E-Commerce Website Security: Top 14 Must-Have Cybersecurity Features

Published on: 14 April 2021 Last Updated on: 30 December 2024

With the rise of digitization, there has been a rise in cybercrime.

In fact, when a cyberattack happens, it harms a company directly and indirectly. Also, it affects its reputation in its potential customers’ eyes. In fact, you cannot count but estimate the loss that happens. Hence, it is important to ensure e-commerce website security.

In this article, you will learn about the top fourteen ways to ensure e-commerce website security. However, before that, it is also important to understand the importance of ensuring security in e-commerce websites. Hence, to learn more, read on to the end of the article.

Importance Of E-Commerce Website Security

In 2024, most businesses are working in the online framework. Their revenues heavily depend on their websites.

If they do not emphasize their website’s security, their customer base and reputation will become vulnerable.

As an eCommerce website owner, you need to comply with certain payment guidelines. These include PCI/DSS (Payment Card Industry – Data Security Standard) to ensure smooth payment transactions.

Moreover, you need to install security protocols to secure your data integrity. They will not only protect your customer data from hackers but also keep the search engines satisfied.

Thus, security is essential for your eCommerce website.

Top 14 Ways To Ensure E-Commerce Website Security

The following are some of the major cybersecurity features you must ensure on your website:

1. Implement 2-factor Authentication

Does not matter how frustrating it may sound. As long as you are keeping your customer’s data secure, every security method is fine.

Employing 2-factor authentication may make your customers a bit agitated. They first enter the login credentials and then enter the OTP received on their number to decrease security breaches and hacks drastically.

So, employ the process and safeguard your customer accounts.

2. Get HTTPs And SSL Certification

To obtain HTTPS authentication businesses need an SSL certificate to be installed on a website. Before installation, you need to buy an SSL certificate. This is because it encrypts the data communication between the server and the client.

Then, it passes the data over a secure network through cryptographic functions (symmetric & asymmetric). This keeps cybercriminals from intercepting the communication.

Out of all the SSL certificates, the EV SSL certificates require a user to undergo a unique validation process to verify his credibility through his name, ID, address, and more.

Thus, get an EV SSL to secure your Ecommerce website and obtain the highest validation level.

3. Comply With PCI-DSS Guidelines For A Secure Payment Gateway System

PCI-DSS or Payment Card Industry – Data Security Standard is a body that governs a website’s right to maintain an online payment transaction system.

If you are a website that sees over six million transactions every year, you must be level 1 compliant. However, if your transactions range from 20,000 per year, you are safe as a level 4 client of PCI-DSS.

The compliance helps you to secure your payment gateway system. Also, it allows you to use a third-party app to accept payments and make refunds on your behalf.

4. Use A VPN As A Night Watchman

When you use public networks such as Wi-Fis to access the site, it is better to use a VPN (Virtual Private Network) to watch your back and restrict other connections to manipulate the ongoing connection between the server and the client.

Without a VPN, hackers can easily manipulate the payment transaction and hack credit and debit card details.

VPN will secure your customers’ payment transactions even on Wi-Fi and keep their sensitive data as safe as houses.

5. Restrict Malicious Bots Using reCAPTCHA

The reCAPTCHA method is extremely effective in keeping hackers at bay. Basically, ReCAPTCHA generates random questions that a bot cannot answer.

There are plenty of malicious bots lurking around the internet in hopes of finding an ideal prey for cybercriminals.

When they get access to your account, malicious bots can steal information, leak it, or even bring your site down.

ReCAPTCHA adds an extensive layer of security that is impenetrable for a code or a bot.

It restricts bad guys’ entrance by protecting login pages, signup pages, contact form pages, form submission pages, payment gateway pages, etc.

6. Start Using A Reliable Content Management System (CMS)

Choosing the right CMS is important for businesses to determine whether an eCommerce website will stay safe.

Mediocre CMSs are a big risk to have. They might help you save a few bucks, but you will always be vulnerable to theft.

But, CMSs like WordPress and Joomla have renounced entities having customer bases in millions.

Moreover, they are regular in updating security patches and always stay a step ahead of the bad guys.

The only thing you need to do is keep them updated.

7. Do Not Use Unsolicited Extensions And Plugins

Plugins and extensions are necessary to enhance your website’s reach. They allow you access to multiple tools and features on the internet.

However, not all plugins are safe to install. These days, due to rising cybercrimes, you must be aware of what you’re installing or adding.

Cybercriminals can engrave malicious codes in the plugins, and when a user installs it, they get access to his site.

