Online transactions, securely dealing
Whether you buy from sites like Amazon or Ebay, or from manufacturers like Adidas or Nike, your transactions must be done safely.
But what about when these transactions are made by an organization that does not have the transactional vocation? Are the same security settings need to be respected? The answer is yes.
First of all, educational institutions, for example, use third-party systems to carry out the transactions that their clients make (tuition fees, purchase of documentation, etc.). This ensures that they are not entirely responsible for transaction security, leaving it up to third party system owners to comply with the regulations in place.
Because this type of organization is not specialized in data security in a transactional context, complying with it would require significant investments, in both cash and time.
To comply, companies apply, for example, PCI DSS security standards, in order to secure their facilities and the data that is exchanged. The clauses are exposed on six objectives:
- Creating and managing a secure network and system;
- Cardholder data protection;
- Management of a vulnerability management program;
- Implementation of strict access control measures;
- Regular monitoring and networks testing;
- Management of an information security policy.
This security standard was developed in a spirit of account data protection, which can be enhanced with additional controls and practices to minimize risks. In addition, local, regional and sectoral laws and regulations support this reinforcement.
Source : Official website of PCI security standards concil
Secure SSL payment process
First, SSL (Secure Sockets Layers) is used for banking transactions that take place online. It makes sure to encrypt with a public key in order to enhance the security of data transmissions over the Internet. Without this encryption, the sensitive data transmitted during a transaction could end up circulating on the Web, without being readable. The SSL protocol, constantly improved in its algorithm, remains a simple and particularly effective solution against the theft of data on the Web.
How to recognize a site using this type of protocol? One of the simple ways is to look at the site’s URL. As shown below, the beginning of the URL will begin with “https”. In addition, there will be a closed padlock, demonstrating the security of the site.
Keep in mind that the SLL protocol does not guarantee full protection, but it will make it very difficult to access sensitive data by encryption.
Compatibility with payment processors
Obviously, when money is manipulated, we have to use the services of a payment processor. In Canada, the main ones are Desjardins, Moneris, TD or Paypal. These companies require merchants to demonstrate the security of their platform via a precise list of requirements.
Merchants must therefore be proactive in keeping their platform up-to-date because they can be audited at any time by these payment processors. Compliance with PCI DSS security standards is therefore imperative for anyone who wants to be able to transact online.
Some good practices
1. Make sure you are up-to-date
The PCI DSS protocol benefits from constant improvement, so it is important to monitor the innovations made to apply them to the systems involved.
2. Choose a solution that offers professional hosting
If you are hosting your solution with an external provider, make sure that it provides a secure environment that meets the highest industry standards.
3. Choose a flexible solution that will not weigh down your sales process
Promotion system, complex tax rules management, transportation cost grid, easy-to-use interface, data import, bank reconciliation. These are features that can make your shopping easier and simpler for your visitors.
At Dexero, we take all of these factors into consideration when approaching a project to put the best solutions into place based on our customers’ needs. Want to know more about Dexero or how we can help you set up your e-commerce solutions? Do not hesitate to contact us or to reserve a demo with our team.