As a leading middle-row eCommerce development company, we prioritize robust strategies to ensure eCommerce security in the digital era. Our approach encompasses advanced encryption, multi-factor authentication, and continuous monitoring to safeguard sensitive data, providing clients with a secure and trustworthy online shopping experience.
#StandardsGoals for 2024: What’s new for BISAC - Tech Forum 2024
Â
What Strategies Are Crucial for Ensuring eCommerce Security in the Digital Era?
1. 1/6
Key Strategies to Improve eCommerce Security
successive.tech/blog/what-strategies-are-crucial-for-ensuring-ecommerce-security-in-the-digital-era/
What Strategies Are Crucial for Ensuring eCommerce Security in the
Digital Era?
We are living in the digital era where customers demand convenience but not at the cost of
their critical data getting mishandled. Studies show that the retail industry is one of the most
vulnerable industries when it comes to cyber-attacks experiencing up to 32.4% attacks in
various forms. This means businesses must implement key strategies to ensure security at
every step while streamlining the customer journey. This will also future-proof your business
and safeguard it from any potential threats that arise within the evolving landscape of
eCommerce.
But first, let us understand what eCommerce security is and what measures you can take to
avoid arsing threats in the industry.
eCommerce Security: An Overview
2. 2/6
eCommerce security is a critical aspect of online business operations, ensuring the sensitive
information of your customers is and fostering trust between businesses and their customers.
It is basically an ethical practice that safeguards your online store from unauthorized access
while protecting online transactions. To implement security mechanisms into your online
store, you can get assistance from a professional eCommerce development company.
Moreover, there are four major components of ensuring cyber security for your eCommerce
store.
Privacy
Privacy includes preventing any activity that will lead to the sharing of customers’ data with
unauthorized third parties. Apart from the online seller that a customer has chosen, no one
else should access their personal information and account details. A breach of confidentiality
occurs when sellers let others have access to such information. An online business should
put in place at least a necessary minimum of anti-virus, firewall, encryption, and other data
protection. It will go a long way in protecting the Credit/Debit card and bank details of clients.
Integrity
Integrity is another crucial component in eCommerce website security. It means ensuring that
any information that customers have shared online remains unaltered. The principle states
that the online business is stating and utilizing the customers’ information as given, without
changing anything. Altering any part of the data causes the buyer to lose confidence in the
security and integrity of the online enterprise.
Authentication
The principle of authentication in eCommerce security requires that both the seller and the
buyer should be real. They should be who they say they are. The business should prove that
it is real, deals with genuine items or services, and delivers what it promises. The clients
should also give their proof of identity to make the seller feel secure about the online
transactions. It is possible to ensure authentication and identification. If you are unable to do
so, hiring an expert will help a lot. Among the standard solutions include client login
information and credit card PINs.
Non-repudiation
Repudiation means denial. Therefore, non-repudiation is a legal principle that instructs
players not to deny their actions in a transaction. The business and the buyer should follow
through on the transaction part that they initiated. eCommerce can feel less safe since it
occurs in cyberspace with no live video. Non-repudiation gives eCommerce security another
layer. It confirms that the communication that occurred between the two players indeed
reached the recipients. Therefore, a party in that particular transaction cannot deny a
signature, email, or purchase.
3. 3/6
Common eCommerce Security Issues
Before we jump into the strategies for securing your online store, it is important to
understand why cyber threats occur and what are the usual eCommerce security issues that
disrupt the safety of customer’s confidential information. The issue includes:
Weak Authentication
Weak or easily guessable passwords can make it easier for attackers to gain unauthorized
access to user accounts. Hence, it is important to implement strong authentication methods,
such as two-factor authentication (2FA), and encourage users to create strong passwords
which can be a positive step towards improving eCommerce security.
Insecure Data Transmission
Transmitting sensitive data over unsecured connections leaves the user data vulnerable to
interception by attackers. This imposes one of the major security challenges in eCommerce.
Malicious SQL Injection
SQL injection occurs when attackers input malicious SQL code into input fields, exploiting
vulnerabilities in the database layer. This can lead to unauthorized access to or manipulation
of the database.
