Online payments - a question of trust19 April 2006
Businesses operating in the online marketplace have long known that in order to stay competitive they must offer the facilities for customers to make secure online payments, but a new government survey has cast doubt on how responsibly smaller companies are acting.
Research conducted jointly by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and PricewaterhouseCoopers found that while large organisations were wise to the need to protect their customers' personal information, over two-thirds of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) were not encrypting data - potentially granting fraudsters access to sensitive information.
With the threat of online identity theft being highlighted time and time again, the survey reported that the vast majority of small businesses had now implemented fundamental security measures such as firewalls and antivirus programs to protect against malicious attacks.
But the report claimed that it was simply not enough to give customers cast-iron guarantees that their payments and personal details would be securely dealt with. The report's authors said: "While adoption of traditional security controls such as firewalls is high, often newer technologies are being adopted faster than the control to protect against their misuse."
This is set against the backdrop of the DTI and Home Office both stating the importance of data protection and back-up, with the recent report claiming that more and more small businesses accepting online transactions are falling victim to determined PC hackers.
In case of attack
However, it's not all doom and gloom for businesses that rely on customers making online payments. Protected payments can be ensured with secure internet browser software, which automatically encrypts information.
Internet Trader Pack from BT incorporates WorldPay, a secure credit and debit card payment service approved by online consumer groups Safebuy and Trustwise UK.
The added bonus of WorldPay is that it encompasses the entire card transaction process, leaving SMEs with no need to store customers' credit card details and other sensitive information.
Tips and tricks
There are also a variety of ways that small firms can maximise their websites to reassure potential customers about the security of online payments:
- Provide an online privacy policy or related FAQs to soothe worries about handing over personal data.
- Include detailed information about delivery and refund policies on the website itself.
- Explain why personal information is needed for transactions to be completed.
- Constantly monitor websites for technical glitches and to remove infuriating dead links.
- In the event of technical problems arising, contingency plans should already be in place concerning what needs to be done and who needs to be contacted to get the website up and running again.
Post a comment
As usual, we would be delighted to hear your comments or questions about this article. Comments may be published on this or any other BT site.
