Does your business operate in the e-commerce industry? If so, you’ll need to protect your online store from cyber threats. Hackers often target online stores. They use malware, cross-site scripting or other types of attacks to breach their defenses and steal their data. With a strong cybersecurity strategy, you can keep your online store safe from cyber threats.

Use an SSL Certificate

To better protect your online store from cyber threats, use a Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) certificate. A type of digital cryptographic file, it will create an encrypted connection. Shoppers will be able to visit your online store over this connection, and because it’s encrypted, shoppers’ data will be protected from man-in-the-middle (MITM) cyber threats.

Create Complex Passwords for Back-End Systems

If your online store has any back-end systems, such as a content management system (CMS), you should create complex passwords for them. Over 80% of all data breaches stem from weak or compromised passwords, according to a Verizon study. If an admin-level password is compromised, the hacker may use it to access your online store’s back end. To prevent this from happening, create complex passwords consisting of letters, nonsequential numbers and special characters.

Deploy a Firewall

A firewall is an invaluable tool for protecting online stores from cyber threats. When deployed, it will filter traffic based on preconfigured rules. You can configure a firewall to block malicious or suspicious traffic. If a hacker is trying to perform a distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attack against your online store, for instance, a firewall may block this traffic.

Keep Software Up to Date

One of the most important things you can do to secure your online store is to keep its software up to date. Make sure all of the software on your online store is up to date. Software may contain vulnerabilities. When developers discover these vulnerabilities, they’ll typically fix them via updates. But you’ll need to download and install these updates for them to take effect. Running outdated software on your online store will result in vulnerabilities that open the doors to hackers.

Backup Regularly

Backups are an essential part of a cybersecurity strategy for online stores. If your online store is hacked, you may have to rely on a backup to restore it. You can roll back your online store by loading a backup copy. But you’ll need to create backups regularly to create this safety net for your online store.