Outdated Software and Security Patches
Failure to regularly update and patch the e-commerce platform, server software, and third-
party plugins can expose vulnerabilities that attackers can exploit. Irregular security audits
and updates cause software vulnerabilities.
Phishing Attacks
Phishing involves tricking users into revealing sensitive information by posing as a
trustworthy entity. This can be done through fake emails, websites, or messages, and it often
targets login credentials or payment information.
Inadequate Access Controls
Improper access controls may allow unauthorized users to gain access to sensitive parts of
the e-commerce system. Implementing robust access controls and limiting privileges helps
minimize this risk.
Insufficient Logging and Monitoring
4. 4/6
Inadequate monitoring of system logs and user activities can make it difficult to detect and
respond to security incidents promptly. This results in cyber attacks and an increase in
eCommerce security issues.
eCommerce Website Security Measures to Implement in Your Online
Store
Securing your eCommerce website is crucial to protect sensitive customer information, build
trust, and maintain the integrity of your online store. Here are key strategies and eCommerce
website security measures you should consider.
Implementing SSL Encryption
Secure Socket Layer (SSL) encrypts the communication between the user’s browser and the
server, ensuring that data transmitted, such as login credentials and payment information,
remains confidential. Obtain an SSL certificate from a trusted Certificate Authority (CA) and
install it on your web server. Ensure that all pages, not just the checkout page, use HTTPS.
Integrate Secure Payment Gateways
5. 5/6
Use reputable and PCI DSS-compliant payment gateways to process transactions securely.
This ensures that payment information is encrypted and handled according to industry
standards. Integrate payment gateways like PayPal, Stripe, or others that comply with the
Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS).
Regular Security Audits and Vulnerability Assessments
Regularly assess your website for vulnerabilities by conducting security audits. This helps
identify potential weaknesses that could be exploited by malicious actors.
Employ security experts or reliable eCommerce web development experts who will utilize
automated tools to conduct periodic security audits and vulnerability assessments.
Strong Password Policies
Enforce strong password policies for both customers and admin users to prevent
unauthorized access to accounts. Set minimum password length, require a combination of
uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters. Encourage users to
update passwords regularly.
Multi-Factor Authentication
Add an extra layer of security by implementing multi-factor authentication (MFA). This
requires users to provide additional verification beyond just a password. You can use MFA
solutions such as one-time codes sent via SMS, email, or authentication apps like Google
Authenticator.
Regular Software Updates
Keep all software components, including the eCommerce platform, plugins, and server
software, up-to-date to patch security vulnerabilities. Set up automatic updates for your
eCommerce platform and regularly check for updates to third-party plugins. You can also
read our blog eCommerce web development guide to understand the ins and outs of a fully
customized eCommerce website development.
Data Encryption
Data encryption is an important element for securing the data from unauthorized access.
Encrypt sensitive data at rest (stored on servers) and in transit (being transmitted between
the user’s browser and your server). To implement data encryption use technologies like TLS
for data in transit and encrypt databases and stored files on the server.
Firewall Protection
6. 6/6
Implement a web application firewall (WAF) to filter and monitor HTTP traffic between a web
application and the Internet. Set up a WAF to block malicious traffic, SQL injection, cross-site
scripting (XSS), and other common web application attacks.
Regular Backups
Regularly backing up your website data is crucial to prevent data loss due to cyber-attacks or
technical failures. Set up automated backup systems and store backups securely, ensuring
quick restoration in case of a security incident.
Monitoring and Incident Response
Lastly, set up a continuous monitoring process of your website’s traffic and behavior to detect
anomalies and potential security incidents while improving eCommerce website security.
Also, have an incident response plan in place. Use security information and event
management (SIEM) systems, and intrusion detection systems (IDS), to regularly test your
incident response plan.
Conclusion
Digital commerce is continuously evolving but with that security becomes a major concern.
Securing every user’s credentials who sign up for your online store is essential to building
long-term customer relationships. In order to build a secure eCommerce store, you must
implement the strategies discussed in this blog and most importantly, partner with a
professional eCommerce web development company like Successive Digital. Our
eCommerce experts can help in integrating security mechanisms into your online store, to
secure online transactions and provide a seamless customer experience.