E-COMMERCE SEM III UNIT III

UNIT III E-COMMERCE - SECURITY SYSTEMS (Short)

E-commerce security solutions that can ease your life

1. HTTPS and SSL certificates

HTTPS protocols not only keep your users’ sensitive data secure but also boost your website rankings on Google search page. They do so by securing data transfer between the servers and the users’ devices. Therefore, they prevent any interception.

Do you know that some browsers will block visitors’ access to your website if such protocols are not in place? You should also have an updated SSL certificate from your host.

2. Anti-malware and Anti-virus software

An Anti-Malware is a software program that detects, removes, and prevents infectious software (malware) from infecting the computer and IT systems. Since malware is the umbrella term for all kinds of infections including worms, viruses, Trojans, etc getting an efficient Anti-Malware would do the trick.

On the other hand, Anti-Virus is a software that was meant to keep viruses at bay. Although a lot of Anti-virus software evolved to prevent infection from other malware as well. Securing your PC and other complementary systems with an Anti-Virus keeps a check on these infections.

3. Securing the Admin Panel and Server

Always use complex passwords that are difficult to figure out, and make it a habit of changing them frequently. It is also good to restrict user access and define user roles. Every user should perform only up to their roles on the admin panel. Furthermore, make the panel to send you notifications whenever a foreign IP tries to access it.

4. Securing Payment Gateway

Avoid storing the credit card information of your clients on your database. Instead, let a third party such as PayPal and Stripe handle the payment transactions away from your website. This ensures better safety for your customers’ personal and financial data. Did you know storing credit card data is also a requirement for getting PCI-DSS compliant?

5. Deploying Firewall

Effective firewalls keep away fishy networks, XSS, SQL injection, and other cyber-attacks that are continuing to hit headlines. They also help in regulating traffic to and from your online store, to ensure passage of only trusted traffic.

6. Educating Your Staff and Clients

Ensure your employees and customers get the latest knowledge concerning handling user data and how to engage with your website securely. Expunge former employees’ details and revoke all their access to your systems.

7. Additional security implementations

Always scan your websites and other online resources for malware

Back up your data. Most e-commerce stores also use multi-layer security to boost their data protection.

Update your systems frequently and employ effective e-commerce security plugins.

Lastly, get a dedicated security platform that is secure from frequent cyber-attacks.

You can read more about the security steps you need to take for your e-commerce store.

Define Astra Firewall

Astra is a website security suite that protects websites, web apps, IT networks, and cloud infrastructures from hackers, bots & 3000+ internet threats. Astra protects you against SQL injections, Cross Site Scripting, Local File Inclusion, Remote File Inclusion, Bad Bots and much more.

Astra Solutions to E-commerce Security Threats

Astra is among the leading providers of security solutions that enable e-commerce to enjoy uninterrupted business.

Our tested and proven web application firewall keeps away Bad Bots, Spam, SQL injections, XSS, and many other cyber threats. It works in real-time, ensuring your website is secure 24 hours per day, seven days every week. The firewall is intelligent enough to detect any unusual and malicious intent. It does so by monitoring the traffic patterns of everything that gets out and into your e-commerce store.

How does the Astra Firewall work?

We can also help you get rid of malware, malicious redirects, pharma attacks, and other similar threats with a record turnaround time. You can employ our intelligent malware scanner to detect any malware yourself and track changes in your files daily. We log any change in your codes for you to review and stay updated. Our machine learning intelligence powers all the scanning to ensure we don’t miss anything.

E-Commerce Technology Solutions

The architecture and functionality of Dynamics 365 Business Central make it particularly well suited for business thinking of opening e-commerce’s. With it, you will be able to deliver consistent shopping experiences and consolidate all your business data into a single platform that escalates with your growth.

Why Dynamics 365 is an excellent choice for e-commerce?

Scalability

One of the particularities of an e-commerce is its capacity for rapid and exponential growth. The users can come from all around the world without the limitation of physical stores that can only supply to certain areas.

But this growth is only possible if you have a system built to support it, that’s why you want to make sure your ERP solution can grow with your business.

Thanks to its modular design, with Dynamics 365 Business Central you will be able to add more users, more data and more products without having to worry about replacing obsolete infrastructure.

Integration

When running an e-commerce, it’s important to establish a solid line of communication between your web store and your business operations to allow real time exchange of data and ensure its consistency.

Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central consolidate all your business data into a single and unified system, providing comprehensive data on all your business components.

Pricing, inventory, invoices and orders, clients, marketing actions, etc. get a global vision and easily report and analyze your business.

Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central can be integrated with any e-commerce platform.

Customization

Every business is different and need specific features that adapt to its way of making business. With Dynamics 365, you will be able to have a solution that suit your specific e-commerce needs, and thanks to its scalability, you will be able to change these features as your e-commerce needs changes.

In LogixCare Solutions for Business we have a large experience deploying e-commerce’s into business central capabilities.

1. E-commerce chatbot development

Our AI/ML-driven Chatbots provide quick responses and learn, evolve and develop with time. We develop Chatbots that can be trained for responses to questions and answers in multiple languages, voice search, etc

2. E-commerce mobile app development

We develop highly efficient and scalable mobile apps for the eCommerce sector. Our mobile apps offer features such as a user-friendly interface, extensive and detailed product searches, multilingual searches, quick cart creation, efficient and secure payment gateways, etc., to facilitate a seamless online buying experience.

3. Big data and analytics

We enable eCommerce players to leverage the data they generate by helping them gather, process, and use structured data in the form of business-ready insights to enhance the decision-making process. Additionally, our data analytics solutions enable our eCommerce clients to understand consumer trends, patterns, demands, behavior, etc., plan and manage the inventory efficiently, forecast demand, and plan the business accordingly.

4. E-commerce platform migration

Our migration experts ensure secure and quick migration of your legacy systems to high-tech and the latest eCommerce platforms. Simultaneously, we ensure zero to minimal impact on the existing operations and zero data loss during the migration process. Our migration solutions aim to help you improve customer experience and increase scalability.

5. E-commerce solutions

Our eCommerce solutions also include developing retail eCommerce, B2B eCommerce, omni-channel retail, multi-channel eCommerce, D2C eCommerce, and international eCommerce solutions.

Technology Solutions in E-commerce

Artificial Intelligence (AI)

One of the aspects that have been lost in online shopping and that makes brick-and-mortar shopping so pleasant is help from an in-store assistant who’s knowledgeable in the offer and can provide relevant recommendations and personalized guidance. 

The rise of artificial intelligence and machine learning will only solidify on the market, allowing retailers to find new ways to boost personalization and improve customer service. 

AI can take the form of a helpful virtual assistant that directs customers to the right product offers by asking them a few questions about their needs and preferences. 

But this is just the tip of the iceberg. Artificial Intelligence can also help companies to:

1.                  learn more about their customers and deliver a personalized experience to them,

2.                  connect customer data with real-time insights to boost the shopping experience,

3.                  automate processes such as customer support thanks to chatbots that help customers 24/7,

4.                  generate timely promotions,

5.                  optimize pricing and discounting,

6.                  boost demand forecasting to make smarter choices for their digital ad spending.

7.                  Consumers like brands that care about them. AI helps to achieve that by connecting different data points into an intelligible whole, creating customer profiles that include meaningful insight retailers can use to craft personalized experiences.

Augmented Reality (AR)

Augmented Reality is set to become a key game-changer in online shopping. It will help online shoppers to visualize products they would like to buy, whether it's furniture or clothing. Consumers using AR can see how they would look wearing a certain item or how a sofa would fit into their home. And all of that without having to visit a brick-and-mortar store. 

That way, shoppers will become more confident about purchasing products online, and retailers enjoy reduced return rates. Naturally, AR takes the entire shopping experience to a new level because it helps customers to experience the product as quickly as possible. 

In a recent survey, 35% of respondents said that they would be shopping online more if they could virtually try on a product before buying it. A further 22% declared that they would be less likely to visit a brick-and-mortar store if Augmented Reality was available in their favorite e-commerce platform. 

In the future, we're going to see a lot more businesses using AR for their products. Augmented Reality will become standard in social media and e-commerce platforms. 

Hyper-personalized experience

Since Artificial Intelligence is increasing in e-commerce, the number of applications it affects are practically limitless. Retailers are bound to use AI to gather information about their visitors and adjust their on-site stores to their preferences. 

Consumers today value tailored experiences and products more than ever. This is something that e-commerce retailers often lose when consumers switch to online and self-service shopping. 

By implementing personalized experiences on-site, retailers stand to boost their revenue by even 25%. Some recent data also shows that personalization efforts can reduce the bounce rate by 45%. 

AI-powered personalization will become a key trend driving the adoption of this technology by the e-commerce sector. As brands capture and analyze more constant consumer data, they can create relevant experiences for shoppers — ones that are fully personalized and one-of-a-kind. This is exactly what shoppers want today.

Ambient commerce

Ambient commerce combines the use of Artificial Intelligence and sensors to help customers select and pay for the items without relying on checkouts or cash registers. Amazon and Alibaba invested billions of dollars in acquiring stakes in physical retailers. Naturally, such automated stores have been criticized for discriminating against members of the society who don't have bank accounts or smartphones. As a result, some cities in the United States have already banned them and forced Amazon to accept cash payments in some of their stores. 

However, this trend might gain some steam in economies impacted by Covid-19, where consumers are on the lookout for opportunities to reduce their contact with other people.

Online to offline (O2O)

O2O commerce is a brand-new business strategy that attracts potential customers from online channels to physical stores. Retailers such as department stores or supermarkets are using O2O strategies to compete with the high-tech sector. 

The largest e-commerce businesses like Alibaba have already responded to this trend by moving into off-line commerce themselves. 

By implementing the branded experience online and offline, retailers stand to gain more engaged customers and deliver experience through more channels. 

Naturally, the off-line sites are equipped with all kinds of smart solutions such as the Internet of Things sensors that will allow them to blend the in-store experience with the online one.

Chatbots

The greatest implementation of AI capabilities lies in chatbots that can deliver customer service 24/7. Chatbots allow retailers to communicate with thousands of their customers while giving them the feeling of personalized contact and offering relevant recommendations. 

One research study found that more than 60% of customers prefer having chapbooks, websites, or apps to answer their questions. Experts predict that 80% of businesses will be using chapbooks in 2020. 

Today, retailers use chatbots mostly in the area of customer support. However, it's likely that chatbots will become one of the most important marketing tools in a retailer's toolkit. For example, in the retail space, self-checkout will become the norm, and personal shopping assistants will be there to help shoppers get what they want. Moreover, they will use the collected data to help anticipate new products that customers might like.