Before installing any plugin, make sure that its source is known. Check for its reviews and ratings across the internet.

Also, check its performance reports and badges for further inquiry and self-satisfaction.

8. Perform Audits For Site Security

Site security auditing does not interest a lot of merchants, but it is essential for their survival.

Site security auditing includes checking whether the anti-virus is working appropriately and whether security protocols are repelling attacks or not.

As a merchant, you must initiate site auditing from time to time. It will help you prevent attacks and fix bugs and technical glitches.

If detected early, some security issues can be repelled; otherwise, they may harm the website if they stay for longer periods.

So, keep auditing your website at regular intervals of time.

9. Install A Firewall In Your Web Application

If you own a web application, the firewall can benefit you immensely.

Web Application Firewall or WAF protects the website or web app by analyzing the traffic between the application and the internet.

A firewall protects the user data of the application from XSS (cross-site scripting), SQL injection, cross-site request forgery, etc.

A firewall is the need of the hour to suffice the mounting cyberattacks and help sustain the business.

10. Perform Data-Backup Regularly

In today’s tech world, data is more important than cash in your wallet. Here, you can earn cash again. However, once you lose data, you cannot retrieve them in the same proportion.

For businesses, data is their lifeline. They thrive on data and channel their operations accordingly.

Since it is immensely important, protecting it is quite a task for businesses as cybercriminals are always on the lookout for data.

The best way to protect your data is by creating a copy of it and saving it on the cloud.

Cloud allows you to access your data anywhere at any time, making it extremely reliable.

11. Regular Software Updates

Regular software updates are crucial for e-commerce website security since they come with patches that deal with vulnerabilities. Additionally, since developers always research and improve cybersecurity, new updates let you access the latest features.

In fact, they protect your website from new threats like ransomware. Also, it offers protection against data breach attempts. Moreover, software updates also let your website meet the compliance requirements of the e-commerce industry.

Furthermore, it also helps in improving the overall performance of your e-commerce website.

12. Strong Password Policies

Firstly, if there is a strong password policy, cyber criminals will not gain unauthorized access to the website.

As a result, you can also prevent financial losses that may happen to your business. Moreover, you can also save your business from reputational damage.

Generally, cybercriminals and hackers use weak passwords to penetrate networks. Thereby, they stop your business’s critical processes. Hence, with a strong password policy, you can ensure e-commerce website security.

13. Use A Secure Hosting Environment

A secure hosting environment protects your e-commerce website from various security threats. These include hacking, data breaches, malware, etc.

Apart from that, it also helps to maintain your site’s integrity. Also, it helps you to protect sensitive information like passwords and credit card numbers. Additionally, it also offers protection against DDoS attacks

Moreover, site downtime negatively affects your search engine ranking. Here, a secure hosting environment can help you a lot.

14. Focus On User Education And Training

If you invest in user education and training, you can help them respond to cybersecurity threats. Basically, your users will learn to identify and respond to threats such as phishing, social engineering, and malicious attachments.

Thereby, you can reduce the likelihood of cyberattacks that can compromise your e-commerce website security. As a result, you will gain more trust from your users and customers.

Final Thoughts

eCommerce is booming every day. New ways of marketing, selling, and attracting are in place to make life convenient for customers.

On the hind side, hackers also build new ways to capture as much data as possible. Basically, they employ bots and bugs to do the dirty work. Bots can enter your website and steal customer data, whereas bugs can get attached to plugins and gain access once you install them.

Keeping track of what you are installing, where you are visiting, and who you are allowing access to is of paramount importance. However, everything can get simple if you follow these fourteen steps. This way, you can frame a robust website security system.

Do you have more recommendations on how to ensure e-commerce website security? Please share your ideas and opinions in the comments section below.

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Soumava Goswami

A passionate writer and an avid reader, Soumava is academically inclined and loves writing on topics requiring deep research. Having 3+ years of experience, Soumava also loves writing blogs in other domains, including digital marketing, business, technology, travel, and sports.

