How to Increase Shopify Store Security

As Shopify merchants, safeguarding your online store should be a top priority. In a digital age where cyber threats evolve daily, Shopify security isn’t just a technical consideration—it’s essential for protecting your customers, data, and business. At Fluency, we understand the challenges small business owners face, so we’ve compiled a simple yet effective security best practices that Shopify store owners can use to enhance data protection and strengthen your store’s eCommerce security.

Key Security Measures to Protect Your Shopify Store

1. Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA):

Implementing Two-factor authentication adds an extra layer of security by requiring users to provide two forms of identification before accessing their accounts. Protect your admin login with 2FA, a built-in feature in Shopify, which requires an additional verification step beyond your password. It’s a simple yet powerful layer of protection against hacking and unauthorised access.

2. Use Strong, Unique Passwords:

Weak or reused passwords are a major security risk, as hackers can easily exploit them through brute force attacks. Each user with admin access should create complex passwords that mix up capital letters, small letters, numbers, and special characters to make a password that’s hard to guess. Using a password manager like LastPass can simplify the process of creating and managing strong passwords. Regularly updating passwords further reduces the risk of unauthorised access.

3. Install Shopify’s SSL Certificate:

Using an SSL certificate on your eCommerce site is like putting a strong lock on your customer’s info. An SSL certificate ensures that all data like credit card numbers and home addresses transferred between your website and your customers is encrypted, and are kept secret and safe. Shopify automatically provides SSL certificates for all stores, but you should verify that it’s active and displaying the padlock icon in browsers. Not only does SSL secure your site, but it also builds trust with customers and improves SEO rankings, as search engines prioritise secure websites.

4. Regular Security Updates and Themes:

Outdated apps or themes often have unpatched vulnerabilities that hackers can exploit to gain access to your store. By conducting regular security audits and keeping your apps and themes up-to-date, you benefit from the latest security fixes and functionality improvements.  Review your Shopify admin dashboard regularly for updates and remove apps you no longer use to reduce potential security gaps. It’s a simple habit that can save your store from avoidable risks.

5. Lock Restricted Content:

Grant admin access only to those who genuinely need it, and use Shopify’s role-based permissions to control what each user can see or do. You can use the Locksmith app on the Shopify app store to prevent access to private items, content, set registration requirements, add customer tags, etc.

6. Monitor for Unusual Activity:

Shopify’s activity logs allow you to track key actions such as login attempts, changes to account settings, or new app installations. Regularly reviewing these logs can help you detect suspicious behaviour, such as logins from unknown locations or devices. If you notice anything unusual, act swiftly by updating passwords, enabling 2FA, or contacting Shopify support to investigate. Proactive monitoring is key to staying ahead of potential breaches.

7. Have a Back-Up Data:

Have you ever thought of, you end up losing every information of your Shopify store like images, posts, comments, reviews, blogs? Although Shopify automatically backs up your store data, it’s wise to have your own data backup as well for added security.  We suggest integrating third-party apps like Rewind or BackupMaster to back up your products, customer details, and order history manually or automatically.

8. Educate Your Team on Security Best Practices:

Human error remains one of the top causes of security breaches, which is why training your team is essential. Teach them how to identify phishing emails, avoid clicking on suspicious links, and recognise fake login pages. Regular workshops or security briefings can help reinforce these practices and make security a part of your team’s daily operations. An informed team is your first line of defence against cyber threats.

Final Thoughts

As threats evolve and technologies advance, staying informed and proactive in security measures remains key to safeguarding sensitive information and also provide a safer shopping experience for your customers in your Shopify store. At Fluency, we believe that Shopify data protection isn’t just about ticking boxes—it’s about building trust and resilience. Stay ahead of cyber threats and secure your Shopify store today. Need guidance? Reach out to Fluency—we’re here to make eCommerce simple and secure for small businesses like yours.