As an online shop operator, the highest standards of IT security are a must: In e-commerce, sensitive customer data such as payment or contact information flows around the clock. This makes choosing a shop system that, in addition to ease of use and performance, guarantees security.
In our article, our expert Adrian explains in detail what precautions Shopify takes to protect customers and merchants and shares valuable tips on how you can improve the security of your store yourself.
1. What you need to know
What is Shopify?
Shopify is a leading, cloud-based e-commerce system. Thanks to its intuitive modular design, retailers can easily create and manage their own online store. Shopify handles hosting and provides a professional IT infrastructure.
Other reasons we recommend Shopify are its high level of user-friendliness, flexibility, and extensibility. Numerous brands are already recognizing these benefits: 4.8 million online stores in 175 countries are powered by Shopify.
2. This is what makes Shopify so secure: 8 reasons
a. SSL encryption
SSL certificates are essential for a secure online store. They are digital certificates from certificate authorities that certify the authenticity and security of a website. An SSL certificate signals to shoppers that your online store is secure and that sensitive information is appropriately encrypted during transactions, registrations, or other activities. You can recognize SSL-certified websites by the "https" instead of "http" in the browser's address bar.
Shopify uses SSL encryption by default and provides your online store with an SSL certificate immediately after setting up the domain. This process is incredibly simple, requires no additional effort from you, and is quick: Confirmation often takes place within 48 hours.
b. PCI compliant
Shopify continues to be considered particularly secure because it complies with the PCI DSS (Payment Card Industry Security Standard). This is a globally defined, essential security feature for all companies that process credit card data.
Compliance means Shopify merchants and their customers can rest assured that transactions are handled and protected with the highest security precautions. As a PCI-compliant provider, Shopify meets these six requirements:
- Establish and maintain a secure network (via firewalls, non-use of standard passwords, comprehensive security parameters)
- Protection and encryption of card data
- Maintaining a vulnerability management program (developing secure systems and applications against viruses and other threats)
- Implementation of access control measures (e.g., minimal access to cardholder data, identification and authentication of access to system components)
- Setting up network monitoring and testing
- Strict information security guidelines
c. Advanced fraud analysis
Shopify Payments, Shopify's integrated payment solution, also contributes to the security of your online store. It allows you to integrate the most common payment methods (e.g., credit card, Klarna invoice, or Apple Pay) directly into your store's checkout without having to connect to external providers. With Shopify Payments, customers pay directly in your online store without having to leave the secure environment and being redirected to third-party sites.
3D Secure technology also reduces the risk of credit card fraud and incorrect entries. You also benefit from advanced fraud analysis on every Shopify plan. This helps you identify criminal activity automatically by checking specific indicators such as IP addresses or card security numbers.
You can find out more about the benefits and potential problems of Shopify Payments in our detailed guide.
d. Hosting
As a cloud-based e-commerce system, Shopify hosts your online store. This means you don't run your online store on your own servers, but instead rely on Shopify's professional IT infrastructure, which even the biggest brands trust.
Shopify takes care of the entire technical setup and ensures your store always runs securely. Updates, security patches, and maintenance are automatically handled by the platform at no additional cost. This ensures that your Shopify store always meets the latest security standards and is protected from any threats. So you can focus on growing your business while Shopify ensures a secure and reliable environment.
e. Proven by German retailers
As a Canadian company, Shopify has historically been viewed with skepticism regarding German legislation, particularly GDPR compliance. However, in recent years, Shopify has prioritized compliance with legal requirements for Shopify stores in Germany. Shopify is now used not only by international and smaller brands, but also by established and local companies with strict security requirements, such as Beurer.
Other renowned brands from German-speaking countries that rely on Shopify include SNOCKS, Babbel, Hey Marly, and BLACKROLL. This demonstrates that Shopify has now established itself as a secure, legally compliant e-commerce platform for brands of all sizes in this country as well.
f. Backups
A secure online store requires a comprehensive backup strategy in case of data loss or outages. Shopify operates according to a shared responsibility model, typical of SaaS (Software-as-a-Service) applications: The platform handles system-wide backups. However, account-level backups for individual data remain the responsibility of the users themselves.
Shopify offers various backup options to best protect your store's data. Comprehensive CSV export options allow you to save product and customer information at any time, giving you full control.
However, since manual backups can be time-consuming for large Shopify stores, we recommend powerful and certified backup apps like Rewind. These offer you a quick and easy way to restore your store in the event of an emergency.
g. Continuous security updates
Shopify is constantly working to close potential security vulnerabilities on its platform and regularly releases updates. As mentioned above, this doesn't require any additional effort from you, as all updates run automatically in the background.
To quickly identify new threats and security risks in its software, Shopify has launched the Shopify Whitehat Reward Program and collaborates with HackerOne, an ethical hacking network. This ensures that bugs and new vulnerabilities in the code are continuously uncovered and fixed as quickly as possible. This means you can rest assured that your store's security is always up to date.
h. 24/7 support
If you encounter any issues with your online store, Shopify offers continuous support with every plan. You can reach customer service 24/7 via chat or phone, ensuring you have a professional contact person at your side at all times. This support ensures you're not alone in any difficulties and contributes to the security and availability of your store.
3. FAQ: The most important security questions about Shopify
a. Is Shopify GDPR compliant?
Yes, Shopify can be set up to comply with GDPR in just a few steps. This primarily involves adding legal documents regarding the processing of personal data, a legally compliant cookie banner, and exclusively using secure and GDPR-compliant apps. You can easily achieve all of this with Shopify.
b. How can I improve the security of my Shopify store?
With Shopify, you can take a lot of precautions to ensure the security of your online store. Much depends on how secure your own computers and networks are. We recommend enabling two-factor authentication to ensure only authorized people have access to your Shopify account.
Furthermore, you should avoid having all team members work with the same account and instead use separate access to assign rights individually.
We also recommend using Shopify Payments with its built-in fraud analysis and certified backup apps to fully protect your online store's data.
c. Is my Shopify store secure from hacker attacks?
Shopify is well protected against hacker attacks thanks to a range of advanced measures. The platform uses professional algorithms to detect suspicious activity, offers comprehensive firewall protection, and maintains a robust IT infrastructure. These combined approaches ensure Shopify's security and protect merchant and customer data.
d. Does Shopify protect merchants from fraud?
Shopify protects merchants from fraud by leveraging modern fraud detection technologies to identify and prevent suspicious transactions. This includes advanced fraud analysis based on specific indicators and automated chargeback risk assessment of suspicious orders. The integration of 3D Secure provides an additional level of security for Shopify merchants.
4. Conclusion
We wholeheartedly recommend Shopify as a secure e-commerce platform. SSL encryption, PCI compliance, advanced fraud analysis, ongoing security efforts, and hosting on reliable, professional servers are just a few of the ways Shopify comprehensively protects merchants and customers.
Furthermore, the platform has significantly improved in recent years with regard to GDPR-compliant data processing in accordance with German law. The combination of security, user-friendliness, and flexibility makes Shopify, in our opinion, the optimal shopping system for online shops of all types and sizes.
