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Every day, more and more online stores fall victim to cybercrime. In 2017, 21% of businesses were impacted by cybercrime, and that number is only growing. With more and more business being conducted online, business owners want to know, “How can I protect my online store from being affected by cybercrime?”
Keeping Your Online Store Secure
Cybersecurity is crucial when it comes to any business, but especially for those using eCommerce or selling products online. Fortunately, there are plenty of solutions out there for improving your online shop’s cybersecurity.
Security Considerations for Your Online Store
Choosing a Secure Platform
The first step to avoiding cybercrime is using a platform you can trust. There are tons of platforms out there to help online stores, each with their own benefits and downsides.
Shopify
Shopify is one of the most popular options for selling your products online. With a secure and easy-to-navigate website, many small businesses have flocked to it. However, there are some challenges with the platform, such as their confusing subscription system or the major learning curve that comes from selecting it for your business.
Etsy
Unlike Shopify, Etsy has a tighter mold to fit into. All businesses on Etsy must be selling craft supplies, handmade items, and vintage goods. If you do fit into one of those categories, Etsy can be a fantastic platform for you to sell your products. With a large audience market, built-in analytics, and a small learning curve, Etsy’s a great place to sell your handmade items.
Squarespace
If you’re looking to sell on your own website, look no further than Squarespace. This is a website-building platform designed with businesses in mind. One of the best parts of Squarespace is the customizability, with over one hundred themes to choose from. On the downside, the usability of the website editor has some prominent issues, and their page speed is low, which can mean trouble for smartphone users.
One great way to know which platform is best for you (and your security) is to reach out to a local managed service provider in Edmonton. These IT specialists can point you in the right direction when it comes to tools and security.
Payment Gateway Security
Before you can start collecting payments from users’ credit cards, you’ll need to obtain a Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) accreditation and comply with all PCI regulations.
Before you open up your online store for business, do your research on how to take payments securely – otherwise, you run the risk of money being taken from both you and your customer.
Firewalls
Firewalls prevent unwanted or unnecessary traffic from accessing your website. This prevents any malicious software or cyber attackers from getting to your data by blocking data from certain locations, applications, or ports.
There are two main types of firewalls: Hardware and software. Hardware firewalls are physical devices set up near your computer. One of the major benefits of hardware firewalls is that they can be used for multiple devices at once. Your other option is software firewalls, which are often offered by your ISP or local computer store. You can also download firewalls from the Internet, but make sure they’re from a reputable source! If you aren’t sure about a source, get in touch with your managed service provider to learn more.
Updates
Your software should always be updated to the most recent version. Software providers are constantly working to make their sites more secure, and each update brings better ways to defend yourself against cyber attackers. Meanwhile, having an older version may leave you susceptible to hackers because you don’t have the security fixes that come with new updates.
Backups
Whether your business sells online or not, backups are a crucial last resort in case of disaster. In the case that your data is stolen or damaged by cyber attackers, your backup will have an exact copy of that information saved. Make sure to back up your data frequently, or you’ll risk losing some information if you are attacked.
Get Cybersecurity Services from the Pros
The best way to protect your business from cybercrime is to get help from the experts. At Alt-Tech, we’re dedicated to keeping your data as safe as possible. Contact us today to discuss how our managed IT services can help with all your cybersecurity needs.
Photo by Mark König on Unsplash
