Every business needs to protect itself from security threats, whether you’re an online business or a more traditional bricks and mortar business – yet in the online world, we often leave ourselves vulnerable as the threat feels less tangible than the threat facing a physical space such as a factory or retail unit.
Indeed, in many ways, we leave the door wide open to hackers and security infringements yet one of the things that is more likely to sting business owners is the risk of non-compliance with protocols such as data protection and GDPR which is why email scrubbing has become such a thriving trend.
When you think of the effect a major data breach could have on your reputation, as an online retailer, if for example, credit card information were to be hacked or your email subscribers were to be spammed.
Whilst this stuff may not seem as serious the need to protect against a factory fire or an armed robbery of a retail unit, of online security breaches can have a serious effect on your reputation… and it’s business owners do need to start taking more seriously. This article therefore offers five aspects of online security you should consider in your own business:
1. Keep everything under lock and key
If you had a shop, you wouldn’t protect it with a flimsy lock, indeed, you would probably install metal shutters and a fancy alarm system. Therefore, it’s important you protect your digital world with a secure password as otherwise, it’s akin to leaving yourself completely exposed and vulnerable to criminality. Specifically, you’ll want to not use the same password for each account and ensure you use a mixture of letters, numbers, and symbols.
2. Use secure systems
There are a number of reputable companies that offer enhanced security, as well as technical support in the realm of e-commerce; from payment processors such as PayPal and Stripe to marketing funnel facilitators such as ClickFunnels.
3. Have a backup
If you’ve been in the position where you’ve lost important data due then you’ll have already learned the hard way about the value of backing up data to the cloud. It’s vital you back-up your work and important documents, as today, the value of the data we have within our businesses is often one of the most valuable assets we possess.
4. Have a surveillance in place
Many stores have security cameras or security guards in place to deter thieves and also help the police catch them, in the event of theft. Similarly, you need to have an element of surveillance on your website – specifically, you’ll want to make sure you have adequate protection against hackers and spammers.
5. Collect cash securely
The final point is to make sure you process payments securely – as not many retail establishments operate with a flimsy cash draw, or leave cash lying around on the checkout counter. In this sense, you want to make sure you work with a prominent payment processor such as PayPal or Stripe as they have both stood the test of time in terms of reliability and security.