Echidna eCommerce agency is celebrating October's Cybersecurity Awareness Month.In an era where online shopping has become the norm, ensuring the security of ecommerce platforms is paramount. eCommerce businesses handle vast amounts of sensitive customer data and financial transactions daily, making them attractive targets for cybercriminals. This year's theme for Cybersecurity Awareness Month is “Secure Our World”. As eCommerce professionals we especially need to uphold our role to ensure online safety. As a leading eCommerce agency, our team of experts has compiled this comprehensive guide to walk you through several best practices to strengthen your storefront’s eCommerce security.
The Evolving Landscape of eCommerce Threats
As eCommerce businesses flourish, so do cybercriminals' tactics to exploit vulnerabilities. Understanding the nature of these threats is the first step in fortifying your ecommerce security defenses.
Data Breaches
Data breaches are an ongoing concern for eCommerce businesses. For instance, the 2013 Target breach saw hackers gain unauthorized access to steal credit card information from over 40 million users. In a more recent example, in 2020, clothing retailer Shein experienced a data breach, affecting around 6.42 million users. These incidents serve as stark reminders of the high stakes involved in eCommerce security, emphasizing the critical need for robust data protection measures.
Payment Fraud
Payment fraud takes many forms, from stolen credit card details to chargebacks. A well-known scam involves fraudsters buying products with stolen credit card information and demanding refunds. This practice can cost businesses significant sums if not effectively managed. Echidna eCommerce agency works with businesses to adopt secure payment processing practices to deter fraudsters.
DDoS Attacks
Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks can overwhelm an ecommerce website, causing crashes. For example, in 2016, Dyn, a DNS provider, suffered a massive DDoS attack, causing widespread internet outages. eCommerce platforms relying on Dyn's services experienced severe disruptions, highlighting the need for DDoS mitigation. Attackers use networks of compromised devices to flood the target site with traffic.
Phishing Scams
Phishing scams trick users into revealing sensitive information, such as login credentials or credit card numbers, through fraudulent emails or websites. In a recent phishing campaign, attackers posed as a well-known eCommerce platform, sending emails requesting users to update their payment information. These scams are increasingly sophisticated and can easily deceive unsuspecting customers.
Foundations of eCommerce Security
Implementing these fundamental measures forms the bedrock upon which a secure ecommerce platform can thrive, ensuring customer data and transactions safety.
Secure Hosting and Infrastructure
Choosing a reputable hosting provider is the first step toward eCommerce security. Opt for providers with a strong track record in security and reliability. For instance, Amazon Web Services (AWS) offers a range of secure hosting options, including Amazon Lightsail, designed specifically for small and medium-sized eCommerce businesses.
Implementing SSL/TLS Encryption
Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) and Transport Layer Security (TLS) protocols encrypt data transmitted between a customer's browser and your server. This encryption is essential for securing sensitive information like credit card details. Have you ever noticed a padlock icon next to the URL in your browser? This indicates that the site uses SSL/TLS encryption, providing a secure connection for transactions.
Robust Authentication and Access Control
Implement password policies that require strong, unique passwords for all user accounts. Encourage users to regularly update their passwords and provide guidelines for creating secure ones.In addition, multi-factor authentication adds an extra layer of security by requiring users to provide two or more forms of verification before granting access. Google's MFA prompts users to enter a one-time code sent to their mobile device in addition to their password. Even if a password is compromised, an attacker cannot access the account without the second factor.
Ensuring Secure Payment Processing
The Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) is a set of security standards designed to ensure that all companies that accept, process, store, or transmit credit card information maintain a secure environment.Tokenization replaces sensitive data, like credit card numbers, with a unique identifier, rendering the original data useless to potential attackers. For instance, Apple Pay uses tokenization to secure payment information. When a user adds a card to their Apple Wallet, a unique token is generated and stored securely, reducing exposure risk.
Data Protection and Encryption
Not all data is created equal. Implement data classification to identify and categorize sensitive information, allowing you to apply appropriate security measures.In addition, implement strong encryption standards and protocols to protect data at rest and during transmission. The Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) is widely used for encrypting data. It's considered highly secure and used by many eCommerce platforms for safeguarding customer data.
Regular Security Audits and Vulnerability Scanning
Perform regular security audits and vulnerability scanning to identify weaknesses in your ecommerce system and address them promptly. Echidna eCommerce agency partners with digital storefronts to perform in-depth eCommerce security audits. This provides an easy way to understand site vulnerabilities and offers recommendations for mitigation.Start a Conversation
Employee Training and Security Awareness
Develop comprehensive security policies and ensure that all employees know them. Regular training sessions can help employees recognize and respond to security threats. For example, social engineering attacks, like phishing, exploit human psychology to trick individuals into divulging sensitive information. Training employees to recognize and resist these tactics is crucial.
Advanced eCommerce Security Practices
Deploying Web Application Firewalls (WAFs)
Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) protect your ecommerce site from web-based attacks, such as SQL injection and cross-site scripting (XSS). For example, a WAF can block common web attacks such as brute-force attacks, cross-site scripting, and SQL injection.
Real-Time Monitoring of Anomalies and Intrusions
Implement real-time monitoring solutions to detect unusual activities or intrusions into your ecommerce system. For example, Echidna eCommerce agency partners with digital storefronts to implement systems that use AI or machine learning to detect suspicious behavior on your website, such as a sudden spike in traffic or an unusual pattern in customer purchases.
Incident Response and Disaster Recovery Plans
Prepare for the worst-case scenario with incident response and disaster recovery plans. These documents outline how to respond to security incidents and recover from them. For instance, an incident response plan might include steps to identify the issue, contain the damage, and restore services, while a disaster recovery plan might include steps to restore data, recover applications, and restore systems.
Staying Current with Security Updates and Patches
Regularly update your ecommerce platform, plugins, and software to patch vulnerabilities and protect against known security threats. For instance, an update may include a critical bug fix that can prevent an attacker from exploiting a vulnerability to steal customer data.
Third-Party Vendor Security Assessment
Evaluate third-party vendors' security practices, such as payment processors or plugins, to ensure they meet your security standards. Vetting app developers to ensure their apps meet security and quality standards can stop headaches before they start.Legal and Compliance Considerations
GDPR and Personal Data Protection
The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) imposes strict rules on personal data handling, making it crucial for ecommerce businesses to comply.
CCPA and Customer Privacy Rights
The California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) grants California residents specific rights regarding their personal data, including the right to know what data is collected and the right to opt out of data sharing. As a response to CCPA, many ecommerce businesses now offer options for users to opt out of data collection or request the deletion of their personal information.
Contact Echidna eCommerce Agency to Secure Your Digital Storefront
eCommerce security is an ongoing commitment, and staying informed and proactive is key to safeguarding your business and your customers' trust. Don't wait until a security breach occurs—implement these best practices to safeguard your eCommerce platform and protect your customers' trust.Echidna eCommerce agency has helped secure online storefronts for over a decade. For expert guidance on eCommerce security and business safety, contact our team to learn more.Start a Conversation
References and Additional Resources
For further in-depth learning on eCommerce security best practices, consult the following resources: