Running an e-commerce business means you’re handling a treasure trove of sensitive customer data, like personal details, payment information, and more. With 560,000 new instances of malware, including viruses, that are happening each day and financially costing the global economy billions each year it is worth taking into serious consideration as a business owner.

Viruses have been responsible for some of the largest data breaches in history, like when Yahoo in 2013 had 3 billion accounts hacked. One slip and your data can fall into the wrong hands, leading to identity theft, financial losses, and a serious hit to your reputation. Cybersecurity isn’t just a tech issue, it is imperative to your business. It’s about keeping your virtual doors open, making sure your customers feel safe shopping with you, and preserving your reputation.

67% of all eCommerce traffic now comes from mobile devices, which are increasingly targeted by malware and viruses and this is where server antivirus software steps in. It should be a critical part of your cybersecurity arsenal, scanning and detecting viruses or ransomware before they wreak havoc on your servers. The right solution provides real-time monitoring, web application firewalls, and behavioral analysis to ensure your business runs smoothly and more securely.

Importance of Server Antivirus for E-commerce Sites

32.4% of all cyberattacks target eCommerce businesses. Running an e-commerce site without robust security measures is like leaving your storefront wide open overnight. Techopedia’s Ilijia Miljkovac’s guide to the top antivirus software for servers goes on to explain how these tools do more than a simple scan for malware. Miljkovac mentions that antivirus software can detect threats in the system, flag unusual traffic patterns, and remove malware and viruses from infected servers. The real-time data and behavioral analysis can detect threats and mitigate those threats before causing costly harm to your servers and business.

Protect Sensitive Customer Data

58% of consumers say they would stop doing business with a company for several months after a breach of their sensitive information. In a notable case involving Dixons Carphone (now known as Currys), the company faced a significant data breach between July 2017 and April 2018. Hackers managed to infiltrate the retailer's systems, compromising 14 million personal records and 5.6 million payment card details. The breach was facilitated by malicious software that was installed on over 5,000 tills across multiple UK locations. This incident highlights the critical importance of antivirus and cybersecurity measures to protect sensitive customer data and prevent similar attacks, which can have far-reaching consequences for both customers and the business.

Secure Online Transactions

Online transactions, including the processing of payments and exchanging financial data, are the lifeblood of e-commerce. Server antivirus solutions that have web protection modules can secure these transactions by blocking web-based threats like e-skimming, cross-site scripting (XSS), and SQL injection attacks that aim to steal payment card information. This will ensure that every transaction is as secure as possible.

Ensure Business Continuity

Server downtime for e-commerce sites is a nightmare, and servers that are experiencing downtime due to malware infections can translate into revenue losses, lost sales, and very unhappy customers. 98% of organizations say a single hour of downtime costs them over $100,000, with some businesses reporting losses of up to $1 million per hour during peak times, according to a study by ITIC (Information Technology Intelligence Consulting). One of the key benefits of using server antivirus software is the protection against disruptive malware, system crashes, and website inaccessibility to ensure your business keeps running smoothly without interruptions.

Comply with Regulations

Several industries are governed by strict regulations on data protection and online transactions like the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard. Server antivirus is a critical component for e-commerce sites to comply with these regulations, helping you avoid the potential fines or worse, legal consequences of not meeting all the necessary standards.

Prevent Malware Propagation

The reality is that e-commerce servers interact with several different client devices, which increases the risk of malware spreading across the network. The server antivirus software will act as a barrier, preventing the spread of malware from infected clients to the server and vice versa. This containment reduces the impact of potential infections and keeps your network safe and secure.

Choosing the Best Server Antivirus Software for Your E-commerce Site

When it comes to safeguarding your e-commerce site, picking the right server antivirus is a vital part of developing a holistic cybersecurity plan for your shop. Consider the following:

Understand Your Business Needs

Start by understanding what your e-commerce business truly needs in terms of security. Think about the kind of data your business handles, the scale of your operations, and the risks you face. Make a list of the features that are absolute must-haves for your setup, including big-ticket items like real-time threat detection and smaller details, like a user-friendly interface.

Operating System Compatibility

Make sure that the server antivirus software you choose is compatible with your existing operating system running your servers. Look for solutions that are tailored for different server platforms like Windows servers, Linux, or servers running on virtual servers such as Microsoft Hyper-V or Citrix XenServer.

Performance Impact

The server antivirus you select should be a silent guardian, working tirelessly without slowing down your system. Look for lightweight options that are optimized for server workloads. Alternatively, consider a cloud-based server antivirus that can handle resource-intensive tasks in the cloud, ensuring your servers run smoothly.

Plan for Growth

Make sure that the server antivirus option you choose can keep up with your expansion plans. Look for a solution that can adapt and evolve alongside your future plans for expansion, with licensing options that are flexible and won’t tie you down.

Scalability and Centralized Management

Managing multiple servers can be overwhelming, but it doesn't have to be this way. Consider a server antivirus solution with centralized management capabilities. This allows you to deploy, configure, and monitor antivirus across your entire server infrastructure from a single console.

Advanced Threat Protection

Look for an antivirus solution that can provide advanced threat protection features to detect and neutralize even the sneakiest of threats. Look for features like sandboxing, behavior monitoring, and Endpoint Detection and Response, these capabilities are crucial for detecting and preventing targeted and sophisticated threats.

Integration with Existing Security Stack

Evaluate just how well the server antivirus software integrates with your existing security tools and infrastructure. You want a seamless integration that can streamline security management and improve overall protection. Seamless integration allows the server antivirus to share threat intelligence and detection with existing security tools. Not only can these integrations automate security workflows, but they can also initiate response actions through integrated security orchestration tools.

Compliance and Regulatory Support

If your servers handle sensitive data or fall under industry regulations, your antivirus solution must support compliance requirements. Look for the following features:

• File Integrity Monitoring: This can track and alert you on any changes made to specific system files or configurations of your system.
• Web Application Firewalls (WAF): Since e-commerce sites process online transactions and handle sensitive customer data, server antivirus with WAF protects against web-based attacks that could potentially lead to data breaches and non-compliance penalties.
• Secure remote access: Regulations often mandate strict access controls and secure communication channels. With secure remote access features such as encrypted connections or multi-factor authentication, you can ensure your site meets compliance standards.
• Audit logging and reporting: Most data protection regulations require businesses to maintain detailed audit logs and reports to demonstrate security controls and incident response processes. Server antivirus software with this feature can remove the hassle and provide the necessary documentation required for compliance audits.

The Bottom Line

The choice of server antivirus software will depend on your organization's size, your e-commerce IT infrastructure, and your budget. Many businesses opt for a layered approach, combining server antivirus software with other security solutions for fully comprehensive and robust server protection. When selecting the best server antivirus solution for your e-commerce site, look for specialized protection for your servers, advanced features like sandboxing, and real-time monitoring to safeguard critical data and ensure business continuity.