Mobile shopping

One of the key advantages of e-commerce is the ability to get shoppers to shop literally from anywhere. According to Statista, by the end of 2020, 73% of e-commerce sales will take place on a mobile device. 

With this insight in mind, it's critical that retailers build a robust response of design and create mobile apps to engage customers through their prepared channels. 

E-commerce businesses are already doing everything they can to provide smooth user experience in e-commerce sites with a number of different payment options that include mobile wallets. 

Other trends that link to this is the use of Progressive Web Apps (PWA) and other technologies that offer native-like experience with features such as push notifications. These trends will be giving e-commerce brands another push to improve the customer journey for online shoppers with the help of mobile devices. Tuition

Conversational e-commerce

According to a recent study, 75% of US households will own a smart speaker by 2025. Consumers are increasingly relying on voice assistants such as Amazon Alexa to perform a variety of actions, from checking the weather to buying products online. 

How does this translate into e-commerce?

For example, when a customer realizes that they're running out of milk, they can quickly order it with a simple voice command through the conversational interface of their favorite online grocery store. That way, the user doesn't have to open their laptop, go to their browser, enter the name of the store, add shipping information, and then finally order the product. 

The voice assistant will remember past purchases, making it very easy for customers to repeat their orders. It will also allow consumers to order takeout without having to touch anything on a screen. As an increasing number of households become used to this technology, consumers will become more comfortable with making purchases. 

This that's why it holds such great potential for e-commerce businesses. Voice-enabled solutions in the e-commerce space are one of the key technology trends of the future.

What is encryption?

Encryption is a way of scrambling data so that only authorized parties can understand the information. In technical terms, it is the process of converting human-readable plaintext to incomprehensible text, also known as ciphertext.  In simpler terms, encryption takes readable data and alters it so that it appears random.

Encryption requires the use of a cryptographic key:

a set of mathematical values that both the sender and the recipient of an encrypted message agree on.

Although encrypted data appears random, encryption proceeds in a logical, predictable way, allowing a party that receives the encrypted data and possesses the right key to decrypt the data, turning it back into plaintext.

Truly secure encryption will use keys complex enough that a third party is highly unlikely to decrypt or break the ciphertext by brute force — in other words, by guessing the key.

Data can be encrypted "at rest," when it is stored, or "in transit," while it is being transmitted somewhere else.

What is a key in cryptography?

A cryptographic key is a string of characters used within an encryption algorithm for altering data so that it appears random. Like a physical key, it locks (encrypts) data so that only someone with the right key can unlock (decrypt) it.

What are the different types of encryption?

The two main kinds of encryption are symmetric encryption and asymmetric encryption. Asymmetric encryption is also known as public key encryption.

In symmetric encryption, there is only one key, and all communicating parties use the same (secret) key for both encryption and decryption. In asymmetric, or public key, encryption, there are two keys: one key is used for encryption, and a different key is used for decryption. The decryption key is kept private (hence the "private key" name), while the encryption key is shared publicly, for anyone to use (hence the "public key" name). Asymmetric encryption is a foundational technology for TLS (often called SSL).

Why is data encryption necessary?

Privacy: Encryption ensures that no one can read communications or data at rest except the intended recipient or the rightful data owner. This prevents attackers, ad networks, Internet service providers, and in some cases governments from intercepting and reading sensitive data, protecting user privacy.

Security: Encryption helps prevent data breaches, whether the data is in transit or at rest. If a corporate device is lost or stolen and its hard drive is properly encrypted, the data on that device will still be secure. Similarly, encrypted communications enable the communicating parties to exchange sensitive data without leaking the data.

Data integrity: Encryption also helps prevent malicious behavior such as on-path attacks. When data is transmitted across the Internet, encryption ensures that what the recipient receives has not been viewed or tampered with on the way.

Regulations: For all these reasons, many industry and government regulations require companies that handle user data to keep that data encrypted. Examples of regulatory and compliance standards that require encryption include HIPAA, PCI-DSS, and the GDPR.

What is an encryption algorithm?

An encryption algorithm is the method used to transform data into ciphertext. An algorithm will use the encryption key in order to alter the data in a predictable way, so that even though the encrypted data will appear random, it can be turned back into plaintext by using the decryption key.

What are some common encryption algorithms?

Commonly used symmetric encryption algorithms include:

AES

3-DES

SNOW

Commonly used asymmetric encryption algorithms include:

RSA

Elliptic curve cryptography

What is a brute force attack in encryption?

A brute force attack is when an attacker who does not know the decryption key attempts to determine the key by making millions or billions of guesses. Brute force attacks are much faster with modern computers, which is why encryption has to be extremely strong and complex. Most modern encryption methods, coupled with high-quality passwords, are resistant to brute force attacks, although they may become vulnerable to such attacks in the future as computers become more and more powerful. Weak passwords are still susceptible to brute force attacks.

How is encryption used to keep Internet browsing secure?

Encryption is foundational for a variety of technologies, but it is especially important for keeping HTTP requests and responses secure. The protocol responsible for this is called HTTPS (Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure). A website served over HTTPS instead of HTTP will have a URL that begins with https:// instead of http://, usually represented by a secured lock in the address bar.

HTTPS uses the encryption protocol called Transport Layer Security (TLS). In the past, an earlier encryption protocol called Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) was the standard, but TLS has replaced SSL. A website that implements HTTPS will have a TLS certificate installed on its origin server To help keep the Internet more secure, Cloudflare offers free TLS/SSL encryption for any websites using Cloudflare services. 

7 Customer communication channels your E-commerce needs

There are many customer communication channels available to companies today, but which ones are essential for e-commerce? If you are interested in knowing, stay with us until the end.  

If you have an online business, it is important to connect with your target audience. To be successful you must have a good communication strategy.

Certainly, there are many different channels you can use to reach your customers, and each has its own advantages.   

Using more than one customer communication channel is key to the success of your business, that’s why we bring you the essential channels for e-commerce.

Let’s take a look at the importance of implementing them, what they are and how you can manage them all from a single platform.

Importance of customer communication channels   

Customer communication channels are the means by which companies can build a solid customer base and build brand loyalty.

For this reason, the most important factor to consider when choosing communication channels is their ability to meet the needs of your target audience.   

Establishing customer communication channels for your company allows you to:   

Get to know your customers and their needs better through interaction via bidirectional channels.  

Better focus your product or service according to your customers’ requirements.  

Create more effective marketing strategies.  

Increase sales.  

Improve your company’s customer service.

Main costumer communication channels

Social media

Social networks are a powerful communication tool that can help you reach a large audience with minimal effort.   

In addition, we know that many people start their online sales ventures through Instagram and Facebook.   

For this reason, make sure you have a strong platform presence on social networks and use them to engage with your customers.   

Even if you already have your own app, social media is the primary customer communication channel to promote your brand and connect with your followers.   

Email 

So, did you know that email remains one of the most effective costumer communication channels? Yes, especially when it comes to building relationships with customers. After all, you can use email to:  

Send newsletters. 

Share content to generate traffic to your website.  

Special offers.  

Important updates about your product or service.  

Moreover, a common mistake of new entrepreneurs is to think that using email is an old-fashioned way, but the truth is that according to a HubSpot survey in 2021, email marketing campaigns increase revenue by 760%.   

Live Chat   

Live chat is a form of customer support that allows you to quickly and easily resolve customer issues as they arise. It is a great way to offer customer support and answer questions people may have about your products.   

It is considered as the best customer communication channel for e-commerce if you need to improve the overall customer experience, as it allows you to solve their problems quickly and efficiently.  

In addition, live chat can be used to up-sell or cross-sell products and services, which can increase sales. And finally, live chat can reduce the costs associated with customer service.    

Chatbots

Chatbots are a great way to provide customer service and answer any questions your customers may have. They can also be used to promote new products and special offers.  

Currently, along with live chat, is the most useful customer communication channel for E-commerce companies that must provide 24/7 customer service.  

The chatbot can be configured to answer your users’ most frequently asked questions. As a result, not only will you keep your clients satisfied, but you will be able to reduce repetitive tasks and invest time in more relevant ones. 

In-app messaging

In-app messages are a great way to reach your customers while they are using your app. They can be used to promote new products, special offers, or just to keep them updated about what is going on with your company.   

They are a very direct way to reach your clients as soon as they open your App and can help you get leads faster.  

However, it is important not to overuse them as they can be annoying for the customer if they are presented too often.  

SMS Marketing 

SMS marketing is a great way to reach customers who may not be checking their email regularly. It’s also a way to send time-sensitive information such as special offers or sales alerts.  

To get started with SMS marketing, businesses should identify their target audience and create a list of phone numbers. It is an effective way to reach your clientele and can be used in conjunction with other costumer communication channels, such as social media or email marketing, for greater effectiveness. 

Telephone

One of the great advantages of telephone marketing is that it allows you to reach a wider audience. You can call customers from different parts of the country or even the world. It’s a great way to expand your customer base and increase sales.  

It also allows you to personalize your messages to each client, create a more intimate connection with them and build lasting relationships.   

In addition, here are some of the things to keep in mind when marketing over the phone:  

Make sure you have a clear and concise message. Customers should be able to understand what you are offering quickly and easily.    

Be courteous and polite. Remember that you are talking to another human being, so treat them as such.    

Don’t try to sell at all costs. Many customers will appreciate a more subtle approach.   

Follow up after the call. Send a thank you note or email.  

So if you understand your business goals and objectives, you can make an informed decision about which costumer communication channels will work best for you.   

Of course, no matter which channel you use, you must be responsive and helpful to build customer loyalty!  

And this is where the problem arises for many e-commerce businesses or those that rely on their digital presence:

How to manage all these channels at the same time? We have the perfect tool for you!   

Want to improve your interaction with customers? Use the omnichannel solution    

An omnichannel Help Desk software consolidates all your customer communication channels on a single platform.     

An omnichannel platform allows you to:   

Get a 360-degree view of every customer interaction.  

Quickly respond to your customers’ questions, and effectively solve any issues they present.  

Increase customer satisfaction rates.  

Increase sales.  

GB Advisors offers you omnichannel software like Freshdesk, so your company can take advantage of a variety of communication channels.

Of course, this includes traditional channels such as phone and email and the most current ones such as chatbots and social networks.   

By using Freshdesk, companies can offer their customers a more seamless experience regardless of the channel they use.

In addition to providing a smoother customer experience, Freshdesk offers 3 key solutions to help your business succeed:  

Its efficient ticketing system ensures that no customer query goes unanswered.   

Its self-service portal gives customers the ability to find answers to their questions without having to contact the helpdesk.   

Intelligent metrics provide companies with valuable information on how they can improve their support operations.   

In conclusion, these solutions allow your communication with customers to be more effective. Likewise, you can streamline processes to reduce costs, improve internal and external organization. All this only by having your company’s information centralized in one place!

