E-Commerce Security Matters
We live in an era where information security matters more than ever. Customers and internet users are more aware of the need to protect their personal information online and how to go about doing it. Information security becomes one of the determining factors in a customer’s purchase decision making process.
When you’re maintaining an online store in order to reach B2B and B2C customers, adding proper security measures and improving customer safety are both very important. There are several things you can do to get started.
Valid SSL Certificate and Encrypted Data Transmissions
A good online store always has a valid SSL certificate in place. SSL security protects data transmissions to and from the server by using an encryption key and added security measures. It prevents unauthorized parties from sniffing data packets as they are being transmitted, adding an extra layer of protection to the server-client relationship.
An SSL certificate can now be generated for free, but you need a company-level SSL certificate to really boost credibility. Company-level SSL certificates include additional information about the company to which the certificate is issued. When customers click on the padlock icon next to their browser’s address bar, they will see details about your company immediately.
Another important thing to note about adding an SSL certificate is the issuing authority. Companies such as Verisign charge a lot of money for an SSL certificate due to their reputation. Having an SSL certificate issued by a well-known, highly reputable issuing authority can help boost your online store’s reputation and credibility by a huge margin.
Reliable Payment Processing
The second part of providing a secure shopping experience to customers is adding a reliable payment processing routine to the site. Thanks to companies and payment processors like highriskpay.com, it is now easier than ever to accept credit card payments as well as other forms of online payment. These payment gateway services come with a complete suite and data encryption, allowing merchants to accept payments without investing in their own dedicated gateways and supporting hardware.
Reliable payment processing is another way to increase an online store’s credibility. Credit card payments are still the most commonly used form of payment online and being able to accept top cards – usually Visa, MasterCard and American Express – is a huge plus. It also means your online store has been verified by the payment processing company.
Proper Privacy Policy
Even when data transmissions cannot be accessed by unauthorized third parties, customers may still have concerns about their personal information, mainly regarding how you store personal details on your site and how you intend on using the stored information. It is critical that you have a fair and valid privacy policy in place.
Never use customer information for anything other than order fulfillment. More importantly, don’t share sensitive details that are not necessary to that process, such as date of birth, Social Security Numbers or even credit card details. Comply with the privacy policy you have established, add the previous security measures we have covered in this article, and you can provide a safe online shopping experience to all of your customers.
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