Setting up a Magento 2 eCommerce store with a reliable Magento development company is relatively easy, with about 100,000 stores powered by the platform. But it is an entirely different story when it comes to managing the security of the same store.
Numbers further suggest that 34% of online retailers agree that privacy breaches and cyber-attacks are some of the most significant digital threats. Hackers with malicious intentions can access your business’s sensitive data and ask for a ransom. This makes it very important to take all necessary measures and ensure the best security for your Magento 2 store.
The best way to realize this goal is by leveraging the best Magento 2 security practices and addressing all existing vulnerabilities at the earliest. But what are the Magento 2 security best practices? Let’s find out!
Best Practices For Magento 2 Security
Ensuring unmatched security for your Magento 2 store is not very challenging if you take the right approach to tackle this issue. All you need to do is familiarize yourself with best practices for Magento 2 security and use it to your advantage. Some of the best-known of these best practices include:
1: Changing File Permissions Regularly
eCommerce stores must store essential information about customers, vendors, and other stakeholders. But if these data sets fall into the wrong hands, it can cause excruciating damage to the business’s credibility. This makes it important to ensure you change all file permissions regularly for better safety.
There are primarily three types of file permissions in Magento 2: read, write, and execute. Keeping your files in the read-and-write permission mode makes these files more accessible to hackers. Instead, you must keep the file with execution permission to ensure it remains safe at all points. You must set the file accessibility permission to 664, which will restrict the file’s access. This will also help ensure all read and write permissions will remain restricted to their owners’ access.
2: Always Go For Reputed Security Extensions
Why do you pay for security extensions? The answer is simple! These extensions help you enhance the capability of your Magento 2 eCommerce store. Security extensions play a crucial role in securing your website. However, purchasing security extensions from an unreliable vendor to save costs can severely impact your online store’s security.
You must evaluate if the security extension complies with the Magento standards of codes and if they have other relevant certifications. This makes it very important to check all the relevant details before buying any security extension for Magento 2. You must make all efforts to evaluate the authenticity of the extension before buying it. This will help ensure better security for your store and help you safeguard your data for good.
3: Make Sure To Use Two-factor Authentication (2FA)
Compromised passwords contribute to about 81% of malicious breaches, making it important to ensure better security for access. This is where security mechanisms such as the two-factor authorization come into the picture to add a layer of security. This means that even when hackers compromise your password somehow, they will still need to breach another security layer to access your online store.
Breaching this second layer is almost impossible unless the hacker convinces you to give them the one-time password. Magento 2 allows all its users to install two-factor authentication for better security. Some of the latest versions of Magento 2 have two-factor authentication on default as well. But if your version does not have the default setting, you can purchase a Magento 2 two-factor authentication extension for the same.
4: Ensure Always To Have a Recovery Plan
Security breaches in the online world are evolving constantly, with hackers getting more ingenious with their tactics. No matter how many best practices you follow, there still might be room left for security breaches. If something of that sort happens to your online store, you must always have a recovery plan.
These plans are key to helping you restore your eCommerce store right from scratch following the attack. There are three different ways you can facilitate this backup using three different methods: via the command line, admin panel, or through manual backup. If hackers attack your store, you can easily restore the store using all backup files. This makes it very important to take backup for your Magento 2 store.
5: Leverage SSL for Encrypting Connections
Secure Socket Layer, commonly known as SSL certificates, helps secure all sensitive business data. These SSL certificates are also highly effective in helping you create a safe environment for your Magento 2 store. This does not just help you ensure better security for the Magento 2 store but also helps build better trust and credibility among your customer base.
The absence of SSL certificates might expose your shop to dangerous security flaws. For example, hackers will get access to vital information such as usernames, credit card numbers, and even passwords used by your customers. However, strong SSL certificates might assist you in making all of these data sets accessible to others. Only the server to which you submit the information can access sensitive information about your company.
Wrapping Up
Online security is one of the most critical priorities for online businesses, with a significant rise in online attacks. Fortunately, taking suitable measures to address security can help enhance the overall security of your Magento 2 store. So remember these best practices for Magento 2 security and create a safe environment for everyone.