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Why You Need A Secure Wifi Connection In Shared Space

Coworking has completely changed how many entrepreneurs, startups, and established businesses alike approach their work. The coworking space can provide businesses with many benefits such as the opportunity to grow your professional network, surround yourself with positive and so on. Even you can grow the like-minded people, and use state-of-the-art technology. Apart from all coworking benefits, there are also similarly considerable dangers of it as well. Hence, a workplace must have to look for absolute security e.g having a solid and secure wifi connection. What’s more, operating your business from a coworking space will help you to lower your business costs. This would leave you with more capital at your disposal to reinvest in the important areas of your business. With many businesses increasingly moving different aspects of their operations into the online realm, internet security is becoming more of an issue. Actually, this issue occurs with good reason. When you are working with a shared connection, you need to be aware of the dangers of unsecured wifi in coworking spaces, so that you can ensure that your data is always protected. A secure internet connection is crucial for your business in this day and age. When you are choosing a coworking space provider, it’s vital that you inquire as to what kind of security they have in place. Premium providers are always the best option as they will have invested money in the best connections, technology, and security. Let’s take a closer look at just a few reasons that you need a secure wifi connection when you are working from a shared space. i. Data Risks: Coworking spaces can have a lot of people coming and going throughout the working day. In a shared space, you will certainly have the opportunity to get to know people and interact with your new coworking colleagues. However, you won’t know everyone and certainly not well enough that you know that you can trust them or not. If not managed properly, this situation can create opportunities for cybercriminals who might try and infiltrate the network to gain access to your information. Coworking spaces are attractive locations for hackers to try and gain access to information being transferred over public networks. This means that may have the opportunity to access usernames, passwords, and browser history. For this reason, it’s crucial that you choose a coworking space from a premium provider who has the right systems in place to keep your data secure. ii. Increased Productivity: With a high-speed secure wifi connection, you can get more work done faster. There’s nothing worse than battling with slow internet speeds and trying to get your work completed when downloads are taking forever. Moreover, if pages won’t load and your emails won’t send. With more businesses utilizing online tools and cloud-based services( as per its enormous benefits), reliable internet is crucial for you to be productive in your day-to-day tasks. Whether you are managing your books using online accounting software, you are a graphic designer using online editing tools or you are simply trying to use the applications in your Google Drive, having a sub-par internet connection will slow you down and have a huge impact on your productivity levels. iii. Communication Is Key: Communication is key to running a successful business. Whether you are managing a remote team or communicating with your clients, having a communication system in place that you can rely on is vital. It happens for the ongoing success of your business. From using simple apps like Whatsapp to communicate with your team to seeking potential clients over Skype, businesses are increasingly reliant on technology and a solid secure wifi connection. In this way you can stay in touch with the people that matter to their business. If you have a connection that is insecure, unreliable, or just patchy, you could end up missing out on closing important contracts and your bottom line could suffer as a result. iv. A Secure Wifi Connection Is Critical: In the modern business world, we are all more reliant on technology than ever before. Nowadays, virtually every business process requires a secure wifi connection. Furthermore, it’s critical that the connection is not just reliable but secure as well. In a shared space, this is even more important as with more people using the space, your data is potentially at a higher risk. It happens of being hacked or stolen. Using a premium coworking provide that has the best technology in place will help you to overcome these challenges. Even you can work with the confidence that your data is secure and protected. To be very honest, modern technology has provided both the advanced security system and advanced breach opportunities as well. The more advancements in technology will be implemented, the more both businesses will be harnessed. Well, keeping breach tactics so far, we have shared a blog on using an amazing technology, Called Captive Portal, a weapon to prevent unwanted wifi users and maintains a secure wifi connection. Check out immediately. Read Also: How To Stay Safe When Making Mobile Payments 5 Easy Ways Of Improving Internet Access With Speed Tests

