Running a successful online sporting goods business doesn’t just require great products and marketing. At the core of it all is security. Keeping your customers’ data safe and ensuring your operations run smoothly are vital. Cybercrime caused $8 trillion in global losses in 2022, and that number is projected to hit $10.5 trillion annually by 2025. For businesses like yours, these numbers highlight one thing loud and clear: your BigCommerce website must be secure.
The great news is that securing your site doesn’t have to be complicated or overwhelming. Below, we outline easy yet powerful ways to protect your BigCommerce store so you can focus on delivering excellent products instead of worrying about online threats.
1. Strengthen Your Password Game
This might sound obvious, but weak passwords are one of the biggest risks to any online account. According to recent data, over 80% of hacking-related breaches happen because of brute force attacks or stolen credentials.
To protect your BigCommerce store, always ensure passwords are strong by following these tips:
- Use at least 12 characters, including uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols.
- Avoid obvious phrases like “admin123” or “password123”.
- Invest in a password manager to securely generate and store unique passwords.
Make sure employees with access to your store use strong passwords too. A single weak password could put your entire business at risk.
2. Turn On Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)
Even if your password is strong, there’s always a risk of unauthorized access. That’s where two-factor authentication (2FA) comes in. This adds a second layer of security by requiring you to verify a code, often sent to your phone or email, in addition to your password.
BigCommerce supports 2FA for logins, and enabling it is a simple yet effective way to stop threats. Research shows 30% of data breaches could have been prevented with multi-factor authentication, so don’t skip this step.
3. Keep Software and Apps Up to Date
Hackers often use outdated software as a backdoor to your website. While BigCommerce takes care of most updates for its core platform, you also need to keep an eye on any third-party integrations, such as payment gateways or plugins.
Make it a habit to regularly:
- Check for and install updates for apps and custom code.
- Ensure your store is always running on its latest versions.
Unpatched software is responsible for 60% of breaches, so don’t leave this to chance.
4. Use SSL Certificates for Safe Transactions
An SSL certificate protects sensitive customer data, like credit card details, by encrypting the connection between your site and users. It’s a must-have for any e-commerce website and is non-negotiable if you want customers to trust and shop with you.
BigCommerce provides a free HTTPS-enabled SSL certificate for all stores. If you’re using a custom domain, make sure you’ve added and properly manage your SSL certificate. Without one, your site could display a “Not Secure” warning, scaring off potential customers.
Bonus tip: Strong SSL protection can also boost your SEO ranking, giving you more visibility in search engines.
5. Schedule Regular Backups
Even with strong defenses, there’s always a small chance things could go wrong. That’s why consistently backing up your website data is a safety net you can’t afford to skip.
BigCommerce automatically backs up certain parts of your store, but you should also manually back up essential data like inventory, customer lists, and sales records. Store these backups in multiple locations, such as secure cloud storage and offline systems, to ensure they’re always accessible. Should anything happen, you’ll be able to restore your store quickly without losing valuable data.
6. Keep an Eye Out for Red Flags
Regularly monitoring your website can help you catch issues before they escalate. Pay attention to things like:
- Unusual login attempts.
- Suspicious changes in settings.
- Spikes in traffic from unknown sources.
BigCommerce partners with trusted security tools like Sucuri to help monitor for vulnerabilities and alert you to anything suspicious. Proactive tracking can make all the difference.
7. Train Your Team on Security Practices
Even with the tightest security measures in place, human error can still leave you exposed. Train your employees to recognize phishing attempts, properly handle customer data, and avoid risky activities on work devices.
Since human mistakes are behind 88% of data breaches, proper training can dramatically reduce avoidable errors. Think of your team as the first line of defense in protecting your site.
8. Limit User Access
Not every team member needs full admin access to your BigCommerce dashboard. Grant permissions based on roles. For example, customer service reps may need access to order management but not website design or code. Developers, on the other hand, will need access to technical sections.
Restricting permissions reduces the chances of accidental changes or unauthorized actions. Also, make sure to immediately remove admin access for employees who leave the company.
Why Securing Your Website Matters
Protecting your BigCommerce store isn’t just a technical detail. It’s an investment in your business’s reputation and trustworthiness. Cyber threats like data breaches, payment fraud, and phishing attacks can hurt you financially and damage customer trust.
For a sporting goods business like yours, a secure website means safeguarding customer data, staying compliant with regulations, and maintaining the loyalty of your shoppers. By following the tips above, you can put hackers and security risks on the sidelines, letting you focus on delivering top-quality gear to your customers.
Take action today to protect your store and give your customers the confidence to purchase from a secure, trustworthy website. It’s a win-win for your business and your shoppers.
