As a business owner, you already understand the importance of having the ability to accept credit card payments. Without accepting credit card payments, you run the risk of losing thousands of dollars in profit from customers that shop only with credit cards. If you have a website for your business, accepting credit cards is equally necessary – otherwise, you will not be able to make online sales.
One of the most important aspects of ecommerce is security – your customers expect their credit card information to be safe and secure. It is your job to ensure it. Here are a few tips to determine if you have everything in place necessary to keep your clients safe.
Your web host must have firewall protection. Not only must your host provide traditional firewalls, they also need web application firewalls. These firewalls protect your website applications – for instance, your site contact forms – from hackers trying to invade your site through these applications.
Your web host must also make use of a Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) virtual private network. This provides remote users a secure connection to your website.
Vulnerability monitoring does just that – monitors your site for potential weaknesses. When a problem is found, you are notified right away so you can take immediate action. Having this type of 24-hour monitoring is important – think of it as a watchful eye on your site, even when you are sleeping.
Two-factor authentication requires site administrators to go through two layers of security before they are can reach the hosting environment. This protects against the most common source of data theft – leaked passwords.
Your web host should also provide antivirus protection. This form of security is not the same as the antivirus you run on your computer such as Zonealarm Free Antivirus. This protection scans files and services that are stored on your server, making certain everything is virus-free and safe.
Providing a secure site for your customers is vital to a successful business. Without security, your customers will not shop on your site. And don’t think they won’t know; with social media, people talk about everything online.
Make sure you provide your customers with the highest level of security and you will earn their business time and time again.