Much like any other part of the modern economy, the world of fashion has been upended by the development of the internet. Nowadays, it’s possible for a smaller creator to sell products to a vast online market – even if the appeal of those products is very niche.
If you’re setting up a fashion business, or seeking to move an existing one online, then you might find a basic knowledge of digital security very useful. While major retailers like Marks and Spencer might make the headlines when their systems are compromised, the truth is that most breaches are suffered by smaller online retailers.
Use Secure E-Commerce Platforms and SSL Certificates
Perhaps the best way to avoid problems is to outsource the technicalities to a major, reputable platform. If you attempt to go it alone, then you’ll have to find and deploy your own security features – and when things go wrong, clearing up the mess might rapidly become a full-time job.
Major platforms like Shopify, BigCommerce, or WooCommerce have their own specialist teams to help ensure that every transaction is safe.
Having said that, there are a few basic principles that all fashion e-tailers should be aware of. For example, websites will need to encrypt customer data through HTTPS if it is going to be transmitted securely. Many modern browsers will alert users when this isn’t the case, which can seriously harm the credibility of your brand.
Implement Strong Passwords and Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)
The stronger your passwords, the more difficult they will be to guess. Make sure that you have a policy in place so that weak passwords are never used. Ideally, a combination of upper and lower case letters, numbers, and punctuation marks is ideal. Don’t reuse different passwords again and again.
A password manager is often the best way to ensure this. This is a piece of software that will compose and remember passwords on your behalf. This should ideally be protected using multi-factor authentication – which in most cases means you’ll need to authorise the use of unfamiliar devices, using your phone.
Regularly Back Up Your Website and Customer Data
If your servers are compromised and all of the data is wiped, how will you recover? It’s worth backing up automatically, so that you can quickly restore your service after an outage. Try to keep your backup stored somewhere that isn’t actually on your premises. That way, you won’t lose everything in the event of a fire or a flood. A cloud service might be ideal, because it will be maintained and secured by professionals.
Secure Customer Data Under GDPR Compliance
Under the UK’s implementation of the General Data Protection Regulation, businesses have a clear responsibility to safeguard the data of their customers. This means collecting data only when necessary, and giving customers the right to manage what data is stored.
In order to avoid legal penalties and reputational damage, it’s a good idea to regularly review your process for storing data. This is where the involvement of a full-service law firm can be extremely helpful.
Stay Alert for Phishing Scams and Fake Orders
Often, the easiest way for third parties to gain access to your systems is by exploiting human weakness. You, or your staff, might be encouraged to click on a fake link, often via email.
Fake orders, too, are a problem. You might receive a very large order from a new customer, or an order whose billing and shipping addresses don’t match. While these things are not evidence of malicious activity, they can often be considered red flags.
