10 Security Tips to Protect Your Magento Store from Attackers!
- Mar 9, 2021
- By Rajeev Nar
Estimated reading time: 7 minutes, 36 seconds
Are you head over heels in search of security tips to protect your Magento store from attackers or hackers. If yes! Then you’re at the right place as here we are going to remove drapes from some proven techniques and tips that help many small and large businesses out there.
What is Magento Security?
When it comes to the eCommerce platform, Magento needs no introduction. It is one of the popular platforms in the eCommerce industry. As per the Datanyse Ecommerce Platforms Market Share Survey, Magento (out of 467 technologies) is used by 12,708 eCommerce websites in Alexa’s top 1 million. It is estimated for 14.31 per cent of the eCommerce business. However, having an eCommerce store is just not enough, you must stay on top of its security which most eCommerce websites out there failed to provide.
But that’s not the case with Magento. Here we are providing in detail what exactly is Magento security.
Basically, Magento security is an inbuilt protection measure that helps in overcoming security issues such as information leaks, data theft, illegal transactions, malware outbreaks and much more. Magento provides top-notch security. It is packed with security extensions and themes that make sure you stay on top of everything. Magento developers are making sure that people all across the globe will get the splendid security which they are looking for in their Magento store.
However, most people are not aware of it. This is exactly why we are going to provide the list of practices that Magento offers and why you should give it a try rather than going for some other eCommerce store.
Without any further ado, let’s jump to the security tips to protect your store from attackers.
How to Secure Your Magento Store Without Any Difficulty?
Securing your customer’s data is everybody’s first concern. As customers are king and violation of privacy and data can cost your brand reputation. In this segment, we are going to discuss Magento store tips that can protect you and your store from hackers and data breaches.
Table of Content
- Migrate To Magento 2
- Keep Your Magento Version Up-To-Date
- Ensure Two-Factor Authentication for Your Store
- Do Backup Regularly
- Use Complex Password
- Set a Custom Way For the Admin Panel
- Get an Encrypted Connection (SSL/HTTPS)
- Spend in a Best Hosting Plan
- Turn On Session Expiration
- Reconsider Spending in a Magento Security Assessment
- Final Takeaway
1. Migrate To Magento 2
The very first thing you need to do is Migrate to Magento 2 if you haven’t till now. Back in September last year, when a huge data breach occurred in Magento, it left so many customers in wonder. Then Magento takes the attack seriously and launches Magento 2 that ensures a ton of high-security reforms and great performance. You’ll be able to conveniently comply with PCI protection specifications with Magento 2, and your business will be covered with all of the features like XSS protection, Clickjacking prevention and much more. Not just this, the perks of migrating from Magento 1 to Magento 2 comes up with SHA-256 cryptographic password hashing. Now understand the pain of migrating a store from one to another can be a daunting process, but there many Magento migration services available in the market that help you to get started quickly.
2. Keep Your Magento Version Up-To-Date
It is important to keep your version up to date as every new version comes up with specific features to ensure high performance and security. Many times you won’t find the new Magento edition best. There can be many reasons for not liking a particular update. But every new Magento update typically contains fixes for previous Magento security patches problems. As a consequence, keeping up to date on the new Magento updates is crucial. Once a stable version has been released, you can test Magento before enforcing it.
3. Ensure Two-Factor Authentication for Your Store
One of the best security tips is to ensure Two – Factor Authentication for your eCommerce store. It provides an extra layer of protection and makes it impossible for hackers to attack your store. It comes up with different two-factor authentication methods like Duo security, author, Google authenticator and much more. Using the built-in Magento Two Factor Authentication extension, you can boost the security of your Magento admin username by using your password and a security code from your devices. Always share the security code with a trusted user.
4. Do Backup Regularly
If you don’t back up your websites on a regular basis then start doing it now. As backup prevents data loss. In case, if things went south then using your back up you can automatically recover all the crucial data. There will be no data loss. Holding your backup on the same computer as your website is problematic not just because your copy should be secure in case your server crashes, but also because if an intruder gained access to your server, he can gain access to your backup copies, which is clearly unacceptable.
5. Use Complex Password
Never ever set an easy password for your million dollar store. If you are one who forgets a password easily and in that confusion, you try to use an easy password. Then believe us, it is not the smartest move. Always use a complex password which is a combination of upper case, lower case, numbers, symbols, etc. The other thing to avoid is to make sure that never keep your Magento store password different from the other applications password.
6. Set a Custom Way For the Admin Panel
Setting a custom path for your admin panel is important. As hackers can easily access the regular admin panel which is my-site.com/admin. You can escape this by using /admin with a custom word. The custom word can be anything based on your store requirement. It also stops hackers from accessing your Magento admin login page if they happen to get their hands on your password. In Magento 1, you can change the Magento admin route by editing the local.xml file, and in Magento 2, you can change it by editing the env.php file.
7. Get an Encrypted Connection (SSL/HTTPS)
One of the biggest reasons for security breaches is an unauthorised connection or unencrypted connection. However, you can easily avoid that by using a secure Magento connection. Getting HTTPS/SSL is not rocket science if you are using Magento. You simply have to search the tab “Use Safe URLs” in the device setup menu in Magento to get a secure HTTPS/SSL URL. To get the SSL certificate, try the Let’s Encrypt section. It’s also one of the most vital aspects of ensuring that your Magento website complies with the PCI data protection norm and that your online purchases are secure.
8. Spend in a Best Hosting Plan
When it comes to web hosting, never cheap out. The second thing to cross out from your list is shared hosting. Shared hosting is not a good option for an eCommerce store as it opens the door to data breaches cases. It might seem a comfortable option for you right now but for the long haul, it’s not suitable. Dedicated hosting is also an alternative, but you’ll be limited to a single domain, which could be inadequate for your needs. It cuts your money, and if your Magento store’s traffic spikes suddenly, the platform will crash. Now the only suitable option to consider is Managed Magento Hosting Platform that offers security. Always go with the best hosting plans for your Magento store.
9. Turn On Session Expiration
Keeping session expiration on help to protect your Magento store in any case of emergency. Know that people who have access to your website are no exception. This unauthorised access can harm your security. But Magento keeps you on top of that by offering session expiration. Session expiration makes sure that it will instantly lock the admin panel if there has been inactivity for a particular time period. You have to decide on the timeframe. It is always best to set a lower time limit.
10. Reconsider Spending in a Magento Security Assessment
Most eCommerce store owners find investing in security a waste of money. But it is the other way, if you’re having a successful eCommerce website then investing in it seems a valid option. Finding the loopholes and flaws on your own can be tricky or daunting if you are aware of the cybersecurity breaches. If you have any kind of doubts or second thought then hire an expert in a beat. The expert will do a deep assessment of your Magento store. They will provide you with a detailed report which will give you actionable goals to secure your Magento store. Above all, hiring an expert won’t put a hole in your pocket, it is affordable.
Final Takeaway
Tada! Here we have discussed 10 security tips to protect your Magento store from attackers. We understand how humiliating and troubling can be a process of a data breach. Nobody in the world can guarantee you that your store won’t get caught in any cyber attack if you don’t even budge to follow the normal security protocols. Know that prevention is always better than cure. Keep your Magento store update.
In case you need any kind of assistance, you can always reach out to RVS Media Limited. We’d be pleased to do an initial review to evaluate the protection standard of your store and identify any loopholes.
