Amazon businesses are becoming increasingly popular. This is largely due to the features that Amazon provides those who build a business through it, as well as how easy it is to get started.
However, one issue that you need to think about if you’re starting an Amazon business is keeping it secure. While Amazon does a lot to protect businesses that run through it, there are still some security risks that you can avoid by taking the right steps.
Below are some tips you can use to help you secure your Amazon business, keeping your business’s and your customer’s information safe.
Get Insurance
When it comes to protecting your Amazon FBA business, purchasing insurance is a good place to start. Depending on where you live, there could be required insurance for your retail business. Getting insurance coverage will protect you financially if something happens to your business, and the best part is that, nowadays, you can get an online quote in less than 10 minutes. There’s a lot you can do to protect yourself but it’s almost impossible to protect yourself completely, so be sure you have good insurance as a backup.
Protect Your Cloud Data
Many Amazon businesses store important information on a cloud server. Whenever you access information on a cloud, you create another entry point that hackers could potentially exploit.
So, it’s important that you take additional steps to protect your cloud data. Take some time to research AWS cloud security and ensure you have all the best protocols in place. Cloud storage is an incredibly useful feature of Amazon stores but only if you properly secure it.
Use Strong Passwords
One of the most common ways that hackers gain access to private information is by simply guessing a user’s password. If you have a simple password, it won’t take long for the hacker’s software to guess it and gain access.
You need to make sure that every password you use is a little complicated. A good practice is to mix letters, numbers, capital letters, and symbols.
When you start a new Amazon FBA business, you’ll likely need to create a password for your account. Make this password completely unique and don’t store it anywhere hackers can gain access to it.
If you’ve already created this account, go into your settings and look to change it as soon as you can. Then, follow the same process for any other accounts you may use in your business and instruct anyone with access to do the same.
Use Two-Step Verification
You can improve your login process even further by enabling two-step verification. With two-step verification, you would first log in like you normally would, by entering your user name and password. However, after that, you would also be required to input a security code.
This code is randomly generated at the time you try to log in and is sent to a device you register with Amazon, such as your cell phone. Through this method, the only way someone can gain access to your account is by knowing your username, password and having access to the registered device. Two-step verification takes a little more time to log in but it’s one of the best ways to secure your account from intruders.
Limit the Number of Users
Each user you grant access to your account increases your number of security risks. All it takes is one user not generating a strong enough password or forgetting to log out on a public computer to put your information at risk. So, it’s a good idea to limit the number of users with access as much as possible.
Think about which people absolutely need access to your information and which can go without it. If you already have too many accounts with access, consider revoking this access for better security.
Monitor Your Notifications
When there is an issue with your account, Amazon sends you a notification. The sooner you see this notification, the sooner you can take access to regain control over your account and limit the damage.
To do this, you need to constantly manage your notifications. Check your Amazon notification settings and be sure you’re getting alerts for important account information and changes. Also consider setting up multiple notification types, such as an email and mobile-app alert, so that you increase your chances of seeing the notification quickly.
Know the Signs of a Phishing Scam
A common way that hackers gain access to private information is through a phishing scam. A phishing scam is when a hacker appears as someone trustworthy and asks for your information. These phishing scams can often be very believable, going so far as to create almost exact replicas of the Amazon login page. To avoid these scams, you need to know the signs of a phishing scam.
For starters, Amazon will never ask for sensitive information via email. You can also be on the lookout for spelling mistakes or an unfamiliar tone within the message. Finally, always check the web address when you’re entering in your login information and that it starts with HTTPS, as this means the site is secure.
Know the Signs You’ve Been Hacked
Finally, if somehow your security precautions fail, you’ll want to know as early as possible that you’ve been hacked. One common sign is if you can’t log into your account. This typically means your password was changed and you should contact Amazon support right away. In addition, be on the lookout for strange items in your inventory or any changes to your banking information.
Protecting Your Amazon Business From All Threats
You’ve spent a lot of time setting up and building your Amazon business. Don’t let all of that go to waste due to a security mistake. It’s important to prioritize your business’s security and to regularly review the protocols you have in place. With the tips above, you should be able to protect yourself against most threats and keep your business running safely for a long time to come.
