For every online business, regardless of the industry, there is something arguably more important than boosting sales, and that’s taking care of cybersecurity. With countless transactions taking place online, nefarious actors are out to steal both business data and the personal information of customers.
If this becomes a problem and customers no longer feel safe using your site or making purchases, an online business can quickly die. This makes proper cybersecurity measures a must-have for every online business. With that in mind, here are a few simple tips that can serve as the foundation for a secure site.
Also known as 2FA, two-factor authorization has become common on most platforms. That means if your business isn’t doing it, you’re probably behind the times. It provides an added layer of protection for accounts tied to vendors, social media platforms, financial institutions, and any other service your business uses.
Without it, unauthorized access could expose sensitive customer information and proprietary company data. With 2FA, users get notified when someone tries to access their account, so they’ll know if they’re not the ones signing into their account. Businesses can also use it to guarantee that only authorized personnel can view transactions or sensitive data.
All businesses have to collect payment information to process purchases, but that doesn’t mean they should be storing that data. Whenever possible, avoid storing customer payment data, as it can become a prime target for cybercriminals. This includes both electronic records and physical documents, such as notes from phone-based credit card transactions. One possible solution is using tokenization services that remove cardholder data. That means if there is somehow a cybersecurity breach, hackers won’t be able to access any information that’s useful to them.
Most online businesses, especially smaller retail operations, are usually better off outsourcing most of their cybersecurity work. It’s hard to find in-house employees who specialize in building firewalls and other forms of cybersecurity protection. Therefore, outsourcing is the best way to gain access to quality cybersecurity professionals.
Even large online casinos, an industry that needs top-notch cybersecurity more than most, tend to outsource many cybersecurity tasks. Many of these platforms are fast payout casinos that process countless transactions a day and do so as fast as possible. If they rely on outsourced cybersecurity specialists, it’s a good idea for other online businesses to follow their lead.
Hopefully, your customers are educated about how they can protect their sensitive information. At the same time, your employees should also be educated about what they need to know about cybersecurity from your end. Human error is a leading cause of data breaches, making employee training a crucial part of your cybersecurity strategy.
Educate your team to recognize and respond appropriately to suspicious emails or phone calls. Remind employees never to click on unexpected email attachments that could contain malware, step away from their workstations without logging out, or leave work-related USB drives or devices unattended. Even if you are outsourcing your cybersecurity, employees are still the first line of defense, and they need to be well-trained on what to do.
In addition to keeping your site secure, it’s a good idea to share with customers that your site is secure. This means displaying that you have a Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) certificate. Having this certificate enhances security by encrypting the communication between your business and its customers. It also builds trust, as customers can see the certificate displayed in their browser. This helps reassure them that their data is protected when interacting with your website.