when it comes to security. However, employing these measures properly can bring you great security and success in the future.