The seven most popular methods of eCommerce communication are as follows.

Web content. ...

Live chat. ...

Social media. ...

Facebook Messenger. ...

SMS. ...

Email. ...

Telephone. ...

5 Unique Inventory Prep Services Only Offered by a 3PL.

Definition and examples of secure communication channels

Communication channels can be thought of as the means of transmission of information between devices and users on a network. The rate at which mobile technologies have been adopted in recent years has led to much greater intercommunication between device types. The standard by which these devices connect to one another is called unified information and communications systems, and is widely seen as a good thing for ease of use and setup for many different classes of devices.

The problem with this standard is that it also opens up more opportunities for attackers to exploit security weaknesses within popular technologies such as:

Voice

Multimedia collaboration

Remote access

Data communications

Virtualized networks

Voice

Voice communication covers many different technologies, which means that you will need to be familiar with systems such as:

PBX (private branch exchange)

POTS (plain old telephone system)

VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol)

Learning about voice technologies is essential because it is still one of the most costly services that companies incur, so being able to effectively manage, investigate, and administer is really important. If outside users are able to use your voice services fraudulently, your company may be liable if crimes are committed with your services. International toll fraud is also costly, and can come about from unsecured phone systems.

Multimedia collaboration

Multimedia collaboration includes applications such as instant messaging programs, video conferencing, and other real-time collaboration tools. These tools reinforce the notion of convergence technologies because they are able to carry voice, data, text, and video all in a single application over the Internet instead of over separate networks. You will need to understand the risks associated with:

VoIP—This includes session controls and signalling protocols that relate to the notification and setup of calls. Candidates must also be familiar with codec software that converts audio and video into digital frames as well as open VoIP protocols such as H.323 and SIP (session initiated protocol). Understanding how SIP provides integrity protection with MD5 hash functions and encryption such as TLS is also important for the CISSP exam. VoIP security must also be understood.

Remote Meeting Technology—This technology allows users to collaborate by sharing control of remote desktops, file sharing, chat functions, voice, and video. These technologies are vulnerable to unauthorized participation, eavesdropping, spying, data leakage, and communications interception. To prevent this, mitigating technologies must be employed, such as firewall restrictions, data encryption, authentication security measures, computer management policies, and user awareness training.

Instant Messaging and Chat—Initially introduced as text-based communication, many of these applications now include voice, video, file sharing, and remote control. Understanding that instant messaging (IM) technologies can be peer-peer or client-server relationships and all of the threat vectors that are associated with IM and chat is also important. These threats include malware distribution and social engineering.

Content Distribution Network—A CDN is a system of interconnected machines that provide large-scale services such as internet service providers (ISPs) and network operations. CDNs serve end users with high-speed connections and high availability. You need to understand concepts such as hybrid models (peer-to-peer and server-to-client connections), as well as the corresponding threat vectors, such as unauthorized bandwidth usage, P2P malware attacks, malicious executable files, and unauthorized system access.

Remote access

Remote access was originally designed with dial-up systems in mind, allowing home-based users and traveling users the ability to access the internal network from a dial-up modem connection. This technology reduces the cost of a dedicated leased line, and was seen as a more affordable method for letting people connect to the system while out of the office. The RAS server would then authenticate the user based on the credentials that they entered and users would be able to access the corporate network with them. VPN and tunneling protocols must be firmly understood, and examples of these are:

Remote Access Services

Dial-up and RAS

Old Dial-up Remote Protocol

Authentication Protocols such as CHAP, PAP, EAP.

Modern VPN protocols: PPTP, L2TP/IPSec SSL/TLS SSTP, Modern Authentication Protocols (VPN) MSCHAP v2 and EAP.

Point-to-Point Protocol

Microsoft Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) Remember that it uses port 3389

Secure Shell (SSH) Remember that it uses port 22 and that it is more secure than Telnet. Telnet transmits passwords in plain text and is therefore not secure.

Data communications

Candidates must be familiar with the following secure communications protocols:

SSL (Secure Socket Layer)

TLS (Transport Layer Security)

swIPe (Swipe IP Security Protocol)

S-RPC (Secure Remote Procedure Call)

SET (Secure Electronic Transaction)

PAP (Password Authentication Protocol)

CHAP (Challenge Handshake Authentication Protocol)

EAP (Extensible Authentication Protocol)

Virtualized networks

A virtualized network, also known as a software-defined network (SDN), is a collaboration of software and hardware to create a network that is bound and controlled by the software component. A virtualized network is a collection of ports on a managed switch that are configured via software, allowing changes to be made to the network layer without the need to change any physical components of the network. This means that the connections of the local area network can be changed via the application.

Components that you will need to be familiar with are:

Virtual Switches: Remember that they have existed within hypervisors for a long time but now they are able to link hypervisors together. SDNs are flexible and elastic, and they can be configured remotely to effect network wide changes to traffic. They are centrally managed and are interoperable with many different protocols. They are dynamic and can be automatically provisioned and configured.

Virtualized Network Storage: Also known as software defined storage, SDS is storage management software that can make off-the-shelf hardware like NAS units behave like SAN equipment.

Virtualized Networks Segmentation: Also known as private virtual local area networks (PVLANs), these systems add extra features to VLANs, but virtually. This allows for the creation of private groups within your network, and can also provide features such as port isolation and enhanced routing features. A primary PVLAN is just a VLAN that has been segmented into smaller groups, while a secondary PVLAN exists only inside of a Primary PVLAN, has specific VLAN IDs, and has a physical switch associated with the behaviour of each packet with a VLAN ID.

What is Network Security?

Network Security protects your network and data from breaches, intrusions and other threats. This is a vast and overarching term that describes hardware and software solutions as well as processes or rules and configurations relating to network use, accessibility, and overall threat protection.

Network Security involves access control, virus and antivirus software, application security, network analytics, types of network-related security (endpoint, web, wireless), firewalls, VPN encryption and more.

Benefits of Network Security

Network Security is vital in protecting client data and information, keeping shared data secure and ensuring reliable access and network performance as well as protection from cyber threats. A well designed network security solution reduces overhead expenses and safeguards organizations from costly losses that occur from a data breach or other security incident. Ensuring legitimate access to systems, applications and data enables business operations and delivery of services and products to customers.

Types of Network Security Protections

Firewall

Firewalls control incoming and outgoing traffic on networks, with predetermined security rules. Firewalls keep out unfriendly traffic and is a necessary part of daily computing. Network Security relies heavily on Firewalls, and especially Next Generation Firewalls, which focus on blocking malware and application-layer attacks.

Network Segmentation

Network segmentation defines boundaries between network segments where assets within the group have a common function, risk or role within an organization. For instance, the perimeter gateway segments a company network from the Internet. Potential threats outside the network are prevented, ensuring that an organization’s sensitive data remains inside. Organizations can go further by defining additional internal boundaries within their network, which can provide improved security and access control.

What is Access Control?

Access control defines the people or groups and the devices that have access to network applications and systems thereby denying unsanctioned access, and maybe threats. Integrations with Identity and Access Management (IAM) products can strongly identify the user and Role-based Access Control (RBAC) policies ensure the person and device are authorized access to the asset.

Zero Trust

Remote Access VPN

Remote access VPN provides remote and secure access to a company network to individual hosts or clients, such as telecommuters, mobile users, and extranet consumers. Each host typically has VPN client software loaded or uses a web-based client. Privacy and integrity of sensitive information is ensured through multi-factor authentication, endpoint compliance scanning, and encryption of all transmitted data.

Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA)

The zero trust security model states that a user should only have the access and permissions that they require to fulfill their role. This is a very different approach from that provided by traditional security solutions, like VPNs, that grant a user full access to the target network. Zero trust network access (ZTNA) also known as software-defined perimeter (SDP) solutions permits granular access to an organization’s applications from users who require that access to perform their duties.

Email Security

Email security refers to any processes, products, and services designed to protect your email accounts and email content safe from external threats. Most email service providers have built-in email security features designed to keep you secure, but these may not be enough to stop cybercriminals from accessing your information.

Data Loss Prevention (DLP)

Data loss prevention (DLP) is a cybersecurity methodology that combines technology and best practices to prevent the exposure of sensitive information outside of an organization, especially regulated data such as personally identifiable information (PII) and compliance related data: HIPAA, SOX, PCI DSS, etc.

Intrusion Prevention Systems (IPS)

IPS technologies can detect or prevent network security attacks such as brute force attacks, Denial of Service (DoS) attacks and exploits of known vulnerabilities. A vulnerability is a weakness for instance in a software system and an exploit is an attack that leverages that vulnerability to gain control of that system. When an exploit is announced, there is often a window of opportunity for attackers to exploit that vulnerability before the security patch is applied. An Intrusion Prevention System can be used in these cases to quickly block these attacks.

Sandboxing

Sandboxing is a cybersecurity practice where you run code or open files in a safe, isolated environment on a host machine that mimics end-user operating environments. Sandboxing observes the files or code as they are opened and looks for malicious behavior to prevent threats from getting on the network. For example malware in files such as PDF, Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint can be safely detected and blocked before the files reach an unsuspecting end user.

Hyperscale Network Security

Hyperscale is the ability of an architecture to scale appropriately, as increased demand is added to the system. This solution includes rapid deployment and scaling up or down to meet changes in network security demands. By tightly integrating networking and compute resources in a software-defined system, it is possible to fully utilize all hardware resources available in a clustering solution.

Cloud Network Security

Applications and workloads are no longer exclusively hosted on-premises in a local data center. Protecting the modern data center requires greater flexibility and innovation to keep pace with the migration of application workloads to the cloud. Software-defined Networking (SDN) and Software-defined Wide Area Network (SD-WAN) solutions enable network security solutions in private, public, hybrid and cloud-hosted Firewall-as-a-Service (FWaaS) deployments.

Robust Network Security Will Protect Against

Virus: A virus is a malicious, downloadable file that can lay dormant that replicates itself by changing other computer programs with its own code. Once it spreads those files are infected and can spread from one computer to another, and/or corrupt or destroy network data.

Worms: Can slow down computer networks by eating up bandwidth as well as the slow the efficiency of your computer to process data. A worm is a standalone malware that can propagate and work independently of other files, where a virus needs a host program to spread.

Trojan: A trojan is a backdoor program that creates an entryway for malicious users to access the computer system by using what looks like a real program, but quickly turns out to be harmful. A trojan virus can delete files, activate other malware hidden on your computer network, such as a virus and steal valuable data.

Spyware: Much like its name, spyware is a computer virus that gathers information about a person or organization without their express knowledge and may send the information gathered to a third party without the consumer’s consent.

Adware: Can redirect your search requests to advertising websites and collect marketing data about you in the process so that customized advertisements will be displayed based on your search and buying history.

