Picture this: you have painstakingly built an online store that thrives and offers products your customers adore. But then, disaster strikes; hackers breach the store’s defenses, steal customer data, and disrupt your operations. The result? Catastrophic – from revenue loss to damaged reputation and potential legal issues. Thankfully, this scenario does not have to become your reality. Where there are digital threats, proactive security measures can help you tackle these concerns. For Magento store owners, a potent tool is found in the form of Magento security audits.
In this article, I will delve into Magento security audits, discuss what these audits include, their benefits, and precisely how they fortify your online store. So, read on to see how to manage your eCommerce store’s security.
What Goes On in a Magento Security Audit?
A Magento security audit involves an extensive examination of your Magento store. The goal of the process is to identify and address potential vulnerabilities. Here is a quick breakdown of the usual process involved:
Step 1 Preparation and Planning
- We start off by outlining the areas to be audited, including the server environment, core Magento software, extensions, etc.
- The team will also gather important details about the store, such as Magento version, hosting provider, current security approach, etc.
Step 2 Vulnerability Assessment
- Automated tools are used to scan the setup for known vulnerabilities, such as malware, old software, etc. before running real-world attack simulations to find exploitable weaknesses.
- Since third-party extensions can also pose security risks, the audit process also involves an assessment of their security.
Step 3 Reporting and Remediation
- The audit team sends a comprehensive report detailing identified vulnerabilities, their severity levels, and recommended actions to address the issues.
- Depending on your agreement with the service provider, the audit team may also offer assistance or perform remediation tasks.
Step 4 Ongoing Security
- Wagento’s Magento security audit process also offers long-term security recommendations. Besides that, your staff can also be provided with security awareness training to ensure sustained security.
We understand that security audits can be a significant concern for store owners, particularly when it comes to budget. Here at Wagento, we believe that robust security shouldn’t be a luxury reserved for big businesses. That is why we offer a unique budget assurance promise: if the project goes over the agreed upon budget, we will pay you a month of your revenue. Guaranteed.
Self-Audit Checklist: Identifying Basic Vulnerabilities
While a professional Magento security audit is always advisable, it doesn’t mean you can’t get started to identify and address some basic security concerns yourself. Here, I will provide a self-audit checklist to help you find potential weaknesses and tighten your defenses.
Once again, this checklist won’t replace the in-depth analysis offered by Wagento’s professional audit service. Nonetheless, it is a valuable starting point for any Magento store owner. Let us now dive in and help you set up your store’s first line of defense.
Check the Magento Version
If your Magento store is running on version 1.x or 2.0.x, it’s critical to upgrade immediately. Support for Magento 1 ended in June 2020, leaving these stores vulnerable to security breaches as they no longer receive essential security updates. Similarly, Magento 2.0.x support concluded in March 2018, meaning these versions also lack crucial security patches, quality fixes, and even documentation updates.
To ensure your Magento website remains well-protected, upgrading to the latest version is the most effective solution. Newer versions benefit from ongoing security updates, bug fixes, and improved functionality, keeping your store secure and optimized for optimal performance.
Review Hosting Environment
We highly advise against picking the cheapest hosting option – they often lack the resources Magento needs. Instead, consider a VPS or at least a top-tier shared plan. You see, a VPS gives more control and also offers software freedom, letting you manage your site exactly how you want.
Review SSL (Secure Sockets Layers) Certificate
An SSL certificate encrypts visitor data, protecting sensitive information. Think of these certificates as a secure connection, crucial for transactions. Sure enough, the market does offer free options, but paid certificates offer wider browser compatibility and additional security features.
Extension Reviews
There is no denying that third-party extensions are mighty useful, adding much-needed functionality to your Magento store. Unfortunately, they can also introduce security risks. So, make sure to regularly update these extensions to avoid outdated code that might result in vulnerabilities.
Review User Access
It goes without saying that strong login security is vital for your Magento store. So, here is what you need to do:
- Monitor who logs in and how often
- Block unrecognized users
- Assign user roles and permissions
- Consider IP whitelisting for added security
Implement Additional Security Measures
Enable CAPTCHA on your Magento store to prevent bots from submitting junk data or attempting account breaches. You can easily activate CAPTCHA in your Magento 2 store settings under Stores > Configuration > Customer > Customer Configuration > Captcha.
Magento Security Audit by Professionals
While the tips discussed above provide a strong foundation for Magento security, achieving comprehensive protection often requires professional expertise. At Wagento, we offer comprehensive security audits for both Magento 1 and 2 platforms. Our team of certified Magento developers will meticulously examine your website for vulnerabilities and ensure it is properly secured. What truly sets our services apart is that we go beyond the surface, identifying hidden risks and providing actionable recommendations for long-term security. Oh, and there is also the budget guarantee, wherein we pay you a month’s worth of your revenue should we exceed the agreed-upon budget estimate. So, don’t settle for partial protection.
Contact Wagento today and ensure your eCommerce store remains a secure fortress.
