Keeping an eCommerce store safe from cyber attacks is a full-time and often tedious job, but it’s also an important one. eCommerce stores handle a lot of sensitive data. They store customers’ login details, credit card information, and delivery address, for example. Hackers would love nothing more than getting their hands on all that data. And they’re constantly crawling the internet, looking for it.
Protecting the store and its customers by implementing digital security measures is a must. It prevents customers’ valuable data from being stolen. And it also ensures the reputation and source of revenue of the store stay intact.
However, any new security requirements result in increased customer friction. It can lead to fewer sales in the long run. That is why many stores tend to be a little lax in this area.
The other problem is that there’s a lot of ground to cover here. Not everything is within the owner’s power to control. For example, there’s only so much one can do to ensure employees and customers follow the proper safety practices.
At the same time, it’s still paramount that eCommerce store owners put systems in place to ensure their customers’ safety. This article outlines how site owners can increase security and keep their customers’ accounts safe without adding any more friction than necessary.
Consider All Points of Interaction
Cybersecurity involves a comprehensive approach. It takes every point of entry and every interaction into account. Here are some aspects of customer interaction to consider:
1. Verifying Legitimate Users
Keeping unwanted bots and users out is as important as making the signup process easy for customers.
- Make sure to plan out every part of the signup so that it’s possible to analyze user behavior and identify potential bots or unusual behavior.
- Consider adding reCAPTCHA as a security measure to keep bots out. It’s a free tool from Google.
2. Securing Transactions
Having a customer sign in once and then forgetting about it isn’t enough to ensure their safety. A good practice is to re-authenticate the customer once they’ve decided on a transaction.
You can do it by sending another OTP or asking them to re-enter their password. Avoid any needless friction by restricting this to interactions that handle sensitive data.
3. Password Recovery
No matter how well-designed the setup and login processes are, it’s inevitable that some customers lose or forget their passwords. A secure password recovery process is as crucial for cybersecurity as the password creation process.
At the same time, it needs to be seamless enough not to frustrate customers.
Therefore, try to automate the password recovery process as much as possible. It ensures customers get the help they need right away. There are also several password email recovery best practices that you should keep in mind.
Introduce Strong Password Policies
When it comes to keeping customers safe, there’s only so much the eCommerce store can do from its side. There’s no way to force a customer to follow the best practices of password safety. But there are ways to guide them. Sometimes it adds a bit of friction to the password creation and login process, but it’s better for everyone in the long run.
1. Apply Password Rules
There are a few basic password rules that have become standard requirements when creating passwords. Since they’re so common, many customers expect them or already follow them.
- The first is to set a minimum password length. The right length, according to Google, is anything more than 8 characters.
- It’s also a good idea to ask for multiple character types, including upper- and lower-case letters, numbers, and symbols.
2. Add a VPN to Protect Password Databases
Keeping the servers and databases secure is a big part of keeping customers safe. Besides standard safety precautions, consider adding a VPN as well.
What is a VPN? It’s a service (https://nordvpn.com/what-is-a-vpn/) that ensures everyone who logs into any business accounts does so on a secure (and encrypted) connection. It prevents hackers from gaining access to valuable data from a compromised network.
You can also use a VPN to make sure only the employees connected to the network can access sensitive customer information.
3. Include a Two-Factor Authentication Method
Two-factor authentication is essential for making sure that anyone who tries to log in is the actual owner of that account. It usually involves sending an OTP to an email account or phone number. Always make this option available to customers.
Regularly Review These Measures
If you have some security precautions implemented, it doesn’t mean that everyone’s information is now safe forever. Do regular assessments to see if any new problems could pose security threats. Also, remind customers about password safety when shopping and/or in newsletters.
Conclusion
Trust is a vital part of doing business. eCommerce stores collect a large amount of customer data. It includes information like credit card details that hackers fervently want. Customers won’t hand over their data to a store that doesn’t go the necessary lengths to protect their data.
Fostering and protecting that sense of trust is crucial for any business. So make sure security takes priority in the way any customer interacts with the store. Every single day.
