- Limits on store size (i.e. number of products).
- Limited features
- And, of course, if the platform itself is secure enough.
There are a number of WordPress plugins alternatives for eCommerce (not just WooCommerce) that can handle capacity issues. WPMU DEV's Upfront also supports WooCommerce and MarketPress plugins, so eCommerce compatible themes are also supported.
However, if you're still concerned about the question, “How safe is WordPress for ecommerce?”, Let's take a look at what we know to help put you at ease.
Is WordPress safe for ecommerce?
To give a satisfactory enough answer, we will say that no e-commerce platform will be 100% safe. What matters are the precautions you take to keep it secure and stay in compliance with safety regulations.
Quora is another place where you'll often find people wondering about this question. The question was asked in 2015 and again in 2017. Developers who have used WordPress to build e-commerce sites have nothing but good things to say about it. They just suggest that you adhere to best security practices, just like you would if you want all parties to be safe.
It is not surprising, however, that this question about the viability of WordPress as a reliable ecommerce platform comes up time and time again. Running an online business is a scary thing. Add to that the aspect of monetization where you have to make sure that customers can make secure payments, that you actually receive payments, and that hackers don't find a solution in the meantime, and it's no wonder that this is a concern.
For the most part, however, WordPress has a well-covered security with:
- Integration of the SSL certificate
- Security plugins like Defender
- Well Controlled WordPress Themes
- Well-controlled plugins (like WooCommerce, Easy Digital Downloads, MarketPress, etc.)
- Secure integration of the payment gateway
- Strict password and other connection requirements
But most of them are tools that you need to add to your WordPress installation in order to secure your online store. What is the WordPress project team (those responsible for securing the system) doing to ensure that WordPress is a secure platform for ecommerce sites? They have two key responsibilities:
- They regularly release minor versions with fixes when security issues are detected on the platform.
- The volunteer theme review team carefully review every new theme and plugin submitted to the repository. When security issues are detected, they then work directly with developers to clean up the underlying issue and, therefore, release an update to users.
The rest of the work comes back to you.
What can you do to better secure WordPress for your e-commerce site?
Ok, so this is where you come into the equation. WordPress will do everything in its power to secure any third-party and core integrations that you might be using. However, if you are building and running an ecommerce site, there is a lot more work to be done.
Here's what you can do to make WordPress more secure for your eCommerce site:
1. PCI compliance
Understand all the ins and outs of the PCI compliance in e-commerce.
2. Web hosting
Use theWeb hosting which supports an e-commerce website. This means absolutely no plans toaccommodation sharing. VPS or dedicated servers are the way to go.
3. Content distribution network
Add one CDN to improve speed and an extra layer of security.
4. SSL Certificate
Obtain an SSL certificate to help provide additional protection for your customers' transactions.
5. ECommerce Platform
Even if your accommodation and WordPress is secure, it is always important to find an eCommerce plugin that will give your users a safe place to make a purchase. It all starts with choosing a secure eCommerce plugin.
These are the most known eCommerce plugins for their security and PCI compliance:
- MarketPress integrates with 15 of the best-known and most secure payment gateways.
- WooCommerce , of course, is always a wise choice because it is made by Automattic.
- For the sale of digital products, Easy Digital Downloads is the platform that you can use. It syncs with secure file storage tools like Amazon Web Services and Dropbox, adding an extra level of security to your site.
6. Payment gateway
Create an even more secure payment process for your customers by using payment gateways known for their security. You might even want to remove your shopping cart and gateway from your site if you're nervous about security.
7. Order management software
Store all sensitive customer information (essentially, anything they enter during the ordering process) in CRM or secure order management software (like QuickBooks) and not on WordPress.
8. Transaction Monitoring
Pay close attention to transactions entering or leaving your online store. Payment fraud may not seem like a security risk, but your visitors will definitely not be happy to see that they have been hacked and no one on your end noticed that something was wrong.
One way to avoid this type of threat is to require users to enter their card's card verification card (CVV) number. Depending on the size of your store, you may need to invest in anti-fraud security services.
9. Security plugin
Use a WordPress security plugin to strengthen the security of your site. These plugins can take care of everything from installing a firewall to managing anti-malware and spam monitoring for you. In addition, they will help you set up additional security measures in the administration area.
10. Backup Plugin
Remember that a security plugin always needs a backup plugin reliable to assist him.
11. Management of user-generated content
Pay attention to what user-generated content (including reviews, ratings, and blog comments) you allow on your site.
12. System updates
Keep your WordPress system up to date. Even if you are not comfortable with automating all of these upgrades, you should log in at least once a day, which will let you know when they are ready, so you can take care of them manually. .
13. Plugin and theme updates
Keep all plugins and themes updated as well.
14. Verification of integrations
Check the quality of your themes and plugins. You should also do regular reviews of your plugin and your theme's cache to make sure anything you aren't using is disabled and removed.
15. Online scanner
Check your WordPress site for vulnerabilities to using an online scanner. This will let you know if there are any issues with your code or any third-party integrations you've added to your site, among others.
