Whether you are planning to build a Magento store or having an existing one, the security of the website is an important factor that cannot be ignored.

If you have a Magento eCommerce website, then it becomes very important to pay attention to the security of the website. Website owners should ensure Magento security is at its optimal performance and the speed of the website is appropriate. Make sure that your web store works perfectly for your end-users or else you could be losing a lot of business.

Being a popular eCommerce platform, Magento is a choice of a lot of developers and users. If you use Magento for eCommerce store development, then your store could be handling a lot of sensitive and confidential customer bank and payment information. Though Magento comes with built-in security features, you should adopt the best practices to secure the customer data to offer an enriched shopping experience to the end-users.

Here is a list of important Magento security tips you should consider to speed up your online website and also improve the security of your website:

1. Update your Magento store to the latest version

Some Magento web developers and website owners forget to update their website to the latest version. You need to know that Magento gets updated on a regular basis. Magento team works constantly to add new features and improve the existing features to offer the best experience to the users. All the security patches are updated.

A few people think that the latest version of Magento may not be secure, but this is not true. Magento Community works constantly and fixes all the security issues in the new releases. Hence, you should obviously upgrade your Magento web store to the latest version whenever it is out. You can hire a Magento web development company to help you upgrade your website to the latest version.

2. Set a Strong Admin Name and Password

You would need a password to login to your Magento store. You should choose a strong and complex name and password to prevent unauthorized access to your account.

Use a combination of unique upper and lower case alphabets and numerical so that the password is not easy to hack. Potential hackers should not be able to trace the login details of your Magento store. Use an irregular combination of upper and lowercase letters, symbols, and numbers; for example, Ptu$#8794Yiopw0h.

Never use your Magento website password for any other websites or platforms. Keep it unique and private. It can be a good idea to use password creator tools to generate strong passwords that aren’t easy to hack.

3. Use Two Factor Authentication

Source: authy.com

It can be a good idea to use Two-factor authentication for Magento stores. It helps to secure your Magento stores.

This method breaks the login process of your store into 2 steps: First, you have to add the login credentials and then you have to pass through the two-factor authentication step. These 2-step verifications will help to prevent the attackers’ access your store’s admin panel even if they get the login credentials of your store. It means that a password is not enough for logging into the Magento store. This is the best way to enhance Magento store security.

Magento offers two-factor authentication (2FA) extension that adds an extra layer of website security. It allows only trusted devices to access Magento 2 backend login. Make sure that you share the code with authorized users only.

4. Use Reliable Magento 2 Extensions

Magento 2 extensions are used for adding the desired functionality to your eCommerce store. You can enhance the features of your website with Magento 2 extensions.

There are several different types of extensions available, which can be customized, or built from scratch too. It can be a good idea to look for the best Magento developers to help you choose reliable Magento 2 extensions that are safe and secure for your online store.

Before installing any extension, make sure that you are aware of its compatibility with your existing store and the other extensions on your website. If you are planning to install any third-party extensions, you should read the reviews and check the reputation of the developers before making the decision. Select extensions from reliable sources only that have a proven track record of satisfying several clients in the past.

Useful Reading: What Are The Latest Magento Development Trends For 2019?

5. Pick the right hosting

Believe it or not – Magento website hosting plays a major role in securing Magento stores. Along with app security, server security also plays a major role in the success of your eCommerce store. You should opt for a managed hosting provider for a secured hosting solution as it covers all the options.

Many startups opt for shared hosting solutions to reduce their costs but remember that doing so may compromise the security of your website.

When you use dedicated hosting, you’re restricted to a single server. This may be insufficient in case of heavy traffic if you’ve chosen a limited bandwidth. You can opt for managed cloud hosting platforms for accessing robust security.

6. Unique Admin URL

Magento comes with a default admin URL that can be identified by anyone. It is important to set a unique URL to secure your admin panel for your Magento store. The URL should not be easily identified by anybody. This will make it difficult for anyone to break into your store.

7. SSL Certification

 
You can protect customer information with SSL certification. An eCommerce website without SSL certification is prone to attacks.

Hackers can easily trace the data and also steal it. SSL certification can secure customer information such as login credentials, credit card information, or other details.

It is a verified authority that can help to protect the customer information on your Magento eCommerce website. Make sure that you get a valid SSL certification from a verified certified authority to protect customer information.

8. Backup Regularly

Periodic backups can help you save your website and protect data also. When you save the backup copies, you would not have to worry about your server breaking out. Even if a hacker gets access to your website and tries to steal your data, you’ll have the backup of your site and you can easily restore it.

It is advisable not to store the backup of your website on your original server.

9. Use Firewall

You can protect your Magento store using any one of the following types of firewall:

A.Web Application Firewall

Web Application Firewall(WAF) can help you protect your Magento store from security vulnerabilities such as Bot, spam, SQLi, XSS, and malware. Opt for cloud-based WAF to protect your online website.

B. System / Network Firewall

It can help you ban public access to everything except your own website server. Talk to a Magento expert to help you safeguard your website against hacking and cyberattacks.

10. Avoid Re-using Password On Other Platforms

Do not make the mistake of re-using your Magento website password on other websites or platforms.

 
According to a recent study, 18% of the Magento website owners make the mistake of using the same passwords for many services. This can put your website at risk.

Having identical passwords for several logins can make you lose all your accounts along with confidential data on your Magento store. Make sure that all passwords should be unique to avoid getting injured.

11. Change Passwords Periodically

 
If you have been using the same password for several months or years, it could be one of the biggest mistakes for any website owner. If the password gets stolen once, you can follow the practice of changing passwords often to prevent unauthorized access to your website.

Make sure that all your clients’ passwords are also changed from time to time to prevent loss or theft of data.

12. Avoid Storing Passwords On Your System

If you have saved the password on your laptop or PC, Trojan software can steal the information. This can lead to loss of data and confidential information.

Try to avoid storing passwords on your system in the browsers or FTP. If you want to save the password on your desktop, you can use a master password.

13. Pay Special Attention To Any Suspicious Activity

It is important to conduct a security review to check any signs of attack. You should use the right Magento extensions to check suspicious activity on your Magento store.

Some Magento extensions provide an option to set up announcements for successful login attempts from any unusual country as compared to previous logins. It also allows the users to set up alerts for unsuccessful login attempts so that break-in can be prevented.

Useful Reading: Essential Things Your E-Commerce Website Should Have

To Sum Up:

Use the above-mentioned points to secure your Magento store and hire expert Magento programmers to scan your website from time to time to ensure that everything is in place and your site runs smoothly. Get in touch with the Magento community if you need any help or assistance.