Ransomware: This is a type of trojan cyberware that is designed to gain money from the person or organization’s computer on which it is installed by encrypting data so that it is unusable, blocking access to the user’s system.

Secure Your Network With Check Point

Network Security is vital in protecting client data and information, it keeps shared data secure, protects from viruses and helps with network performance by reducing overhead expenses and costly losses from data breaches, and since there will be less downtime from malicious users or viruses, it can save businesses money in the long-term.

Check Point’s Network Security solutions simplify your network security without impacting the performance, provide a unified approach for streamlined operations, and enable you to scale for business growth.

Schedule a demo to learn how Check Point protects customers with effective network security for on-premises, branches, and public and private cloud environments.

Network Security Articles

Network Management

Types of Network Security Protections

Firewall. Firewalls control incoming and outgoing traffic on networks, with predetermined security rules.

Network Segmentation. ...

Remote Access VPN. ...

Email Security. ...

Data Loss Prevention (DLP) ...

Intrusion Prevention Systems (IPS) ...

Sandboxing. ...

Hyperscale Network Security.

Fortunately, there are some computer network security best practices that business owners can implement today to secure their data and build more impenetrable protection against hackers and viruses.

Here are 10 proven ways to secure a computer network.

Install and monitor firewall performance

Update Passwords When Needed and/or Yearly

Lean on Advanced Endpoint Detection

Create a virtual private network (VPN)

Train your employee

Filter and delete spam emails

Shut down computers when not in use

Encrypt your files

Secure personal devices

Ask for help

1. Install And Monitor Firewall Performance

A firewall is designed to block unauthorized access to computers and networks. In essence, a firewall is a set of rules that controls network traffic — incoming and outgoing. Computers and networks that pass these rules are granted access, and those that don’t are walled out.

Firewalls are becoming more and more sophisticated (as are hackers), and some of the newest ones are integrated network security platforms that consist of different approaches and encryption methods, all working to prevent breaches and malicious activity.

2. Update Passwords When Needed and/or Yearly

Hopefully your employees know to avoid default passwords or phrases like “password,” “12345” and their dates of birth. In addition to using strong passwords that feature letters (uppercase and lowercase), symbols and numbers for added security, require employees to regularly change their passwords.

It’s been recently recommended to change passwords whenever there’s reason to suspect they’ve been compromised, and annually even if they appear to remain secure. Changing passwords too often can lead to confusion and delays, leading employees to reach out to IT for reminders of their credentials. It’s a bit of a tightrope.

Many businesses now require two-factor authentication to connect to the network. In addition to entering a username and password, users may also need to enter a code they receive via text or by another means to connect to a system or Wi-Fi network.

3. Lean on Advanced Endpoint Detection

In order to respond to the continually evolving online threats in the world today, advanced endpoint detection and response is technology that uses AI to watch for indications of compromise and react accordingly. 

The technology collects and analyzes information from network devices, endpoint logs and threat intelligence feeds, identifying security incidents, policy violations, fraudulent activity and other threats. In order to respond more quickly, these solutions employ a high degree of automation to enable security teams to quickly identify and respond.

More advanced than antivirus software, endpoint detection and response is part of a modern, layered and proactive approach to cybersecurity to defend against ever-changing cyberattacks.

4. Create A Virtual Private Network (VPN)

With millions of people working remotely in a cosmic work shift accelerated by the pandemic, there’s been a massive increase in reported cybercrimes. VPNs create a more secure connection between remote computers and company servers.

With a VPN, only those authorized to access your systems will be able to do so. A VPN can dramatically decrease the likelihood of hackers finding a wireless access point and wreaking havoc on your system.

5. Train Your Employees

Every preparation you have won’t be effective if the people using your system aren’t following security best practices. Frequent reminders about risks and mitigation steps can help them keep network security at the forefront of their attention. Some organizations implement mandatory meetings to help communicate their importance. Educating employees about how to avoid major security risks or getting victimized by identity theft is possibly the greatest weapon you have in boosting your security.

6. Filter and Delete Spam Emails

Phishing emails from hackers are crafted in a way to entice your employees to open them and click on sensational offers or links that seem legitimate. Spam filters have advanced considerably and should be leveraged. 

Even so, the occasional spam email may make it through, especially if a hacker is mimicking someone you know, like a professional colleague or company you do business with. Employees need to use their common sense filters in addition to any spam filter software.

7. Shut Down Computers When Not in Use

It’s tempting to want to leave your computer on and ready for the next day of work. But when your computer sits idle overnight while connected to the internet or your own network, it becomes more visible and available to hackers. Limit their access and block them outright just by shutting your computer down for the night.

8. Encrypt Your Files

The thought of a hacker getting inside your networks is a major cause for alarm. Imagine, however, their surprise when all they find is a bunch of gibberish? Encryption can protect sensitive data on Windows or Mac operating systems using software specifically designed to mask your IP address. You can identify whether a website has been secured using encryption by looking for “https” in the address bar along with a padlock icon.

9. Secure Personal Devices

Employees increasingly use their smartphones and other mobile devices to access information at work. Consider implementing a policy for using personal devices to ensure individuals are following security protocols. 

Some quick tips for securing both personal information and sensitive work data include turning off Bluetooth, never using unsecured public Wi-Fi and following the same advice for complex personal device passcodes as you would for your work computer systems.

10. Ask for Help

When you’re managing your IT internally, the pressure is on to make sure you’re adequately protected against hacking and viruses. While having all these measures in place and ensuring employees are following best practices, it’s still difficult to keep up with the latest cyber threats.

One of the best ways to overcome these challenges is to enlist the help of a technology management provider that stays updated on the latest threats and whose job it is to make your systems as secure as possible. When you work with a technology management provider, you get laser-focused monitoring and attention 24/7.

Working with Elevity

Part of the expertise you can expect from a technology management partner is ensuring maximum system and computer uptime, making sure all of your system’s latest updates are installed and even providing resources to educate your employees. They can help you with day-to-day issues and be there to tackle questions and ensure they’re addressed quickly and resolved accurately.

That’s where Elevity can step in, whether you’re a small business with no internal IT team or a larger business with a team with which we can join forces. Our 4S approach (Strategy, Security, Solutions and Support) means maximum care toward ensuring your systems are running smoothly and securely.

We’ll also anticipate issues before they arise and create problems, which is part of our strategizing. The burden of worrying about whether your network is secure can be a thing of the past when you leverage our services.

Check Your Cybersecurity Risk

Ahead of a partnership, you can get a handle on your current cybersecurity preparedness to see where you may have opportunities to strengthen your defenses. Simply click the link below to take our free Cybersecurity Risk Assessment. It’ll only take a few minutes to answer key questions about your current security protocols, and once complete, we’ll be in touch with a score and possible next steps.

How servers are protected?

Some common server hardening methods include: using data encryption for communication. removing unnecessary software from servers. regularly updating operating systems, and applying security patches.

Server Security Best Practices

Constantly Upgrade the Software and the Operating System.

Configure Your Computer to File Backups.

Access Limitations to Your Computers files.

Install SSL Certificates.

Use Virtual Private Networks (Private Networking)

Server Password Security.

Use Firewall Protection.

What is management in e-commerce?

E-commerce management is the practice of managing an online business, so it's successfully achieving its goals of quality product, customer acquisition and customer retention

What are ecommerce policies?

The e-commerce policy is applicable on: All online inventory entities and e-commerce marketplaces. All goods and services purchased or sold through online platforms, including digital products by every e-commerce business owner. All trade practices are unfair and unequal on any e-commerce platform

Process of E-Commerce Business

Along with the explosion of information technology in recent years, e-commerce business is increasingly popular. E-commerce process is applied in almost every company working in this field. Process of E-Commerce Business includes the following elements:

The purpose of marketing is target to potential buyers, engage them to enter your website by using internet advertising, email or creating fairs. In addition, businesses should also establish communities (user groups), forums, chats or customer surveys through surveys to create the return of customers.

Customers are indispensable for e-commerce businesses.

However, we also need to distinguish two types of purchases:

– Purchasing between businesses: A buyer is another business that needs to buy.

– Buying goods between customers and businesses: The buyer is usually an individual who pays by credit card and sends home goods.

As soon as a customer enters the website, a business site is downloaded. Now you can start tracking and creating profiles for this customer. Based on that information, you can target the products that this customer is most interested in.

This is the first and important step of e-commerce web.

Customers see the product on the website if the item is arranged by stall, category for easy search. Once customers are attracted to the items on sale or promotions, this is really a potential customer.

On the e-commerce website, there is always a shopping cart for customers to shop most conveniently and easily. The shopping cart is simply a list of items selected by the buyer, quantity, price, attributes (colors, sizes, etc.) and any other information related to the order.

The shopping cart often provides options to clean the basket, delete items, and update quantities.

– As soon as the customer has all the items to buy, they will begin the billing process.

– For the buying model between customers and businesses, customers will usually enter information about shipping addresses and billing.

– Customers can also add information on greetings, gift packs and other information for dependent services.

Shipping charges can be understood simply as charging the whole or as complicated as charging a fee for each item purchased and correlating with the segment the goods must be shipped to. However, it may be more difficult to process international orders.

It can then be linked to a provider, tracking goods during transit.

– After calculating the total value of items (including tax and shipping) the buyer will present the payment method.

– The options will vary for transactions:

+ Between customers and businesses usually pay by credit card or pay after delivery

+ Between business and business needs to have available all options, including orders, quotes, guarantees, …

– For credit cards, there are options to process credit cards offline or online. The online processing on the internet through services is provided by reputable companies.

After the order is completed, it may be necessary to send the customer a receipt. For a business-to-business e-commerce model, the receipt can be a list attached to the order. For customers, the receipt can be a reprint of the order on the screen or a list sent to the buyer by Email.

In both cases, this process can be easily automated.

If you do not automatically process your credit card, you must first process your financial transactions. Standard business rules govern this step, such as ordering by phone or mail.

Options can be provided to let customers know about order status, inventory or item supply status.

As soon as there is a valid order, it needs to be done. This may be the most challenging business stage. If shopping online, there may be difficulties in making an inventory. If procured through the service system there may be problems with the order fulfillment service system.

The final step in the e-commerce process is shipping the goods to customers. Can provide order status to customers. In this case, it may include a number of carriers such as UPS or FedEx for customers to track their shipments.

It comes to the end of the post: Process of E-Commerce Business

What is business process in eCommerce?

At the top level of an eCommerce process flow, the following can be easily identified: Customer places an order in your eCommerce system. Order details are extracted from your eCommerce system and entered into your business software. Order is passed to the warehouse to be processed. Order is placed for fulfilment.