Parts of a Gun: All You Need to Know About the Components of Your Firearm

Anyone who owns a gun understands that they aren't simply weapons, they are amazing creations of engineering and design. Whether you are a recreational shooter, a hunter, or simply out of a need for personal protection, there is a lot more to know about a gun besides simply learning to aim and shoot. The more you understand about your gun, the better you will be able to care for it and operate it. Let's take a look at the parts of a gun so that you can become a more informed marksman. Parts of a Gun: All You Need to Know About the Components of Your Firearms: If you own a firearm, you'll know how to shoot. But do you know how your gun actually works? We take a closer look at all the parts of a gun and what they do. The Grip: Quite simply, the grip is the part of the gun that the shooter holds onto. It's held with the dominant hand, though both hands are typically used to properly steady the gun for aiming. Grips are constructed from a variety of materials, such as rubber, wood, or the same material used for the rest of the gun. The Trigger: This is the small lever used to engage the firing mechanism of the gun. The majority of modern guns generally use a Double-Action trigger which causes the hammer-striker to cock and release in a single action. The trigger is a curved piece of metal designed to rest comfortably against the index finger. It can be set to various degrees of sensitivity so that the trigger will respond to a specific amount of pressure applied from the finger before firing. The apex trigger has long been regarded as one of the best ones in the industry. It is not only safe and efficient but does not add any extra weight to the overall gun. Not only does it result in lesser trigger travel time, but also delivers a far smoother trigger experience. The Trigger Guard: The trigger guard is basically a metal ring designed to protect the exposed part of the trigger. Its purpose is to protect the trigger from getting bumped or snagged, causing the gun to fire inadvertently. The Barrel: This is what you might call the "business end" of the gun. A barrel is made from heavy-duty hardened material that can withstand the tremendous forces involved in discharging and propelling a bullet. On handguns, the barrel is short. Whereas on rifles the barrel is much longer, which enables greater accuracy when shooting over a long distance. The internal wall of the barrel is "rifled" which means it's designed to impart a rotation on the exiting projectile, intended to provide improved accuracy. The Muzzle: If the barrel is the business end of the gun, the muzzle is the business end of the gun. Because this is the last part of the gun that a bullet touches as it exists. Many people fit their muzzles with accessories such as noise suppressors or silencers. For those interested in the latest advancements in firearm accessories, exploring the 2023 linear muzzle compensators can provide insights into modern options for enhancing shooting performance. The Hammer: On a handgun, the hammer is the part of a gun that strikes the cartridge primer or firing pin. This detonates the primer which discharges around from the gun. The Cylinder: This is one of the parts of a revolver, designed specifically to hold each bullet in a separate chamber. Then as each round discharges, the cylinder rotates, bringing each chamber into alignment with the barrel so that the bulletin that chamber is ready for discharge. The Forward and Rear Sights: The forward sight on a firearm is a slight protrusion on the barrel of the gun intended to align with a rear sight for the purpose of aiming. The shooter aims at the target by aligning the front sight in the grooves of the rear sight so that the muzzle of the gun aims directly at the target. These are typically small metal protrusions that in no way impact the actual mechanics of the firearm. Plenty of upgrades and accessories are available on the market, such as laser sights that improve the shooter's accuracy. The Slide: The slide on a handgun is a part of the assembly that houses the upper section of the firearm. It's typically constructed of a material that can withstand the forces involved during the firing of the gun. With most guns, it's designed with a ribbed pattern for improved grip and is manually pulled back to load the gun. Then as each round discharges, the slide automatically recoils and is the part of the firing mechanism that facilitates the transfer of a fresh round from the magazine into the firing chamber. The Slide Lock: This is the part of the gun designed for the simple task of locking the slide in the rearward position. When the final round in a magazine successfully discharges from a semi-automatic weapon, the slide lock engages and holds the slide in the open position in order to alert the shooter that the weapon is now empty. The Magazine: The magazine is a metal cartridge that holds the bullets prior to loading them into the firing chamber. It is manually ejected from the gun, reloaded with bullets, then snapped back into the assembly so that a fresh round can be chambered. Magazine cartridges come in a number of sizes, are able to hold up to several hundred rounds at one time, and can be single or double stacked. The Magazine Well: This is the part of the gun that accepts the magazine cartridge. The magazine well is usually designed with grooves that direct the magazine into a place where it can be engaged by the slide and firing mechanism. The Magazine Spring and Release Button: This magazine cartridge spring is a simple pressure spring intended to move rounds toward the firing action. The more rounds loaded into a magazine at one time, the greater the pressure exerted upon the spring. The release button is used to detach the magazine from the grip so that it can be reloaded, or replaced by another magazine that is already loaded. The Ejection Port: This is the part of the gun designed to eject a spent shell casing. The ejection port is a cutout located along the middle section of the slide that can also help the shooter to inspect the condition of the firing chamber. When the gun jams, the shooter can open the slide in order to look inside and see what the problem is. Sometimes the empty casing simply doesn't eject properly, or an unfired round might get jammed as it's loaded into the firing chamber. The Tang: The tang is a structure designed to assist the shooter in managing the recoil of the firearm. It also helps to protect the hand of the shooter from the slide assembly when it moves quickly backward and forward during the firing action. The Take-Down Lever: This lever is designed to manage the field-stripping of the firearm. The process of field-stripping is important for breaking the firearm down into its individual components for repair or cleaning. Breaking down the weapon on a regular basis is necessary both for proper maintenance as well as for when a part of the firing mechanism has failed and needs to be serviced. For anyone interested in repairing or modifying their own firearms, be sure to check out Strike Industries. The Chamber: The chamber is a portion of the barrel where the cartridge is stored prior to being fired. Each cartridge is chambered one at a time, fired, then ejected prior to the next round being chambered. The Accessories Rail: The accessories rail on a firearm allows the shooter to add on various tactical accessories. These include such devices as flashlights and laser sights. The Breech: The breech is located near the midsection of the gun. This is the part on the vast majority of firearms where the ammunition is loaded. Breech-loaded guns have become the norm in the current market, whereas in the old days' many shotguns, rifles and pistols were typically loaded through the muzzle. The Safety: Safety is one of the most important parts of any gun. This simple mechanism can easily make the difference in preventing a terrible accident. Sometimes the safety is a sliding component on the firearm, and sometimes it's a button. And it's usually located near the trigger where it can be easily reached and engaged. Safety is so important because it blocks the trigger mechanism, thus the gun cannot discharge until the safety disengages. Keep in mind that not every model of the gun has safety. So when looking to buy one for personal or home defensive, we strongly encourage you to look for a model with safety to reduce the chances of accidents occurring. The Importance of Understanding the Anatomy of Your Gun: The simple truth is that guns are complicated mechanisms. They can be dangerous in the wrong hands, yet can save lives in the hands of a trained and knowledgeable user. The more you learn about the parts of a gun, the better you will be able to care for your firearm and operate it safely and effectively. So be an informed marksman and have fun out there! Click here to learn about how gun and security gear has advanced through the years. Read Also: What Is An Airsoft Gun? How Gun And Security Gear Advanced Through The Years

