Online shopping is more popular than ever, and for a good reason. It’s convenient, easy, and often cheaper than buying items in a store. However, with the increase in online shopping has come an increase in online crime. Cybercriminals are always looking for new ways to steal money and information, so protecting your online store is important. This article will discuss some of the best smart tech solutions for keeping your online store safe from cybercrime. Let’s get to the list.
Choose a Secure Web Hosting Platform
One of the best ways to protect your online store is to choose a secure web hosting platform. A good web hosting platform will have security features to protect your website from attacks. Look for features like firewalls, malware scanning, and intrusion detection. These features will help keep your website safe from cybercriminals.
Besides this, you must find a dedicated server provider who can offer you a physical server with the highest possible security standards. For instance, dedicated WooCommerce hosting on the Amazon Cloud can offer you an extra layer of protection with its advanced security features. These security features will keep your website safe from attacks and ensure your customers can shop confidently.
Install an SSL Certificate
Another smart tech solution for keeping your online store safe is to install an SSL certificate. SSL certificates encrypt data transmitted between your website and your customer’s browser. This makes it difficult for cybercriminals to intercept and steal information. In addition, many browsers now display a warning message when a website does not have an SSL certificate. This warning can discourage customers from shopping on your website, so installing an SSL certificate is important to keep your website safe and secure.
Some things to consider when installing an SSL certificate are the type of certificate you need, the level of encryption, and the warranty. You can talk to your web hosting provider or a security expert to find the best SSL certificate for your website. For instance, if you’re running an e-commerce website, you’ll need a different type of SSL certificate than if you’re running a blog. Make sure to research and choose the right SSL certificate for your website.
Use Secure Payment Gateways
It is important to use a secure getaway when you’re accepting payments on your website. Secure payment gateways encrypt customer information and use secure servers to process transactions. This makes it difficult for cybercriminals to steal customer information. In addition, many payment gateway providers offer fraud protection services. These services help protect your business from fraudulent charges and chargebacks.
Some of the most popular and secure payment gateways are PayPal, Stripe, and Authorize.net. These providers offer a variety of security features to keep your website safe. You can also talk to your web hosting provider or a security expert to find the best payment gateway for your website. If possible, use a gateway integrated with your web hosting platform. This will make it easier to set up and manage your payment gateway.
Implement Two-Factor Authentication
Two-factor authentication (2FA) is an important security measure for keeping your online store safe. 2FA adds an extra layer of security by requiring a second piece of information, such as a code from a mobile app, in addition to a password. This makes it difficult for cybercriminals to access your account, even if they have your password.
To use 2FA, you’ll need to set up an account with a 2FA provider, such as Authy or Google Authenticator. You can then enable 2FA on your website or online store. Many popular e-commerce platforms, such as WooCommerce and Shopify, offer 2FA plugins. You can also find 2FA plugins for other content management systems (CMSs), such as WordPress.
Enable HTTP Strict Transport Security
HTTP strict transport security (HSTS) is a measure that tells browsers to only communicate with a website using HTTPS. This prevents attackers from intercepting data transmitted between your website and your customers’ browsers. Enabling HSTS is a good way to keep your website safe and secure.
To enable HSTS, you’ll need to add a few lines of code to your website’s .htaccess file. You can find more instructions on how to do this on the WordPress Security Codex. Once you’ve added the code, you’ll need to submit your website to the HSTS preload list. This will tell browsers always to use HTTPS when connecting to your website.
Use a Web Application Firewall
A web application firewall (WAF) is software that filters traffic to your website. It helps block malicious requests, such as SQL injection attacks and cross-site scripting (XSS) attacks. A WAF can be a good way to keep your website safe and secure.
There are many different WAFs available, both free and paid. Some popular WAFs are CloudFlare, Sucuri, and Incapsula. You can talk to your web hosting provider or a security expert to find the best WAF for your website.
When using a web application firewall, it’s important to configure it properly. Incorrectly configured WAFs can cause false positives, which can block legitimate traffic to your website.
Update Your Software Regularly
One of the best ways to keep your website safe is to update your software regularly. This includes your CMS, plugins, and themes. Outdated software is one of the most common ways cybercriminals gain access to websites.
When a new version of the software is released, it usually includes security fixes for vulnerabilities that have been discovered. You can close these security holes and keep your website safe by updating your software. Ensure that auto-updates are enabled for your CMS and all plugins and themes. This will ensure that your website is always up-to-date.
You should also update any other software you use, such as your operating system, web server, and database software. While these updates might not include security fixes, they can still help improve the security of your website. For example, new versions of web server software often include improved security features.
Following the tips above, you can use smart tech solutions to keep your online store safe. Choosing the right web hosting solution, using a payment gateway, enabling two-factor authentication, and using a web application firewall can make it difficult for cybercriminals to access your website. Updating your software regularly is also important to ensure that your website is secure. Use the above tips, and you will be well on your way to keeping your online store safe.