Public law in e commerce

The IT Act 2000 is the sole cyber law in India which also governs, to some extent, the online issues of e-commerce in India. Although the IT Act focuses mainly on digital signature and related aspects, it mandates that the e-commerce entrepreneurs and owners must ensure cyber law due diligence in India.

Key Ecommerce Laws You Need to Know

Ecommerce is a relatively new branch of retail. 

Similar to other types of online businesses, you need to comply with the general corporate laws and local and international laws applicable to your business. Additionally, you will need to comply with digital-specific provisions around web accessibility, data privacy and electronic payment processing that may be applicable to your store. 

To stay on the safe side, you should invest the time to learn about the rights and wrongs when it comes to:
Taxes

Payment gateways

Trademarks, patents and copyrights

Shipping restrictions

Inventory

Age restrictions

Business insurance

Licenses and permits

PCI compliance

Customer privacy 

1. Taxes. 

Here’s a quick refresher on taxes from Tracey Wallace’s handbook on ecommerce taxation.

U.S.-based ecommerce businesses are bound to charge:

Sales taxes vary by state and separate locations in states. 45 states and Washington D.C. impose a state-wide sales tax. However, different cities, counties and “special taxing districts” may also add local sales tax rates, on top of state-wide taxation. 

For example, here’s what’s included in Rhinebeck, NY sales tax rate:

Failure to properly calculate and collect the right sales tax amount can put a dent in your profit margin. Moreover, this leaves you stressed during tax season. So get to know your obligations in advance! 

You can read more about state-by-state tax sales tax rules in Jennifer Dunn’s separate guide. 

Import duties and taxes. If you import products from foreign-based suppliers (e.g. dropshipping partners or wholesalers) valued in excess of a certain threshold, your imports may be subject to customs duties. 

Also, other tariffs and taxes may apply if you regularly ship in products in larger quantities. You can use the free U.S. Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) tool to simulate different scenarios. 

Next, if you are selling products internationally, your foreign customers may have to pay import taxes and duties. You can choose to settle them on their behalf via pre-paid duties shipments, offered by some third-party logistics providers. Or you can bundle them into an international price. For example, European and Australian shoppers are accustomed to seeing all-inclusive prices. 

Ecotaxes. To promote sustainability, many states are introducing taxation on activities and items that may be harmful to the environment. For example, under the California Redemption Value (CRV) Act, consumers have to pay an extra recycling fee of $0.05 for plastic containers under 24 ounces and $0.10 for plastic containers over 24 ounces. The state also has a pending proposal for a new ecotax, which would be charged on each individual item packed in single-use plastic. If enacted, it would take effect starting in 2022. 

International businesses should also be mindful of local ecotaxes. For example, Europe is way ahead in charging extras for non-sustainable products, shipping or packaging practices. 

Takeaway: To cover all your bases, talk to a tax professional or local tax authorities. These experts will be able to help you understand specific circumstances that may affect your product and give you insights into how you need to charge tax for your business’s location. 

Keep in mind, too, that this information — and the regulations around it — are constantly changing! 

2. Payment gateways. 

Payment gateways are the lifeline for securely processing customer payments. 

The keyword here is “security” as a payment data breach can lead to a major regulatory fine. Not to mention result in indirect losses associated with damage to your brand image. 

Breaches are also common. For instance, last year one payment processor admitted to exposing over 1.5 million credit and debit card accounts in North America due to cyber attacks. 

So stay vigilant when it comes to selecting a payment processor. Prioritize solutions with:

DCI-PSS compliance 

GDPR compliance (for selling in Europe) 

HTTPS connection (SSL certificate) for all payment operations 

Integrated security and anti-fraud protection 

3. Trademarks, patents and copyrights. 

Trademarks, patents and copyrights are considered business intellectual property and, thus, protected by respective laws. 

Here’s how the United States Patent and Trademark Office categorizes each of these terms:

Trademark: A word, phrase, symbol and/or design that identifies and distinguishes the source of the goods of one party from those of others.

Patent: A limited duration property right relating to an invention, granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office in exchange for public disclosure of the invention.

Copyright: Protects works of authorship, such as writings, music and works of art that have been tangibly expressed.

In other words, if you take the appropriate steps with respect to your intellectual property, you may be afforded legal protections that prevent other brands from using your intellectual property without your consent. 

Likewise, you can’t use the intellectual property of others without the appropriate consents. For instance, if you want to sell t-shirts with Star Wars characters on them, you will want to obtain the appropriate consents to avoid any legal issues. 

Also, you may want to consider copyright protection for your ecommerce website. Some of the applicable copyright laws to keep in mind:

Any unique aspects of a custom ecommerce platform (such as a source code) can be protected by patents and copyrights. 

Ecommerce website design elements such as logos, custom illustrations and visual content (including posts for social media) may also be protected by copyright laws such as Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). 

Takeaway: Obtaining a trademark, service mark or patent isn’t strictly necessary for ecommerce business owners but may provide additional protections. Yet, you need to make sure you’re not infringing on others’ intellectual property rights. Research with the appropriate copyright, patent and trademark organizations such as the US Patent and Trademark Office. They’ll help you start off on the right foot.

4. Shipping restrictions. 

Ecommerce shipping can be mind-boggling at times since logistics companies have different rates, rules and restrictions for shipping different types of products. 

Most shipping companies clearly note their restricted items. Some commonly-restricted items are:

Aerosols

Airbags

Alcoholic beverages

Ammunition

Animals

Cigarettes

CBD products 

Dry ice

Explosives

Fresh fruits and vegetables

Hazardous materials

Nail polish

Perfumes

Perishables

Poison

Also, note that some providers may allow you to ship normally restricted items, but they will require some extra paperwork and fees. You’ll want to take this into consideration as you evaluate shipping providers and integrations.

For information on shipping internationally, check out the Federal Trade Commission’s Electronic Commerce: Selling Internationally guide, which will help answer questions about taxes, duties and customs laws. They also have information on the shipping taxes, duties and imports. 

Takeaway: Not all shippers restrict the same items. Research different providers to determine the costs and requirements for shipping your type of product. 

5. Inventory. 

Maybe you’re thinking of storing the clothing for your online boutique in a spare closet or packing your handmade jewelry in too many storage boxes to count?

While your determination is alive and well, believe it or not, your business may be too large to legally run out of your home.

If you’ll be holding substantial inventory, you should also check your real estate lease, deed or zoning codes to see if there are any prohibitions on running a business like the one you’re contemplating out of your home. 

Even if you plan to run a small online business, some property laws can still apply to you.
Your local homeowners’ association may not be too keen on allowing a home-based business in the area if it doesn’t comply with the zoning laws or the homeowners’ association rules and regulations. Thus, you may be surprised to learn that you could benefit from having a brick-and-mortar location or warehouse in the early stages of your online business! 

If you’re hesitant to open a physical business and cannot run your business out of your home, don’t fret — you have more options.

Try leveraging a partnership with a shipping and fulfillment company that specializes in dropshipping or 3PLs.

Bonus? By using a dropshipping or 3PL service, you reduce shipping zones, or the distance packages travel, which will typically reduce the cost of shipping and time in transit. A win-win for both your business and your customers.

Takeaway: Learn about home-based business regulations, applicable to your ecommerce niche. Pay attention to general business licenses, zoning restrictions and health and safety permits. 

6. Age restrictions.

Anytime you launch a website, it’s absolutely required that it comply with the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) — no exceptions.

This act includes quite a few regulations, but one that will likely apply to your site is the inability to collect any personal information from a child under the age of 13.

If you’re planning on selling a product or service tailored specifically to a young audience, you’ll need to abide by COPPA regulations. Or else, you risk regulatory fines of up to $43,280.

Also, check your country’s rules and regulations before selling age-restricted products through an ecommerce store.

Takeaway: Every country is different as far as their demands on how to run a business. Things get especially tricky when it comes to age restrictions on products. Do your research and stay on top of legislation to ensure your business is on the up-and-up.

7. Business insurance. 

Business insurance isn’t always legally mandatory for ecommerce store owners.
If you operate as a registered business entity such as a limited liability company (LLC), your personal assets may already be protected. However, you’ll want to consult with legal counsel to ensure that’s accurate, as the laws may vary based on where you operate or where your entity was formed.
Even if that’s true for your situation, it may also be beneficial to get your business insured for 

General liability 

Product liability

Professional liability

Commercial liability 

Remember the story about a burning hoverboard? Well, the family was allowed to sue Amazon even though the company acted as an intermediary for another seller who sold a faulty gadget. Product liability insurance could protect you against such scenarios. This type of insurance is especially important if you plan on selling products that are considered high-risk, like CBD.

Also look into professional liability insurance (also known as errors and omissions insurance), which can protect your business against malpractice, error and negligence.

Takeaway: Business insurance can look expensive for new business owners. But it can save you more money if matters go legally awry.

8. Licenses and permits. 

Depending on which products you decide to offer, you may need a business license to sell them.

As a rule of thumb, most states in the U.S. require you to have a valid seller’s permit if you have a brick-and-mortar business.
However, the requirements are different for online businesses. As LegalZoom writes:

“UNLESS YOU ARE SELLING PRODUCTS OR SERVICES IN A REGULATED INDUSTRY SUCH AS HEALTH CARE, YOU DON’T NEED A SELLER’S PERMIT TO CONDUCT BUSINESS ONLINE. BUT THAT MAY NOT BE THE CASE IN YOUR STATE AND/OR IN YOUR INDUSTRY.”

As LegalZoom notes, you should always double-check applicable laws. So be sure to do just that!
Separately, you may want to look into a reseller license — a document that lets you purchase inventory in bulk or wholesale without paying local sales taxes. Having one could prevent you from paying double taxation (i.e. when you pay a sales tax, then collect it from your customers and pay to the authorities). With a reseller certificate, you may only need to collect sales tax when customers buy your products. Similarly, check with local authorities if you plan to partner with wholesalers and suppliers. 

Finally, international sellers should also check with a local licensing department to verify whether they need any permits.

Takeaway: Apart from a sales tax ID, you may not need any other special business license to operate a small ecommerce store. However, to avoid any future issues, you should confirm that there are no business licenses required to operate in the jurisdictions you operate or transact in by confirming with the appropriate local regulators or consulting with an attorney. 

9. PCI compliance. 

Payment Card Industry (PCI) Data Security Standard (DSS) is a commercial security standard, introduced by a group of American financial services providers in 2006. 

The goal of a PCI DSS directive is to introduce unified standards for securely processing card transactions and bring all industry participants to the same level of compliance. It covers both online and POS transactions, as well as card over phone orders and other types of card-not-present transactions. 

