Great security is an essential component to any successful online store. Part of making the sale is simply convincing the customer that it’s safe to do business with you. Consumers are pounded on an almost daily basis with horror stories about online transactions gone wrong, so they look to you to create secure transaction. If you can’t offer them one, they’ll go right to your competitor who can.
Not only will good security increase your sales, it will protect you from fraudulent purchases, chargebacks, and other headaches. There are a number of important security technologies and standards you need to consider for your online store.
Secure Socket Layer (SSL)
SSL is one of the oldest, but still most useful, enhanced security measures for your online store. SSL makes sure that all of the sensitive information transmitted during a transaction is encrypted, and that it’s delivered only to the authentic owner of the SSL certificate. That means no hacking, no intrusion, and a comfortable feeling for your customer.
Today’s web customers are savvy. They know that if an online store’s URL doesn’t start with “https” that it’s not going to be a secure transaction. Yet, you’d be surprised just how many online stores aren’t even using SSL.
Verification
Part of the process of instilling customer trust is making sure the checkout process is visibly secure. In order to do this, you use verification fields. The most common, of course, is the address verification. While you most definitely need to require an address for your own protection, there are other verification methods that can be even more convincing.
One of the best is the CVV (also known as CCV or CVV2) verification. This requires the buyer to put in the three- or four-digit value on the back of their card during the checkout process. That insures the person filling out the payment information actually has physical access to the card, as the CVV doesn’t appear anywhere else except the back of the card.
Third-party certification and monitoring
Another great way to protect your business and establish customer trust is through third party security. Whether it’s a third party security verification credential, or whether it’s third party security monitoring, bringing in a reputable, objective onlooker creates a more accountable (and ultimately safer) transaction.
Proudly displaying that third party involvement will help put the customer at ease during the checkout process, as well.
Secure shopping carts
The back end of your online store needs to be secure. At a minimum, your shopping cart software should be PCI compliant. PCI compliance is the basic set of security requirements that the credit card companies ask for in merchant agreements. There are plenty of PCI-compliant cart back ends out there, many of which are open source. There’s really no excuse to use a cart that isn’t PCI compliant.
Protecting your customer also protects you
By making sure your online store uses enhanced security measures, you protect your customers from fraudulent transactions. You also increase your own sales, reduce chargebacks, and add to your business’ credibility.
David Rodwell writes on matters concerning credit card processing. You can find more of his articles located at CreditCardProcessing.net.
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Protect Your Online Store and Increase Your Business with Enhanced Security Measures,
junaid
Dec 17. 2011
these are a fabulous point and the security really matters to everyone as no one is safe in the internet marketing as well as day to day marketing.thnx for the valuable tips.
TechCrates
Dec 17. 2011
Thanks to David for the contribution …
junaid
Dec 17. 2011
David you are going great with it, keep posting such informative articles that really help us.
conference gifts
Dec 19. 2011
It is really important to make a customer secured to ensure a satisfactory shopping experience. We all know how rampant scamming is today, particularly online. And a successful online store must see to it that security is prioritized at all times.
Mika Castro
Dec 19. 2011
David, I can’t agree more! I admire you for making very useful articles especially for beginners.
Tracyann0312
Dec 19. 2011
The tips are such wonderful. You got all the points marketers need. Thanks for sharing it!
Denver Real Estate
Dec 20. 2011
Its really important to look after the safety of the customers specially online shopping. Online shopping is much more convenient but with so many scams taking place it gives us second thoughts over whether we’re going to be duped.
Hawe
Dec 21. 2011
Thank you for the information security tips about online stores that you have to say. I have an online store to target consumers in Indonesia. My online store often attacked so my consumers feel uncomfortable.
bilal
Dec 28. 2011
wow your post are very informative and posses knowledge … great job
Lee Jay
Dec 29. 2011
This is something that I have wondered about.
I know what a SSL Cert is and will use it on some of my other sites.
Thanks Dave…
tokoonline
May 09. 2012
i really like the ssl. i think everybody need to learn them more. At least those online shop owner who has computer knowledge.