The internet has completely changed the way we do business. It’s now practically essential that you have some sort of online experience for your customers, otherwise you will miss out on sales. However, with the convenience and reach of the internet also comes some challenges. If you don’t properly secure your online experience, it could cause long-lasting damage to your brand and to your customers. Here are some of the best ways to make your online experience more secure and keep your customers happy.
Require Strong Passwords
The first thing you should do is require strong passwords. Whenever a password is created in relation to your online experience – whether it’s a customer creating a password on your eCommerce site or an employee creating a password for an administrative account – you should have certain rules in place to ensure strong passwords. The strongest passwords are the ones that use a combination of uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols and are at least 8 characters long. By not allowing any passwords that don’t meet this requirement, you can make it much less likely that any outside parties are able to crack the password and gain access.
Use the Best Encryption
Next, you should look at the encryption you are using to protect sensitive data. Encryption ensures that only the correct people can access your information, even when this information is being transmitted through the internet. However, some encryption systems are stronger than others. You should start by ensuring things like your internet connection, databases and server are all using encryption. After that, learn what encryption program these things are using, then explore whether there are better options out there. Here is a guide to help you learn more about using encryption within your business.
Keep Everything Up to Date
Your online experience will rely on different programs to run it. It’s important that you regularly update these programs, as the creators will issue fixes to any known security issues. For example, if you are running your website through WordPress, you should always make sure you are running the most recent update. The same thing goes for any other website builder, plugin, or server you may be using.
Hackers spend their time searching for flaws in common programs. Once these are exploited, the creator will get to work on a fix and send out an update that fixes it. By always updating any software you use, you can be protected against the latest hacks and intrusion techniques.
Implement Identity Verification
If you’re online experience deals with sensitive information, you should have a system in place that better protects your customers. One way to do this is through identity verification. With identity verification, users can either upload a document to verify who they are or use the camera on their phone to use facial recognition. Identity verification systems are a great way to ensure that the person using the account is actually who they say they are. And while most eCommerce sites may not need this level of security, it’s great if you are working with more sensitive information, such as bank records or social security numbers.
Work with Reliable Third-Parties
The security of your online experience is only as strong as the weakest link. You can put all of the security measures in place that you want, but if you use third-party software that isn’t as secure, intrusions can still occur. This is why it’s essential that you only work with reputable third-parties. Whenever you are going to give another business access to your online experience, it’s important that you conduct some research into them. Learn about what security measures they take themselves and read some online reviews to make sure that previous customers have not had any issues.
Only Use Secure Internet Connections
Finally, you should be wary about the internet connection you are on when working on your online experience. If you are on a public WiFi network, it’s often easy for others to obtain access to your computer or capture the information you are sending across the internet. If you were to access sensitive information while on an insecure network, this information could easily become public. Therefore, do your best to only connect to secure WiFi connections, and if you do need to work in public, avoid sending or receiving anything that could compromise your security.
Make Security a Priority
If your online experience isn’t secure, it won’t be long before this has a negative impact on your customers. The last thing you want is for all your customers’ private data to get leaked online, causing you both PR and legal headaches. Take the time now to inspect your current security protocols, and if there is an area in which you can improve, get started on it sooner rather than later.