Thus being PCI compliant doesn’t just mean providing a secure, encrypted checkout experience — you’ll also need to avoid storing any purchasing information on paper or via recording (e.g. if someone were to give you their card number over the phone).

Modern ecommerce platforms such as BigCommerce already come with PCI Level 1 compliance baked-in for payment processing. 

However, if you plan to use a third-party payment processor or an integrated POS system, inquire about their state of PCI compliance. 

Takeaway: PCI DSS is aimed at ensuring better payment security. It serves as an industry “stamp of approval” for payment processors and other types of companies doing money transactions. 

10. Customer privacy. 

Ecommerce websites can collect a ton of valuable insights to create a data-driven CX for shoppers. But not all types of ecommerce big data are up for analytics grabs.
Data privacy laws around the world prohibit merchants from using customers’ personal identifiable information (PII) for analytics purposes. This includes full names, addresses, social security numbers, debit and credit card details, etc. 

Also, some states and countries oblige online shops to explicitly ask for customers’ permission for collecting, storing and processing their data. 

Two customer privacy acts ecommerce store owners should familiarize themselves with are:

California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA). This law obliges businesses to disclose any information they have about the consumer, as well as a list of third-party that their data is shared with as per users’ demand. Customers can also sue businesses for any privacy violations. 

General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). This is an EU-member state-wide act that puts down seven must-follow regulations online businesses must abide by when it comes to customer data collection, storage and usage. 

GDPR has been notoriously advertised as the “stingiest customer data privacy” law. Indeed, the violation fines are steep — €20 million ($24.3 million) or 4% of global revenue, whichever is higher.

But staying on the right side of GDPR isn’t that hard either. If you plan to sell in Europe, refer to the official GDPR resource website. It has a detailed FAQ section and checklist for businesses. 

Takeaway: Customer privacy violations can lead to legal and regulatory action. However, compliance is a matter of due diligence and care. A number of ecommerce and marketing apps have in-built facets for ensuring compliance with data collection laws such as CCPA and GDPR. 

Wrapping Up 

Understanding the implications of online business laws is essential for the health of your business — and the protection of consumers who become your customers.

When you start your ecommerce business, take the time to learn about the tax, payments security, copyright, data collection and usage, as well as licensing requirements for your industry. 

The above may sound like a lot. But this knowledge and investment in professional legal or tax advice will future-proof your business against legal calamities and costly operational mishaps! 

Online Business Laws FAQs

1. What are online business laws?

Online business laws govern digital product and services sales, digital copyrights, as well as customer data collection, storage and processing. Such laws were designed to make online browsing and shopping experience safe, secure and fair for businesses and consumers alike. 

2. How can I legally sell online?

To legally sell products online, you need to apply for a sales tax ID (number). Then, ensure that you are collecting and reporting all applicable state- and local-level sales taxes. Moreover, you need to be compliant with digital customer data protection acts such as COOPA, CCPA (if you operate in California) and GDPR (for European sales). Finally, research if you need any special permits or licenses to operate your type of business or if any other laws apply to it. 

3. Do I need to start an LLC to sell online? 

You can start a small online store as a sole proprietor. But registering an LLC may offer you better liability protection against legal issues depending on the laws in the jurisdiction that you form the LLC in and where your business operates. Also, a business entity is often necessary to apply for a reseller certificate — a document many suppliers and wholesalers will ask for to trade with you. 

4. Are there products that I can’t legally sell online?

You can’t sell illegal items online as defined by your local laws, similar to brick and mortar stores. Otherwise, there are types of products you are restricted from selling without a special license such as alcohol, tobacco, fresh produce, medicals and pharmaceutical products. Also, some ecommerce platforms and marketplaces may have separate lists of items that are restricted from being sold on their platform. 

5. Is a business license the same as an LLC?

No, these are two different concepts. An LLC is a type of entity — a way to form a new company. Business licenses are obtained on top of company registration. Depending on your jurisdiction, a business license may only be required for certain occupations or types of online businesses. Having an LLC does not exclude you from the need to apply for a business license if you are otherwise required to apply for a business license. 

6. Does my ecommerce site need a privacy policy?

Yes, for all practical purposes, all online stores need a privacy policy, explaining which data you collect (e.g. cookies), for what purposes, how long you store it and how you use it. Ecommerce sites without a privacy policy are viewed as suspicious by consumers and can attract the attention of local regulators, monitoring compliance with customer data protection laws. 

7. What are intellectual property rights in ecommerce?

Ecommerce store owners are bound by general copyright and trademark laws, similar to other types of businesses. These can provide you with legal rights to protect your website content against unauthorized distribution, wrongful usage and copying. You can also choose to take the appropriate steps to trademark your online store name, and in some cases, a domain name too. 

8. What actions should ecommerce managers take to safeguard consumer privacy and security?

First of all, ensure that you have an up-to-date privacy policy. Secondly, analyze your tech stack and ensure that all payment, marketing and customer service tools you are using have complaint policies on customer data collection. Partnering with reputable ecommerce platforms, marketing software providers and analytics companies is a good step in ensuring that you are taking a proactive approach to safeguarding your customers’ security and privacy. 

9. Why is privacy in ecommerce important?

Because the last thing you’d want is having a distressed customer or government authority going after your business with a lawsuit for privacy violations. The ecommerce industry is regulated by digital customer data privacy laws such as CCPA, Data Broker Registrations and GDPR among others. You must comply with the privacy laws applicable to your business in order to avoid potential legal penalties and reputational damages. 

10. What states require sales tax for online sales?

Overall, 45 states and Washington DC have state-wide sales taxes for online sales made by/to local residents (businesses and private persons). Separately, almost every state has a sales tax nexus — a degree of connection between an online retailer and the state requiring the retailer to register and collect sales tax within the state.

11. What type of business license do I need for ecommerce?

You may not need any special business license, apart from sales ID tax registration, for your online store unless you are selling certain types of products such as medical devices, healthcare products, alcohol, fresh produce and other types of regulated products. However, it’s best to double-check the requirements with a local authority or a legal professional.

Disclaimer:

This material is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, tax, professional or financial advice. BigCommerce disclaims any liability with respect to this material, and the information on this website may not constitute the most up-to-date legal or other information. 

The information on this website is not a substitute for, and does not replace the advice or representation of, a licensed attorney or other professional. Please consult your attorney or professional advisor on specific legal, tax, professional or financial matters. All liability with respect to actions taken or not taken based on the contents of this site are hereby expressly disclaimed. This website contains links to other third-party websites. Such links are only for the convenience of the reader, user or browser; BigCommerce does not recommend or endorse the contents of the third-party sites.

5 e-commerce policies you to need to have

Terms of Service. You need to iron out your e-commerce business's Terms of Service as soon as your business opens its proverbial doors. ...

Privacy policy. Unlike a Terms of Service policy, a privacy policy is required by law. ...

Returns and exchanges policy. ...

Shipping policy. ...

Taxes.

E-Commerce Management Policy Policy Electronic acceptance and processing of all financial transactions using Electronic Commerce (credit card payment via the Web) are required to pass through the Office of Information Technology implemented Web payment gateway. This gateway uses the TouchNet Web Payment Gateway hardware/software and processes all transactions thru First Data Corporation (FDC). (Auburn's Office of Information Technology will provide an interface to this gateway, along with development standards for using the interface.) Merchant identification and purchase information will be passed to this interface by departmentally developed Web pages. Auburn University Web pages developed by department personnel or sub contractors are specifically prohibited from accepting credit card numbers or other related personal information such as name on card or card expiration date.

Business Review of Proposed E-Commerce Applications:

1. A committee comprised of representatives of Office of Cash Management, Office of Student Financial Services, Business & Finance and Controller, and the Office of Information Technology will review all proposed business applications which propose to use the Internet for online payment of sales of products and services.

2. Prior to development of any E Commerce application, including those to be developed by outside contractors, each Auburn University department without exception must submit a proposal to the Office of Cash Management. Office of Cash Management will initiate a committee review.

Each proposal should include the following information:

i. The products or services to be sold.

ii. The intended customer base.

iii. Anticipated transaction volume.

iv. Any outside advertising to be included on the pages.

v. Name of a departmental representative for the E Commerce Review Committee and Office of Information Technology to contact regarding technical or procedural questions that may arise during the review and approval process of the application. If the application is approved, Office of Cash Management will notify the department, determine the income account to be credited, and obtain a new merchant ID, if necessary.

3. Additionally, this review committee shall be responsible for:

i. Consideration and approval for changing "transaction processors" or adding additional processors as appropriate. Reviewing all campus Web applications for policy compliance.

ii. Establishing deadlines for bringing all existing payment applications into full compliance with this policy. Issued by: The Offices of the Provost and Executive Vice President

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Security is an essential part of any transaction that takes place over the internet. Customers will lose his/her faith in e-business if its security is compromised.

Following are the essential requirements for safe e-payments/transactions −

Confidentiality − Information should not be accessible to an unauthorized person. It should not be intercepted during the transmission.

Integrity − Information should not be altered during its transmission over the network.

Availability − Information should be available wherever and whenever required within a time limit specified.

Authenticity − There should be a mechanism to authenticate a user before giving him/her an access to the required information.

Non-Repudiability − It is the protection against the denial of order or denial of payment. Once a sender sends a message, the sender should not be able to deny sending the message. Similarly, the recipient of message should not be able to deny the receipt.

Encryption − Information should be encrypted and decrypted only by an authorized user.

Auditability − Data should be recorded in such a way that it can be audited for integrity requirements.

Measures to ensure Security

Major security measures are following −

Encryption − It is a very effective and practical way to safeguard the data being transmitted over the network. Sender of the information encrypts the data using a secret code and only the specified receiver can decrypt the data using the same or a different secret code.

Digital Signature − Digital signature ensures the authenticity of the information. A digital signature is an e-signature authenticated through encryption and password.

Security Certificates − Security certificate is a unique digital id used to verify the identity of an individual website or user.

Security Protocols in Internet

We will discuss here some of the popular protocols used over the internet to ensure secured online transactions.

Secure Socket Layer (SSL)

It is the most commonly used protocol and is widely used across the industry. It meets following security requirements −

Authentication

Encryption

Integrity

Non-reputability

"https://" is to be used for HTTP urls with SSL, where as "http:/" is to be used for HTTP urls without SSL.

Secure Hypertext Transfer Protocol (SHTTP)

SHTTP extends the HTTP internet protocol with public key encryption, authentication, and digital signature over the internet. Secure HTTP supports multiple security mechanism, providing security to the end-users. SHTTP works by negotiating encryption scheme types used between the client and the server.

Secure Electronic Transaction

It is a secure protocol developed by MasterCard and Visa in collaboration. Theoretically, it is the best security protocol.

It has the following components −

Card Holder's Digital Wallet Software − Digital Wallet allows the card holder to make secure purchases online via point and click interface.

