6 Ways to Protect Your Online Store from Data Breaches

One of the paradoxes of doing business online is that while you want people to find you, you still want to keep your website’s crucial information private and prevent it from falling into the wrong hands. With the number of online individuals growing constantly and able to access virtually anything published online 24/7, business owners need robust data protection measures in place. The e-commerce industry is particularly vulnerable, especially since hackers zero in on startups and digital newcomers. Here are some ways to Ways to Protect Your Online Store from Data Breaches

Also, your customers’ personally identifiable information (PII) is perhaps one of the most critical data sets you need to protect. Without security measures in place to prevent a breach, you could end up dealing with a PR nightmare, loss of income, and costly lawsuits from your customers.

Thankfully, there are several steps you can take to protect your online store from data breaches.

» Unfamiliar with e-commerce data privacy? Discover how to overcome essential e-commerce data privacy issues

1. Partner With the Right E-commerce Platform

Today, a good rule of thumb is to avoid security lightweights—especially if you own a business. There are many e-commerce platforms out there, but not all of them offer the security features you need to keep your site safe.

When selecting a platform, ensure it offers tools like SSL (secure sockets layer) encryption and two-step verification so sensitive information can’t be accessed by unauthorized individuals.

Before committing to a platform, it’s always best to do your due diligence and research its security features. It would help if you also read reviews from other users to ensure its claims of high-level security are backed up by actual results.

2. Implement Secure Connections For Transactions

This is one aspect of cybersecurity you should definitely double down on. One of the primary ways hackers can access your data is through an unsecured connection. To prevent this, use SSL encryption to protect any financial information transferred between you and your customers.

SSL is a security protocol that is encryption-based, ensuring data integrity, authentication, and privacy on your site. Websites that use SSL encryption have HTTPS in their URLs instead of HTTP.

3. Carry Out Data Management

Aside from implementing security protocols, you also need to ensure that data is regularly managed, including identifying and dealing with any unsecured or outdated information, and updating any software used to store your data.

Additionally, being selective with the PII you collect from customers is also prudent. Any inessential data that won’t do your business any good just opens up your site to potential exposure. When possible, refrain from collecting any sensitive data that isn’t essential to the transaction at hand.

» Unsure which sensitive information to protect? Learn how to manage data breaches under GDPR

4. Conduct Regular Audits

You need to regularly audit your data so any vulnerabilities can be detected and corrected. This involves performing routine checks on your servers and system settings, and identifying any highly sensitive information (such as passwords) not stored securely.

If you’re not adept at managing your data on your own, you can seek help from experts or partner with an external cybersecurity solution to do it for you. By partnering with the right professionals and implementing key cybersecurity measures, you’ll be able to better protect your online store from data breaches and keep your customers’ information safe.

5. Maintain Your Website

You must ensure your website is regularly updated and maintained. This involves installing any security updates as soon as they’re released and performing regular tests on your site to identify and fix any potential vulnerabilities.

It’s easy to let these things slip when everything is smooth sailing, so keep a schedule of regular maintenance and updates, and always prioritize your website’s security.

6. Have a Response Plan in Place

Finally, you need to have a data breach response plan in place so that you can act quickly and appropriately should a cybersecurity incident occur. Your plan should include everything from contacting law enforcement agencies to notifying your customers of the situation. By taking these steps, you can significantly reduce the risks involved and better protect your customers’ information in the process.

» What should a data breach response plan include? Follow this data breach response checklist

Conclusion

Whatever steps you take to safeguard your online store from data breaches, remember that prevention is always better than cure. By following these tips, you can minimize the risk of a breach and ensure you have a robust security system in place at all times.​

» Worried about data breaches? Explore PieEye’s data breach protocol