Why e-commerce security is a balancing act between speed and protection

The world of e-commerce is a double-edged sword. While it offers convenience and accessibility for both businesses and consumers, it also presents a tempting target for cybercriminals. In this ever-evolving landscape, prioritising security is no longer a choice; it's a necessity for survival.

Security as a strategic advantage
For e-commerce companies, security is much more than just ticking a compliance box. It's a fundamental strategy to build trust and customer loyalty. A single data breach can shatter a brand's reputation, leading to financial losses and a tarnished image.

Ensuring data privacy and robust security measures are essential to foster consumer confidence and maintain a thriving online storefront.

The realm of online security is vast, but three key threats loom large for e-commerce businesses: bots, DDoS attacks, and the ever-present need for effective Web Application Firewalls (WAFs).

Bots: More than just annoyances
Creating a positive user experience is paramount for online businesses. However, with malicious bots comprising nearly half of all internet traffic, both user experience and trust are at risk.

These bots can manipulate systems, generate fake reviews, and even capture inventory, ultimately harming both businesses and consumers. Some nefarious bot activities include:

• Price scraping: Cybercriminals leverage bots to scrape product pricing information from competing e-commerce sites. This stolen data allows them to adjust their own prices strategically, gaining competitive advantage.
• Probing for errors: Bots can be used to exploit vulnerabilities in pricing structures. By rapidly searching for inconsistencies, they can identify incorrectly priced products, allowing bad actors to make fraudulent purchases at a fraction of the intended cost.
• Scalping: Bots are notorious for their role in scalping – the practice of buying in bulk and reselling in-demand items at inflated prices. From concert tickets to toilet paper (during peak pandemic demand), bots can significantly disrupt inventory availability and frustrate legitimate customers.
• Account takeovers: Similar to other online businesses, e-commerce platforms are not immune to account-takeover attacks. Bots can be used to exploit weak security protocols or leverage stolen credentials to gain unauthorised access to customer accounts. 

The rising challenge of DDoS attacks
Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS) attacks are another major threat for e-commerce operators. These coordinated assaults flood online stores with overwhelming traffic, rendering them inaccessible to legitimate users.

The most significant cost of a DDoS attack is often the lost revenue due to downtime. However, the financial impact goes far beyond that. Mitigation costs, damage to reputation, and lost customer trust can all contribute to significant losses.

Overall, the financial impact of a DDoS attack is often more than the direct costs of mitigating the attack, making it essential for businesses to have comprehensive security measures and response plans in place.

WAFs: Balancing security with user experience
Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) act as a crucial security barrier for e-commerce platforms. However, legacy WAFs can create challenges for infrastructure teams and online shoppers alike.

Striking the right balance between robust security and a seamless user experience is vital. Overly aggressive WAF configurations can lead to false positives and slowdowns, frustrating visitors.

The key challenges associated with legacy WAF implementations include:

• Finding the right balance: Security measures shouldn't come at the expense of user experience. E-commerce sites must provide fast and frictionless transactions, and any disruptions caused by overly aggressive WAF configurations can lead to abandoned shopping carts and dissatisfied customers. Therefore, it's important to configure WAFs carefully to effectively identify and mitigate threats while allowing legitimate traffic to flow smoothly.
• The integration hurdle: The diverse landscape of e-commerce applications and integrations presents another hurdle for WAF deployment. Many e-commerce platforms rely on a combination of custom-built applications, third-party plugins, and APIs to provide enhanced functionalities and streamline operations. Each of these components introduces potential vulnerabilities and attack vectors that must be protected by the WAF. 
• Keeping up with innovation: The rapid pace of technological innovation and the frequent introduction of new features and updates make it challenging to keep WAF configurations up-to-date and effective in the ever-evolving threat landscape. Legacy WAF solutions often fall short, are left un-optimised or purely in logging mode, failing to effectively block attacks. This can lead to frustration for users, resulting in internal pressure to disable the WAF altogether.

Modern solutions for a modern threat landscape
The good news is that modern solutions exist. Leveraging the capabilities of the edge cloud offers significant benefits as edge security solutions operate closer to users, minimising latency and improving responsiveness.

Additionally, modern security solutions can be continuously updated and optimised to address the latest threats, ensuring robust protection without compromising speed.

A proactive approach to security
While the challenges faced by e-commerce companies are significant, the path forward is clear. By embracing modern security solutions, leveraging advancements like the edge cloud, and implementing a comprehensive incident response plan, e-commerce businesses can navigate the ever-changing threat landscape with confidence.