Merchant Software − This software helps merchants to communicate with potential customers and financial institutions in a secure manner.

Payment Gateway Server Software − Payment gateway provides automatic and standard payment process. It supports the process for merchant's certificate request.

Certificate Authority Software − This software is used by financial institutions to issue digital certificates to card holders and merchants, and to enable them to register their account agreements for secure electronic commerce.

E-Commerce - Payment Systems

E-commerce sites use electronic payment, where electronic payment refers to paperless monetary transactions. Electronic payment has revolutionized the business processing by reducing the paperwork, transaction costs, and labor cost. Being user friendly and less time-consuming than manual processing, it helps business organization to expand its market reach/expansion.

Listed below are some of the modes of electronic payments −

Credit Card

Debit Card

Smart Card

E-Money

Electronic Fund Transfer (EFT)

Credit Card

Payment using credit card is one of most common mode of electronic payment. Credit card is small plastic card with a unique number attached with an account. It has also a magnetic strip embedded in it which is used to read credit card via card readers. When a customer purchases a product via credit card, credit card issuer bank pays on behalf of the customer and customer has a certain time period after which he/she can pay the credit card bill. It is usually credit card monthly payment cycle.

Following are the actors in the credit card system.

The card holder − Customer

The merchant − seller of product who can accept credit card payments.

The card issuer bank − card holder's bank

The acquirer bank − the merchant's bank

The card brand − for example , visa or Mastercard.

Credit Card Payment Proces

Step	Description
Step 1	Bank issues and activates a credit card to the customer on his/her request.
Step 2	The customer presents the credit card information to the merchant site or to the merchant from whom he/she wants to purchase a product/service.
Step 3	Merchant validates the customer's identity by asking for approval from the card brand company.
Step 4	Card brand company authenticates the credit card and pays the transaction by credit. Merchant keeps the sales slip.
Step 5	Merchant submits the sales slip to acquirer banks and gets the service charges paid to him/her.
Step 6	Acquirer bank requests the card brand company to clear the credit amount and gets the payment.
Step 6	Now the card brand company asks to clear the amount from the issuer bank and the amount gets transferred to the card brand company.

Debit Card

Debit card, like credit card, is a small plastic card with a unique number mapped with the bank account number. It is required to have a bank account before getting a debit card from the bank. The major difference between a debit card and a credit card is that in case of payment through debit card, the amount gets deducted from the card's bank account immediately and there should be sufficient balance in the bank account for the transaction to get completed; whereas in case of a credit card transaction, there is no such compulsion.

Debit cards free the customer to carry cash and cheques. Even merchants accept a debit card readily. Having a restriction on the amount that can be withdrawn in a day using a debit card helps the customer to keep a check on his/her spending.

Smart Card

Smart card is again similar to a credit card or a debit card in appearance, but it has a small microprocessor chip embedded in it. It has the capacity to store a customer’s work-related and/or personal information. Smart cards are also used to store money and the amount gets deducted after every transaction.

Smart cards can only be accessed using a PIN that every customer is assigned with. Smart cards are secure, as they store information in encrypted format and are less expensive/provides faster processing. Mondex and Visa Cash cards are examples of smart cards.

E-Money

E-Money transactions refer to situation where payment is done over the network and the amount gets transferred from one financial body to another financial body without any involvement of a middleman. E-money transactions are faster, convenient, and saves a lot of time.

Online payments done via credit cards, debit cards, or smart cards are examples of emoney transactions. Another popular example is e-cash. In case of e-cash, both customer and merchant have to sign up with the bank or company issuing e-cash.

Electronic Fund Transfer

It is a very popular electronic payment method to transfer money from one bank account to another bank account. Accounts can be in the same bank or different banks. Fund transfer can be done using ATM (Automated Teller Machine) or using a computer.

Nowadays, internet-based EFT is getting popular. In this case, a customer uses the website provided by the bank, logs in to the bank's website and registers another bank account. He/she then places a request to transfer certain amount to that account. Customer's bank transfers the amount to other account if it is in the same bank, otherwise the transfer request is forwarded to an ACH (Automated Clearing House) to transfer the amount to other account and the amount is deducted from the customer's account. Once the amount is transferred to other account, the customer is notified of the fund transfer by the bank.

Encryption

Encryption is a way of scrambling (move quickly) data so that only authorized parties can understand the information. In technical terms, it is the process of converting human-readable plaintext to incomprehensible text, also known as ciphertext (encoded information). Encrypted to change electronic information or signals into a secret code (= system of letters, numbers, or symbols) that people cannot understand or use on normal equipment

Securing channels of communication

A protected communication link established between the cryptographic module and a sender or receiver (including another cryptographic module) to securely communicate and verify the validity of plaintext CSPs, keys, authentication data, and other sensitive data. Also called a secure channel.

Cryptography is the process of hiding or coding information so that only the person a message was intended for can read it. The art of cryptography has been used to code messages for thousands of years and continues to be used in bank cards, computer passwords, and ecommerce.

What are the measures of securing channels of communication?

To consider digital communication secure, it must fulfill four essential principles: encryption, authentication, integrity, and non-repudiation. Encryption: Messages should be sent with end-to-end encryption to protect the content from unauthorized access.

Communication security means prevention of unwanted and unauthorized access to telecommunications. It includes four major disciplines:

Physical security

Emission security

Encryption security

Transmission security.

Organizations that want to secure their communication and protect their customer data must pay attention to all four areas.

What is communication security?

Also referred to as COMSEC, communication security is the prevention of unauthorized access to communications traffic. In essence, COMSEC as a discipline tries to protect any piece of information or data transferred over email, chat, phone, and other means.

Today, as communication means are developing and becoming more digital, the call for security is greater than ever.

8 communication security strategies for organizations

Secure communication translates to continuous availability, integrity, and confidentiality of the network. Here’s a list of the best secure communication strategies used for organizations wanting to safeguard their data:

1. Physical security

Physical security refers to the protection of building sites and equipment (and all information and software contained therein) from theft, vandalism, natural disaster, manmade catastrophes, and accidental damage (e.g., from electrical surges, extreme temperatures, and spilled coffee).

Although most of the communication today takes place over the internet, servers are key components of a communication system. Thus, the network operator is responsible for protecting them against any damage and ensuring smooth connectivity.

Ideally, servers should be located in a closed facility with limited access. Organizations concerned about communication security often choose on-premise deployment of any service to ensure maximum safety. In addition, having an efficient alarm system to notify authorities to respond swiftly and control the damage can aid secure communication.

As covered in our recent article about on-premise vs. cloud security,

When companies choose cloud providers, data security becomes a shared responsibility between the company and the cloud provider. With on-prem, they are fully in control of their data.

2. Network and architecture of the communication system

Two methods (communications network architecture) can be used to deliver data to the target. In the first method, a network architecture is designed in which the wireless sensor nodes can transfer data to the delivery center directly; this is also termed a flat network architecture.

The reliability of any communication network largely depends on a continuous and secure flow. To ensure this, the network must consist of autonomous units that can work independently to ensure smooth communication.

In addition, the hardware (including base stations and servers) should always have an uninterrupted power supply (UPS) to act as a backup. The density of these hardware units in the network ensures its ability to serve its users.

In extreme cases, networks can be air-gapped to prevent the slightest possibility of external access.

3. Preventing unauthorized access

To prevent unauthorized access, it's essential to implement strong security measures such as robust password policies, multi-factor authentication, regular software updates, employee training on security awareness, and effective physical security practices.

Strong access controls must be implemented within a communication system to ensure communication security and stay compliant with data sovereignty laws. Sensitive information, including the user’s name and personal details, should not be accessible even to employees below a certain security clearance level.

Multi-factor authentication is one way to enable secure communication between people without anyone eavesdropping, stealing data, or spreading misinformation. Sometimes unauthenticated users may need to join meetings for which a service that allows users to identify and accept or block their requests is required.

Get started with Rocket.Chat’s secure collaboration platform

Talk to sales

4. Data encryption in transit

To encrypt data in transit, you need to use a secure communication protocol that ensures the confidentiality, integrity, and authenticity of your data. The most common protocol for encrypting data in transit is SSL/TLS, which stands for Secure Sockets Layer/Transport Layer Security.

Data traveling through an untrusted network, like the internet, is most vulnerable during transit. Therefore, it is crucial to put a protective mechanism, like end-to-end (E2E) encryption, in place. It lets data travel safely between two parties, preventing any tampering from unauthorized third-party users. 

The cryptographic key decrypts the communication when it reaches the receiver. It is also important to secure the management of these cryptographic keys for communication security.

Find out what are the ten best encrypted messaging apps for business communication.

5. Admin controls

Administrative controls are changes in work procedures to reduce the duration, frequency, and severity of exposure to hazardous chemicals or situations. Administrative controls include work practice controls which are intended to reduce the likelihood of exposure by changing the way a task is performed.

Not every employee in your organization will need access to every piece of information. Admin controls play an important role in readily managing this aspect. When personnel join the company, change departments, or leave the organization, their login credentials and access limits are altered or removed by the admin.

Even so, a large organization requires periodic inspection of employee access and admit controls to avoid any data leaks or misinformation spreads. This helps prevent compliance mishaps with laws like General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).

6. Regular audits

Regular audit is performed periodically according to auditing programs set forth by Customs focusing on business system and routine operation and management situation. The Internal Control Framework of the Commission is used for this purpose.

When an insider performs regular audits, they may not produce accurate results if the auditor is biased or has ulterior motives. Besides, if an audit is used to spread malware, misuse information, or launch phishing attacks, it can result in an adverse outcome.

Outsourcing security audits to a reliable and compliant third party can be beneficial in ensuring communication security. The authorized auditor should launch a surprise audit if the security system picks up multiple failed-login attempts or any unusual activity in the communication.

7. Internal training

Internal training is another name for in-house training or onsite training. It relies on a company's own resources to train employees within the organization. It's unlike outsourced training that relies on an external training provider to manage all your training needs.

Safety protocols may not work if people don’t follow standard secure communication practices. Conducting regular training sessions for your staff on standard procedures while communicating can strengthen the communication network’s security. Internal training can help employees verify the information and avoid cyberattacks.

Internal training is especially important to bolster cybersecurity while working remotely.

8. Careful third-party use

Monitor the app's security and performance. Limit sensitive data and functions to authorised users with role-based access controls. Limit permissions granted to the app. Limit the amount of personal and professional data you share with third-party apps.

Communication services require metadata for every communication to operate properly. Details about the communication, including the who, when, where, and how, may be collected and stored. The service provider needs to share the purpose of each collected piece of information.

An open-source messaging solution is appropriate for your organization as it has essential transparency to ensure only the necessary metadata is collected and used.

