We often focus on the security of our own website when thinking about information or cyber security. While it is good to implement the right security measures and safeguard your e-commerce site or online storefront, there are more aspects to consider when doing cybersecurity.
One of those aspects is the safety of your users. It is also your responsibility to protect the users who submit their data or make purchases on your site; yes, that includes users that subscribe to your newsletter or fill out other forms on your site (i.e. the Comments form).
3 Simple Tips for Protecting Your Users Data
So, how do you protect your users? These next several tips and tricks will help you get started with this task right away.
Limit the Data You Store
The first thing you want to do is make sure that you don’t store user information that you don’t really need. Payment details, for instance, should not be stored unless it is crucial to the user experience you are trying to deliver, particularly for users who want to make repeat orders.
The same is true with other personal details about your users. Only store the data that can be utilised to improve user experience and simply choose to purge everything else. The less you store, the less you have to worry about data breaches and information security risks.
Do a quick audit on user details you gather and be mindful of the purpose of each data point. Don’t hesitate to eliminate stored user data if you have to.
Encrypt Everything
Next, you want to make sure that everything – including data transmissions to and from your server – is encrypted. Implementing SSL security is now a necessity rather than an option. Google even punishes sites that aren’t sufficiently secured.
You also want to make sure that user data isn’t stored in plain text format. Instead of letting data sit in your database as readable entries, be sure to implement some degree of encryption to the database. Use a private encryption key for maximum security.
Even when the information gets stolen, you don’t have to worry about the actual data being shared or exploited. Attackers still need to decrypt the data before they can gain access to valuable user information.
Protect User Experience
The last part of the equation is protecting the user experience. This means actively scanning for malicious sites that try to mimic yours for phishing purposes, checking if there are phishing emails that exploit your brand, and preventing other attempts to victimise your users.
We live in an era where taking a more active stance in protecting users is a must. This is why cyber security services for businesses are now designed to provide better protection for both your business and your users.
By taking a more active stance, you are already preventing a majority of cyberattacks from taking advantage of your site and your users. Combined with additional security measures and better security awareness, you can fully protect your users from common attacks.
These tips and tricks you need to implement right away if you want to ensure the safety of your users. Implement these tips to get started with ensuring a positive browsing experience for all.
