Cyber attacks on online shops are increasing dramatically. Data leaks, ransomware, and hacked payment data - the consequences can be existentially threatening. But many shop operators underestimate the risks. In this article, we show which security measures are essential.
The Threat Landscape in E-Commerce
Online shops are attractive targets for cybercriminals: customer data, payment information, business secrets. Attack methods are becoming increasingly sophisticated:
Ransomware
Encryption of all data with ransom demand
SQL Injection
Reading database through security vulnerabilities
Phishing
Fraud through fake emails and websites
According to BSI reports, small and medium-sized enterprises are particularly frequent targets of cyber attacks. The financial consequences of a successful attack can be existentially threatening for many companies.
Basic Security Measures
The basics of IT security are not rocket science. These measures should be implemented by every shop:
- SSL/TLS encryption (HTTPS) for all pages
- Regular updates of CMS, plugins, and server
- Strong passwords and two-factor authentication
- Regular backups (daily, external storage)
- Web Application Firewall (WAF)
- Login attempt limiting
Updates: The Underestimated Security Measure
Most successful attacks exploit known security vulnerabilities for which updates already exist. Anyone who doesn't keep their shop software up to date is practically inviting hackers.
Is your shop up to date? Outdated versions of Shopware, WooCommerce, or Magento are a significant security risk.
Updates should be applied promptly - but not untested. A test environment and professional hosting with update management are essential.
Secure Payment Processing
Payment data is particularly sensitive. The best strategy: Don't store card data yourself. Payment service providers (PSPs) like Stripe, PayPal, or Klarna handle secure processing.
- PCI DSS compliance through external providers
- 3D Secure for credit card payments
- Tokenization instead of card storage
- Fraud detection for suspicious transactions
GDPR Compliance
GDPR places high demands on handling customer data. Violations can be punished with fines of up to 20 million euros or 4% of annual turnover.
- Privacy policy current and complete
- Cookie consent banner technically correct
- Data processing agreements with all service providers
- Documented deletion routines for customer data
- Technical and organizational measures (TOM)
Monitoring and Incident Response
Detecting attacks early is crucial. 24/7 monitoring can make the difference between a repelled attack and total damage.
Equally important: An incident response plan. What do you do when an attack happens? Who is notified? How are systems isolated? Without a plan, chaos reigns in an emergency.
Choose Secure Hosting
The choice of hosting provider has a significant impact on security. Cheap hosting saves at the wrong end - security costs money, but insecurity costs more.
- Data center in Germany (GDPR!)
- Regular security updates
- Web Application Firewall included
- Automatic backups
- DDoS protection
- Monitoring and alerting
With our managed hosting, we take care of all security aspects - updates, backups, monitoring, firewall. You can focus on your business.
Security updates should be applied within a few days. Larger updates after testing in a staging environment.
Yes, a WAF is essential equipment. It filters out known attack patterns before they reach your shop.
Daily, at minimum. Important: Backups must be stored externally, otherwise they'll be encrypted too in ransomware attacks.
Less than you think - and much less than a successful attack. Contact us for a quote.
This article is for general information purposes only and does not replace individual security consulting. GDPR fines are based on current legislation. For legally binding information, please consult a lawyer specializing in IT law.
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