Protecting network

Network Security involves access control, virus and antivirus software, application security, network analytics, types of network-related security (endpoint, web, wireless), firewalls, VPN encryption and more.

Types of Network Security Protections

Firewall

Firewalls control incoming and outgoing traffic on networks, with predetermined security rules. Firewalls keep out unfriendly traffic and is a necessary part of daily computing. Network Security relies heavily on Firewalls, and especially Next Generation Firewalls, which focus on blocking malware and application-layer attacks.

Network Segmentation

Network segmentation defines boundaries between network segments where assets within the group have a common function, risk or role within an organization. For instance, the perimeter gateway segments a company network from the Internet. Potential threats outside the network are prevented, ensuring that an organization’s sensitive data remains inside. Organizations can go further by defining additional internal boundaries within their network, which can provide improved security and access control.

What is Access Control?

Access control defines the people or groups and the devices that have access to network applications and systems thereby denying unsanctioned access, and maybe threats. Integrations with Identity and Access Management (IAM) products can strongly identify the user and Role-based Access Control (RBAC) policies ensure the person and device are authorized access to the asset.

Zero Trust

Remote Access VPN

Remote access VPN provides remote and secure access to a company network to individual hosts or clients, such as telecommuters, mobile users, and extranet consumers. Each host typically has VPN client software loaded or uses a web-based client. Privacy and integrity of sensitive information is ensured through multi-factor authentication, endpoint compliance scanning, and encryption of all transmitted data.

Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA)

The zero trust security model states that a user should only have the access and permissions that they require to fulfill their role. This is a very different approach from that provided by traditional security solutions, like VPNs, that grant a user full access to the target network. Zero trust network access (ZTNA) also known as software-defined perimeter (SDP) solutions permits granular access to an organization’s applications from users who require that access to perform their duties.

Email Security

Email security refers to any processes, products, and services designed to protect your email accounts and email content safe from external threats. Most email service providers have built-in email security features designed to keep you secure, but these may not be enough to stop cybercriminals from accessing your information.

Data Loss Prevention (DLP)

Data loss prevention (DLP) is a cybersecurity methodology that combines technology and best practices to prevent the exposure of sensitive information outside of an organization, especially regulated data such as personally identifiable information (PII) and compliance related data: HIPAA, SOX, PCI DSS, etc.

Intrusion Prevention Systems (IPS)

IPS technologies can detect or prevent network security attacks such as brute force attacks, Denial of Service (DoS) attacks and exploits of known vulnerabilities. A vulnerability is a weakness for instance in a software system and an exploit is an attack that leverages that vulnerability to gain control of that system. When an exploit is announced, there is often a window of opportunity for attackers to exploit that vulnerability before the security patch is applied. An Intrusion Prevention System can be used in these cases to quickly block these attacks.

Sandboxing

Sandboxing is a cybersecurity practice where you run code or open files in a safe, isolated environment on a host machine that mimics end-user operating environments. Sandboxing observes the files or code as they are opened and looks for malicious behavior to prevent threats from getting on the network. For example malware in files such as PDF, Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint can be safely detected and blocked before the files reach an unsuspecting end user.

Hyperscale Network Security

Hyperscale is the ability of an architecture to scale appropriately, as increased demand is added to the system. This solution includes rapid deployment and scaling up or down to meet changes in network security demands. By tightly integrating networking and compute resources in a software-defined system, it is possible to fully utilize all hardware resources available in a clustering solution.

Cloud Network Security

Applications and workloads are no longer exclusively hosted on-premises in a local data center. Protecting the modern data center requires greater flexibility and innovation to keep pace with the migration of application workloads to the cloud. Software-defined Networking (SDN) and Software-defined Wide Area Network (SD-WAN) solutions enable network security solutions in private, public, hybrid and cloud-hosted Firewall-as-a-Service (FWaaS) deployments.

What are the benefits of network security?

Data protection

Prevents hacking

Antivirus software

Ensuring data availability

Access control

Closed environment protected from the internet

Network security solutions

Protects proprietary information

Security for hyperscale networks

 

Protecting servers and clients

Server security focuses on the protection of data and resources held on the servers. It comprises tools and techniques that help prevent intrusions, hacking and other malicious actions. Server security measures vary and are typically implemented in layers.

Client confidentiality is a fundamental rule among institutions and individuals stating that they must not share a client's information with a third party without the consent of the client or a legal reason. Normally, access to a client's data is only between the workplace and the customer or client.

1Update your systems regularly

One of the easiest and most effective ways to secure your Windows systems is to keep them updated with the latest patches and security fixes. Windows updates can fix vulnerabilities, improve performance, and add new features that can enhance your security. You can use Windows Update or Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) to manage and deploy updates to your servers and clients. You should also update your applications, drivers, and firmware to avoid any compatibility or security issues.

Systems update is highly important as well. We need to have our systems up to date with the patches. This would help us also from major risk.

Start by routinely patching vulnerabilities in the operating system and software. To increase login security, use multi-factor authentication (MFA). Detect dangers by using antivirus/anti-malware software and firewalls to filter network traffic. Inform users on the best practices for cybersecurity, such as how to spot phishing attacks. Apply the least privilege principle to access control. Utilize solutions like BitLocker and EFS to encrypt data both at rest and while it is being transmitted. Maintain logs and keep an eye out for strange activity on the systems. Backup vital data frequently to reduce the risk of data loss in the event of ransomware or security breaches. Sensitive systems are isolated through network segmentation.

2Configure your firewall and network settings

Another important step to secure your Windows systems is to configure your firewall and network settings properly. A firewall can block or allow incoming and outgoing traffic based on rules and policies. You can use Windows Firewall or a third-party firewall to control the network access of your servers and clients. You should also configure your network settings to use secure protocols, such as HTTPS, SSH, and VPN, and disable or limit the use of insecure protocols, such as Telnet, FTP, and SMB. You should also avoid using default ports, usernames, and passwords, and change them to something more complex and unique.

Make it a priority to always make config backups of any network device that will be affected by any planned or emergency changes. Too often I have witnessed a critical problem be fixed in a panic, not realising that a scheduled task running at midnight may fail because of changes done for other teams. This allows for pre-cgange configuration to be restored with minimal disruption to current tasks while the root cause can be investigated, while solution architects design a sustainable solution for the original disruption.

The best practice regarding the firewall will be to stop unnecessary traffic away from the destination, this approach reduces risk and overload on the targeted system, so windows firewall is the "last resort shield". In an advanced virtual environment it is common to use microsigmentation (distributed FWs) , where each communication between each source and destination are known and allowed explicitly, anything else will be blocked and/or monitored. (Two examples can be: VMware NSX or Guardicore )

3Use antivirus and antimalware software

Even if you update your systems and configure your firewall and network settings, you still need to use antivirus and antimalware software to protect your Windows systems from malware and hackers. Antivirus and antimalware software can scan, detect, and remove malicious files, programs, and activities from your systems. You can use Windows Defender or a third-party antivirus and antimalware software to protect your servers and clients. You should also enable real-time protection, schedule regular scans, and update your virus definitions frequently.

In my opinion antivirus and antimalware software is no longer effective. Those technologies works on a "deny-list" basis. Instead use an "allow-list" software, where only authorized software is allowed to run. Anything else will be stopped. This is a much more effective way of achieving this aspect of security.

If you want the real deal, I highly recommend CrowdStrike Falcon (AV) paired with Velociraptor (Advanced forensic analysis). As a Ransomware disaster recovery engineer, I can assure you that if you do not have a good AV installed with real-time protection enabled and not running an analysis tool, you are not secure. Also, I cannot say this any LOUDER, you should NOT have your backup servers on the domain! Isolate them! And it’s never a bad idea to keep an offsite backup. Athena7 is a fantastic company that will do an assessment in your environment to help you understand your security controls, backups, and infrastructure and how well you will withstand attacks by the latest threat actors.

4Enable encryption and backup

Another step to secure your Windows systems is to enable encryption and backup. Encryption can protect your data from unauthorized access, even if your systems are compromised or stolen. You can use Bit Locker or third-party encryption software to encrypt your hard drives, partitions, and removable devices. Backup can help you recover your data in case of data loss, corruption, or ransom ware attacks. You can use Windows Backup or third-party backup software to backup your data to a local or cloud storage.

Backup is important, but even more important is to test that you are able to restore the data and get your systems up and running again.

Encryption is like a secret code that keeps our important information safe. It's important to use encryption on our computer and any devices we plug into it, like a USB stick or external hard drive.

5Implement user and group policies

Another step to secure your Windows systems is to implement user and group policies. User and group policies can define the permissions, roles, and settings of your users and groups on your servers and clients. You can use Active Directory or a third-party user and group management software to create and manage your user and group policies. You should also follow the principle of least privilege, which means giving your users and groups only the minimum access they need to perform their tasks. You should also enforce strong password policies, such as length, complexity, and expiration, and use multi-factor authentication, such as SMS, email, or biometrics, to verify your user identities.

Password policies are rules that help us keep our passwords safe. One important rule is that we need to change our passwords regularly. Another rule is that we should not use the same password over and over again.

Make sure you disable or suspend a user account as soon as an employee leaves the company. Beleive it or not usees share passwords among other employees ans zombi accounts can be very dangerous.

6Monitor and audit your systems

The final step to secure your Windows systems is to monitor and audit your systems. Monitoring and auditing can help you track and analyze the performance, activity, and events of your servers and clients. You can use Windows Event Viewer or a third-party monitoring and auditing software to collect and review your system logs. You should also enable and configure Windows Security Auditing, which can record and report any security-related events, such as logon, file access, policy change, and account management. You should also review and update your security policies and practices regularly, and perform security audits and tests to identify and fix any gaps or weaknesses in your security.

In scenarios involving a large quantity of machines, it might be useful to send those logs to a SIEM software, which configured with the right business-logic rules it can help us to identify any security deviations.

Monitoring and auditing systems is essential for maintaining security and compliance. A SIEM system can help organizations to do this by collecting, aggregating, and analyzing security logs and events from across their IT infrastructure. This data can be used to identify and respond to security threats, investigate security incidents, and comply with security regulations.

Management policies

A policy in Management is a general statement which is formulated by an organization for the guidance of its personnel. The objectives are first formulated and then policies are planned to achieve them. Policies are a mode of thought and the principles underlying the activities of an organization or an institution.

Business procedures and public laws   

Contract law, manufacturing and sales legislation, recruiting procedures, and business ethics are all included in the definition of business law. It refers to and relates to the legal regulations that govern business and trade in both the public and private sectors.

Payment system

The 'payments system' refers to arrangements which allow consumers, businesses and other organisations to transfer funds usually held in an account at a financial institution to one another.