Sometimes, owning an eCommerce site can be just like sailing on the open seas. For example, you would not just toss up a site without making sure it can endure potential security risks, just as you would not take your boat out without having good weather information prior to sailing. However, just like the open seas are unpredictable, so is the internet. You could be sailing along smoothly and suddenly you’re caught in the middle of a mess.
A day does not seem to pass anymore where a story breaks about hackers stealing credit card and other sensitive information from eCommerce sites. Luckily, this isn't a no-win situation. Just as threats to security evolve, so does the capability to battle the threats. Developers are constantly working to anticipate and respond to new types of attacks. Once a potential threat becomes known, it's not long before there is a way to identify the threat, prevent its spread, and remedy its effects. However, developing new technologies and response strategies is only half the solution. To be effective, the latest solutions have to make their way from the development lab to your desktop.
As the popularity of online shopping continues to grow exponentially, security must be your top priority. A secure site encourages trust and confidence in your customers and can promote sales. In contrast, deficient security leads to an irreparable reputation and serious financial consequences for your business.
Since most online businesses use an eCommerce platform or CMS to promote and market their products and services, constant risk assessment and monitoring ensures consistent performance and customer experience. One of the most important ways to achieve this is through patch updates that help can prevent hackers from stealing or corrupting sensitive customer information and company data.
A security patch fixes specific problems, such as security holes or bugs. Updates are released to avoid issues, like making certain data in a program vulnerable to exposure, lowering the usability and performance of a program, or exposure to “forced closures” for unexpected errors or problems.
Updating patches is crucial to maintaining a robust and smooth user performance. Most platforms and content management systems release downloadable security patch updates to correct inconsistencies that are discovered in real-time use. Although programs undergo vigorous testing for performance before released, issues and inconsistencies arise in real-time that cannot be seen in the testing phase.
Thus, software patches are essential for enhancing business reliability and ensuring customers get a seamless experience. As the world of eCommerce becomes increasingly competitive, an unsatisfying shopping experience can cause a company to lose customers to their rivals.
Why You Can’t Ignore the Professionals
Just like a sailor cannot ignore the meteorologist, eCommerce site owners cannot ignore security patches. When it comes to security patches, a best practice is not ‘wait and see.” Sure, delaying patch installation for a week or two is common practice for most because it can create a major pain point. You don’t always need to drop everything you’re doing and install patches, but it’s generally a good idea to install them as quickly as possible.
Just like the sea is unpredictable, so is software. Essentially, these are flaws in software that no one knows about – meaning no one has developed a way to stop hackers and malware from taking advantage of them. Knowing about one of these vulnerabilities makes it easier to break in – it’s as if someone left their door unlocked. The average software application consists of an incredible amount of code. As is to be expected, code is not bulletproof at its conception. For one, bugs slip in. A lot of these bugs are relatively harmless, like a keyword, that can create a deadlock and cause the application to freeze, or make the application misbehave under certain irregular conditions.
A more serious security risk arises from the presence of software vulnerabilities. These vulnerabilities compromise the security of the computer system. Like a storm creeps in on the horizon, hackers sneak in through the cracks in flawed or insufficiently protected code. Once they are in, hackers are able to execute their own code under the guise of a computer’s own user, or access restricted data.
You would not sail out further if a storm is in your path, so why would you leave your site vulnerable if a solution exists?
eCommerce site owners must ask questions to make sure they know what they are getting and how it will help them. When a patch is released, ask these four questions to ensure you know how it will impact your site.
- What does the patch fix? Is it a security update or is it a non-security update that fixes reliability or performance issues or other bugs, or that adds features and functionality?
- If it is a non-security update, are your systems affected by the reliability or performance issues that it addresses?
- Is it an update designed to add features and functionality? If so, are these features that you need or want? Will you use the new features? If not, why take the risk of installing the update?
- If it is a security update, what is the specific vulnerability it addresses? What is the severity level of the vulnerability? What is your company’s exposure to the risk?
Be Prepared for the Storm
Updating patches on a consistent basis can not only help meet compliance requirements, but it also prevents inconsistencies that can hurt your online business. Many online businesses only use patches when they have encountered a significant problem with their ecommerce website features. The most common problems include, but are not limited to:
- A serious error in their operations
- Malicious programs that have corrupted or leaked sensitive data
Wear Your Life Jacket
When sailing, life jackets are there to ensure the safety of all on board. As I said, the sea is unpredictable and safety is paramount. eCommerce site owners must also ensure safety by making sure their web domain security is on high alert. With risks pertaining to leaked customer accounts and strategic information pertaining to the company, the practice of updating patches should be approached as a long-term investment by ensuring all programs are using the latest versions.
Smooth Sailing
A smooth day of sailing is the equivalent to what you want for your customers as they navigate and make purchases on your site. It is also what you want for your site and your staff. Patch updates can be useful for ensuring business operations run as smoothly and seamlessly as possible. Handling all activities and decisions should flow without any interruptions or complications. If you do not update patches regularly or only do so as needed, you may not be able to reap the full benefits of your eCommerce solutions and experience difficulties in providing customers with excellent customer service.
Sailing Into the Future
Just like the unpredictability of the ocean, the risks associated with security updates is always present. It is essential to seek the expertise of experienced and trained service providers who can provide patch updates and smooth secure web design services to suit your specific needs and preferences.
Many site owners think that investing a large sum of money in web design and features to kick start their online business is sufficient; however, that is certainly not the case. Rather, constant web domain support and maintenance are required to ensure your online business features, tools, and integrations work as required.
To ensure you sail into the future and enjoy success, it is crucial to seek maintenance and support packages that are designed to oversee all aspect of your eCommerce website and web design activities to bolster your digital marketing goals.