Shopify Site Security: Safeguarding Customer Data and Building Trust

How Can I Ensure Shopify Website Security?

While Shopify has many features to keep your website secure, Shopify cybersecurity is still a concern for many e-commerce store owners. Luckily, there are additional security steps you can take to make sure that you’re making the most of Shopify’s built-in security features. Let’s break down a few main ways to ensure your site’s security.

1. Make Sure Two-Factor Authentication is Enabled

While Shopify provides everything you need for two-step authentication, this feature isn’t automatically enabled. As you work to secure your website, make sure that two-factor authentication is turned on and that all users – customers and employees alike – are required to use this feature.

You can turn on two-factor authentication and security keys in the following steps:

1. From the Shopify admin page, click on your username and account picture.
2. Select Manage account > Security.
3. In the two-step authentication portion, select “Turn on two-step.”
4. Enter your password. Select “Next.”
5. Choose “Security key” from the “Authentication method” list.
6. Enter a name for your security key, then select “Turn on.”
7. Select “USB security key.”
8. Activate your security key and save your recovery codes.

2. Use Strong Passwords

A weak password is a recipe for disaster in most cases. One simple way to protect your Shopify store is to change your passwords to something stronger and more secure. You should check your passwords for your store account and all employee accounts to ensure your entire site is protected.

3. Have Admin Security

Depending on the size of your e-commerce business, you likely have staff members who also need access to your site. While sharing admin permissions with staff members is often necessary, be cautious with whom you share this information. The more staff members who have access to sensitive information, the likelier it is that breaches will occur.

To prevent these issues from occurring, Shopify has a secure back-end staff permission system. This system lets you set different permissions and access levels for individual staff members, allowing you to control who has access to what – and secure your site in the process.

4. Audit Permissions

Different staff members will have access to sensitive information on your website. While these permissions are crucial to keep your store running smoothly, you should double-check that only authorized staff can access data. For instance, former staff members might still have access to your store’s information, which can cause security issues in some situations. Removing these former staff members from your permissions will keep your site more secure.

You can deactivate unused staff logins in the following steps:

1. From the Shopify admin section, choose “Settings,” then “Users and permissions.”
2. Find the former staff member’s name and select it.
3. Choose the “Deactivate staff” or “Suspend access” option.
4. Click on “Deactivate or Suspend” and save your changes.

5. Make Sure Your Software is Up-to-Date

Out-of-date software is one of the easiest ways security issues can occur on your website. Without the latest version of your shop’s software, you’re at risk for security breaches and other issues that a simple update can fix.

An easy way to guarantee Shopify seller protection and safeguard your site is by keeping your software updated, including all your third-party apps, plugins, and themes. Software updates protect against current vulnerabilities and ensure that everything is patched to lower the possibility of a security breach.

6. Use a Web Application Firewall

Another option to protect your Shopify website is to use a web application firewall (WAF). WAFs help protect your website from web-based attacks that can cause significant security issues. These firewalls can be configured to prevent suspicious traffic from accessing your site, block cross-site scripting, prevent SQL injection, and more. This solution adds an extra layer of protection to ensure your site is safe for you and your customers.

7. Turn on Shopify’s Fraud Protection Features

Shopify has fraud protection features to guarantee things like Shopify credit card security and prevent data breaches – but you need to ensure these features are enabled. When turned on, Shopify’s fraud protection features will flag fraudulent transactions before processing them, so you can check their legitimacy before sending orders out.

You can turn on this additional fraud protection feature in the following steps:

1. From the Shopify admin page, select Settings > Payments.
2. In the payments section, select “Manage.”
3. Under the “Fraud prevention” section, select the features you want to use for automatically declining suspicious transactions.
4. Save your settings.

8. Use Payout Notifications

Payout notifications are also useful for keeping your Shopify website safe and secure. Payout notifications send alerts when payouts are sent to your bank, providing a link to the order for your review. If these email notifications aren’t already set up in your Shopify account, you can turn them on in the following steps:

1. From the Shopify admin page, choose Settings > Payments.
2. In the payments section, select “Manage.”
3. Under the “Payout schedule” option and “Payout details” section, select “Enable notifications.”
4. Save your settings and start getting notified!

9. Schedule Data Backups

Though Shopify has measures to back up your data, it’s still important to do this process yourself, too. No matter what happens to your data, a backup solution will prevent serious harm from occurring if something goes wrong. There are some resources where you can automatically back up your data – however, another option is to export your Comma Separated Values (CSV) files.

Exporting a plain CSV file is easy and possible within Shopify. You can log into your Shopify admin page and select the information you want to export by choosing the pages and products you want to back up. When you’re done, select “Export products” – and you’re good to go!

10. Know How to Secure Compromised Accounts

Sometimes, breaches happen, even when you take all the right steps to protect your store. What matters most is knowing how to secure compromised accounts if this happens. Shopify provides the following guidelines to secure compromised accounts:

1. Log into your email account that is associated with your Shopify account and change your password.
2. Log into your Shopify account and change your password. If you’re prevented from logging in, pick the “reset your password” option.
3. After resetting your password, activate two-step authentication to provide additional security.
4. If you already have two-step authentication activated and your account is still compromised, remove the authentication method for your device. You’ll need to set up two-step authentication again for a different device.
5. Check your banking information for Shopify payments and update information if necessary.
6. Update your banking information for PayPal and other payment providers you have configured with Shopify.
7. Check your account settings and ensure that all other information is accurate.

Navigate Your Shopify Store With Transform Agency

Shopify's stores are relatively secure, and with the right steps, you can take your security up a level and ensure that your store is as safe as possible for you, your employees, and your customers. Transforming and growing your Shopify e-commerce business is possible when you choose Transform Agency.

Transform Agency is a full-cycle e-commerce development agency that designs and builds e-commerce solutions to optimize the customer experience and make the most of your store. Transform Agency meets your business needs so you can focus on what matters most – developing products that sell.

Contact Transform Agency today to learn more about how we can help you!