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E-Retailers must make customers feel secure

E-commerce websites are among those that most need to have strong security installed, but not every e-commerce seller has made the leap. Because of the inherently risky nature of sending information online, it is imperative that sellers who deal with sensitive information do all that they can in order to prevent the data from falling into the wrong hands. Although it is often treated as an afterthought, being sure that customers know that a given website is secure is one of the most important things that can be done in order to ensure a sale. Listed below are some important tips for for ensuring that a given online marketplace is secure, and helping customers know that it is.

Keeping customers means being secure
According to CIO contributor Jennifer Lonoff Schiff, 25 percent of users have backed out of an online purchase because the website they were using did not look secure. This means that there is a wealth of potential sales being lost because vendors did not give their customers the assurance of a safe, online shopping experience. There are a few ways to make sure that those who visit a given website know that it is secure, and the first one is to use an SSL certificate. These certificates are plainly visible to users and lets them know in their browser that a website they are visiting is safe.

Once an SSL certificate is in place, it is also important to remember to maintain encrypted records of data. Making the mistake of storing information in plaintext instead of as encrypted information makes it much easier for hackers to get access to the data stored on the company's server.  Many e-commerce websites are small businesses that utilize cloud hosting providers to do most of the heavy lifting of their database and processing work. For companies that do use cloud hosting, it is imperative that they inspect their cloud hosting providers' security features, and get the best possible level of protection in order to keep themselves from falling victim to a breach. Especially for smaller e-commerce sites, a large breach can entirely dry up the pool of customers.

Letting customers know about security
After security has been addressed, the SSL certificate is in place and all stored data is encrypted and kept in the most secure location possible, then it is time to get security vetted by e-commerce trustmarks that verify the security of the website. For online retailers that lack the public visibility of Amazon, eBay or Etsy, letting consumers know that others will vouch for the security measures that have been taken is very important. According to  Econsultancy, the most recognized and well-received ecommerce trustmarks belonged to major security brands.  Norton, McAffee and Better Business Bureau seals were rated most highly in a January 2013 study conducted by Baynard.

Other ways to make sure that customers feel as though they are safe when purchasing from a store include using social proof stickers near the beginning of checkout, including Shopzilla.

By far, however, the best way to make sure that consumers do not feel as though their data is in danger in a given company's hands is to be certain that the company never leaks information. By implementing proper security protocols, being alert to trends in tech, and using the best SSL certificates available, a company can future-proof its reputation by making sure it will never be on the bad side of a leak. Nothing speaks to security like persistence, and that metric simply has to be built up through best practices and smart management over time.

Be sure to purchase an SSL certificate for your ecommerce website or company here today.

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