5 Safety Awareness Ideas to Maintain a Safe Workplace

In 2018, expenses from nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses amounted to nearly $60 billion. That equates to $1 billion in weekly spending by employers. You need to know how to maintain safety awareness ideas in your workplace. These expenditures can have devastating consequences for businesses. Especially those without appropriate plans in place. Instead of waiting for an accident to impact your revenue, productivity, and employee health, get proactive. Check out these five safety awareness ideas to keep your employees safe and your business protected. 5 Safety Awareness Ideas to Maintain a Safe Workplace: 1. Incentivize Safe Behavior: Reward employees who consistently follow company rules and put safety first. Small rewards encourage employees to go the extra mile when it comes to following safety best practices. They also provide precedents for other workers to follow. Not sure where to start when it comes to implementing safety protocol and company rewards? Check out the Safety 2019 safety conference to learn more about workplace safety strategies that work. 2. Provide Proper Training and Equipment: Training represents one of your most important tools for promoting a safe work environment. So, make sure employees have access to the right training for their positions. And follow up with them to guarantee they complete their training. Having the correct tools and equipment will also ensure your employees stay out of harm's way. Ensure that all employees receive comprehensive training for the equipment and tools they'll use on the job. You can take online osha 10 training as a good starting point. What's more, stay on top of equipment and tool maintenance. That includes using protective machine covers to cut down on damage from rust, dirt, oil, and grime. 3. Hire the Right Candidates: Workplace safety starts as early as the hiring process. As you interview potential employees, consider their qualifications within a safety context. By working with a company that can help with machine guarding safety, businesses can ensure that they are able to educate the workers on the proper safety protocols at work. Expecting that your future employees will already be trained in safety knowledge is a far-fetched idea. Pose questions to find out how much attention they pay to details and whether or not they're open to training and following safety regulations. 4. Understand the Physical Demands Your Employees Face: Enlist a physical therapist to help you better understand the physical demands of the positions for which you hire. The physical therapist will use their findings to create a Physical Demands Analysis (PDA). A PDA provides employers with a systematic structure for the evaluation of all non-essential and essential job tasks for each position. It represents a scientifically proven means of assessing the compatibility of an employee with a specific job. 5. Keep the Lines of Communication Open: Schedule regular meetings to discuss safety regulations and workplace injury and illness prevention. Therefore, during meetings, encourage employees to speak up when it comes to safety and health concerns, and take their suggestions seriously. Proving over-prepared never hurt any workplace. Moreover, since your employees come with different experiences and perspectives, they can provide you with the information you need to make your workplace, healthy, productive, and safe. Safety Awareness Ideas to Save You Money: Did you find these five safety awareness ideas helpful when it comes to your workplace? How will you begin implementing them in your business in the immediate future? When it comes to the business news you need to succeed, we've got you covered. Follow our business blog to remain informed and stay ahead of the entrepreneurial curve. Read Also: How To Improve Workplace Security Staying Safe In The Office: 8 Workplace Safety Tips Everyone Should Know

E-Commerce Website Security: Top 14 Must-Have Cybersecurity Features

Importance Of E-Commerce Website Security