Magento is one of the most popular eCommerce platforms that online stores use for operations. An eCommerce store has to follow the best practices in order to retain existing consumers and attract potential ones. Running an eCommerce store involves handling sensitive information and consumer security.
Magento provides a number of built-in security features. However, eCommerce stores need to adopt the best practices and use additional methods to secure consumer data and offer an enriching shopping experience.
Check out here effective tips to make your online store more secure:
Select strong admin name and password
It is very important to choose a strong admin name and password to prevent any unauthorized and unwanted access to the admin panel of your Magento store. A unique name and a complicated password are always helpful in preventing online hackers from hacking your Magento store.
You can always use a unique combination of upper and lower-case letters, numbers and symbols to set the password for your store. Tracing the login details is very difficult when you have a strong combination of username and password.
This is one of the most crucial steps toward having a secure Magento store.
Use two-step verification to enhance protection
Two Factor Authentication is a best practice for Magento security check. It is one of the most important elements where the login process comprises of two parts. Anyone trying to gain access would need to provide the login credentials and then pass through the two-step verification process before they gain access.
Even if online hackers have stolen your login credentials, a two-step verification process will always prevent hackers from accessing your admin panel remotely. Using two-step verification is necessary if you want a secure login platform for your online store.
Use HTTPS for your online store
HTTPS is one of the most secure standards for online eCommerce portals these days. To maintain the overall security of user’s data, website owners should use HTTPS on their sites. Earlier HTTPS was used on the payment pages of a website and not on the overall website.
Now it is necessary to secure all the pages of a website using HTTPS. In order to initiate the process of switching over to HTTPS, you need to select an SSL certification. You can always purchase this from your hosting company or a third party SSL merchant.
The process is easy and important to get a secure Magento store. While shifting your site to HTTPS, set up 310 directs and update the internal links on your site as well.
Keep your online store updated and secured
Creating a regular backup of the Magento files and the database is very important to prevent yourself from big loss during heavy damage. You can always restore the information on your account with the help of a Magento development company. Back up your files easily by downloading them with the help of an FTP client.
Go for reputed Magento extensions
Your e-store makes use of a number of extensions to provide additional features. Often, the extensions can leave gaps that could result in a compromise of the security of your Magento store.
If the extensions installed were not developed according to the best security practices, it would be easy for attackers to enter and hack your store.
Before installing Magento extensions on your store, it is very important for you to check the reputation, customer reviews and track record of the developer of those extensions you plan to use. You need to select extensions from reputed sources that are regularly maintained and have a good track record.
Go for a unique admin URL
You need to set a unique URL to secure the admin panel of your Magento store. A unique URL is an important aspect of Magento security these days. It is always recommended to change the default admin URL, to something that cannot be easily identified by someone.
This would make it difficult to identify your URL and break through your store’s security.
Restrict admin access to your store
Limit access to the admin panel of your Magento store by allowing access from specific IP addresses that only you and other site administrators use. Limiting admin access is an important aspect of Magento security.
As attackers will not have access to those IP’s they will never reach the admin panel from other IP addresses. This will help you secure your Magento store against attacks from online hackers.
Use reliable scan mechanism for your Magento website
It is very important to run routine scans on your Magento website. Online scanning services identify potential security risk on your Magento store and provide you with the chance to fix them.
Online scanning services like MageReport and ForeGenix scans your website completely and sends a list of potential issues along with the scan report to your mail id. This kind of routine scans can help detect potential threats that even the scanner on your server may not detect.
Protect consumer information with SSL certification
An eCommerce store without SSL certification is always prone to attacks. Attackers can easily trace data sent via non-encrypted connections and steal it.
If SSL certification is not implemented on your Magento store, there is always the risk that consumer information like login credentials, credit card data or other details can be stolen.
SSL certification from a verified certified authority can help you protect consumer information.
Get in touch with the Magento community
Magento has a great community of techies who are always there to help you at times of need. You need to become a member of the Magento community portal and subscribe to their newsletter.
The security reports released by Magento on various versions of Magento are important as well. Also, go for a Magento development company who understand your needs and help you to get the right eCommerce portal always.
Sum Up
Use strong admin name and password, add two-step verification while login, and use HTTPS for your eCommerce store to make it more secure.
Also, use a unique admin URL, restrict admin access to limited IP’s, select reputed Magento extensions, and keep your online store updated to make it safe and secure from hackers.
You should also implement SSL certification to protect consumer information. Get regular scanning done for your Magento website along with getting in touch with Magento community for any sort of help that you require.