Accepting credit cards is essential for any e-commerce web site. If you are ready to start processing credit card transactions yourself, you will need the right infrastructure. Before you select an e-commerce web host and a merchant account provider, make sure they provide you with the features you require.
Secure payment area: This protects credit card data and other sensitive information from hackers during the transaction process. Identity theft and credit card fraud are running rampant on the Internet, and you need to ensure that your customers are protected. Many consumers will not buy from a site that does not provide secure transactions.
Compatible shopping cart application: Make sure your shopping cart application "talk to" your payment-processing gateway. There are hundreds of different payment gateways, and each one has a specific set of standards. Many free shopping carts do not support all of the available payment gateways. PGP encryption. If you plan on accepting orders and sending or receiving credit card information via email, you will need to encrypt the information that is sent. PGP, which stands for "pretty good privacy," is the most common form of email encryption. PGP encrypts emails when they are sent and decrypts when the information has reached its intended recipient.
Firewall: If you store your customer’s data or credit card numbers on your server, it is vital to have a sidewise firewall to protect this information. Many companies have exposed their customers to hackers by neglecting to implement a proper firewall. If you are not certain how to install a firewall on your site, check with your web hosting company for more information.
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