Looking at the log files of some of our sites, the past couple years have brought an increase in hack attempts.  As hackers get more sophisticated and computers more powerful, shop owners have to develop better defenses.

• Your hosting company must be adhere to PCI security rules.  Shared hosting solutions are not PCI compliant.  Plan on spending about $100 per month to host your e-commerce site to provide a quick and secure experience.
• Adopt secure behaviors.  Change your passwords a few times a year.  If you ever have to give a password to a third party, change it as soon as they no longer need access.
• Stay up to date.  Your website and the server it runs on should be regularly updated with the latest security patches.
• Use a payment bridge.  As of July 2010, anyone accepting credit cards on their website regardless of order volume must implement a payment bridge to further secure their website.
• If you’re not sure you are really secure, contact a professional.  Hey, that’s us!

We have expert Linux server hardening and tuning knowledge to keep your site secure and fast.  We can offer hourly advice on your existing Linux environment as well.