As the biggest shopping season of the year approaches, we’re excited to kick off our Black Friday Cyber Monday (BFCM) blog series! We’ll be covering everything you need to know leading up to the big weekend, with expert tips from our partners sprinkled in along the way. Let’s dive in…
Understandably, eCommerce store owners are gearing up for the BFCM rush. It’s a time of high traffic, increased sales, and… potential disasters. Yes, you read that right. Amid the excitement, many store owners overlook a crucial aspect of their business: data protection. With brick and mortar, you wouldn’t think twice about getting insurance for your store. So why would you neglect to protect your online store?
This article will explore why data backups are essential for eCommerce stores, especially as BFCM looms. We’ll discuss the potential risks, from human errors to malicious attacks, and explain why having a reliable backup solution in place is just as important as stocking up on inventory.
The many faces of eCommerce disasters: What can go wrong?
Running an eCommerce store is like walking a tightrope. One wrong move, and you could be facing catastrophic consequences. Let’s look closely at some of the most common risks that can jeopardize your online business.
1. Human error: The oops factor
We’re all human, and humans make mistakes. Whether it’s accidentally deleting a product listing, overwriting important data during a CSV import, or simply clicking the wrong button, human error is one of the most common causes of data loss. According to a study by KPMG, human error accounts for 40% of data breaches in companies. And during the BFCM frenzy, when things are moving at lightning speed, the likelihood of making a mistake skyrockets.
2. Accidental deletions: It’s gone in a click
Imagine you’re in the middle of uploading your BFCM deals, and in a moment of distraction, you accidentally delete an entire product category. Panic sets in as you realize that weeks of hard work have vanished with a single click. While Shopify and BigCommerce have some built-in safeguards, they aren’t foolproof. In fact, according to a report by Verizon, 17% of all data breaches in 2022 were caused by simple human error.
3. CSV import errors: The devil is in the details
CSV imports can be a powerful tool for managing your eCommerce store, allowing you to update multiple products or customer records at once. But with great power comes great responsibility. One misplaced comma or incorrectly formatted cell, and you could end up with corrupted data or, worse, no data at all. The risks are even higher during BFCM when you’re likely handling large volumes of data.
4. Third-party app conflicts: When good apps go bad
Third-party apps are the lifeblood of many eCommerce stores, adding functionality and helping you stand out from the competition. However, they can also be a double-edged sword. Custom code or other apps can sometimes conflict with these third-party solutions, leading to unexpected crashes, data corruption, or other issues. This is particularly problematic during BFCM when your store must run smoothly.
5. Malicious attacks: The lurking threat
Cyberattacks are on the rise, and eCommerce stores are prime targets. Whether it’s a hacker trying to steal customer data, a distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attack aimed at taking your store offline, or ransomware gangs holding your data hostage, the threats are real and growing. According to a Cybersecurity Ventures report, global cybercrime costs are expected to reach $10.5 trillion annually by 2025. With the increased traffic during BFCM, your store has become an even more attractive target for cybercriminals.
The insurance you didn’t know you needed: Data backups for your online store
Just like you wouldn’t open a physical store without purchasing insurance, you shouldn’t run an eCommerce store without a solid data backup plan in place. Think of it as your online store’s insurance policy, which could save you from financial and reputational disaster.
Physical vs. digital: The same rules apply
For brick and mortar stores, insurance is a no-brainer. You protect your inventory, your building, and your livelihood. But what about your digital assets? Your product listings, customer data, order history, and marketing content are the backbone of your eCommerce business. If they were to disappear suddenly, what would you do?
As Mike Potter, CEO & Co-Founder of Rewind, often says, “People understand the need to insure their physical stores, but when it comes to digital assets, they’re often flying blind. Without a reliable backup and recovery platform, you leave your business vulnerable to the unexpected.”
The BFCM factor: Why now is the time to act
With BFCM just around the corner, now is the perfect time to protect your data. The stakes are higher than ever, with millions of shoppers flooding online stores searching for the best deals. One small mistake or unexpected glitch could cost you thousands in lost sales and damage your brand’s reputation.
That’s why preparation is key. You need to ensure your infrastructure, including your data backup and recovery strategy, is solid—losing data during the busiest shopping period could be catastrophic. Yet many store owners still overlook the importance of backups, assuming that their platform’s built-in protections are enough.
Why built-in protections aren’t enough
Shopify and BigCommerce offer some level of data protection, but these safeguards have limitations. For instance, Shopify’s database backup focuses more on restoring the platform itself than individual stores. If you accidentally delete a product or an app corrupts your store data, Shopify cannot recover it for you. BigCommerce, on the other hand, does not provide any form of automatic backup, meaning that if something goes wrong, you could be left empty-handed.
“Relying solely on your SaaS app for backups is like crossing your fingers and hoping nothing goes wrong. A dedicated backup solution is essential for peace of mind, especially during high-pressure times like BFCM”. – Mike Potter
The Rewind solution: Your eCommerce data safety net
So, what’s the answer? Enter Rewind, the ultimate backup and recovery platform built to protect your online store ahead of BFCM and beyond. Rewind automatically backs up your store’s data, giving you the ability to restore anything from a single product listing to your entire store with just a few clicks.
Why Rewind?
Rewind is more than just a backup solution; it’s a safety net for your business. Here’s why Rewind is the go-to choice for thousands of eCommerce store owners:
- Automatic data backups: Rewind automatically backs up your store’s data daily, so you never have to worry about remembering to do it manually.
- Easy restoration: If something goes wrong, you can quickly restore your data in minutes with just a few clicks. There is no need to panic or waste hours figuring out what happened.
- Comprehensive coverage: Rewind covers everything from product listings and customer data to order history and theme settings, so you’re fully protected.
- Peace of mind: With Rewind, you can focus on running your business, knowing that your data is safe and secure.
You don’t have to sit there and say, ‘We’re losing money because of this.’ You know that Rewind’s got your back.
Nick Lococo, RX Smart Gear
Don’t leave your eCommerce store vulnerable this BFCM
As BFCM approaches, the pressure is on to ensure everything runs smoothly—but amid the chaos, don’t forget the importance of protecting your data. Human errors, accidental deletions, CSV import errors, third-party app conflicts, and malicious attacks are all real threats that could derail your success.
By investing in a reliable backup solution like Rewind, you can safeguard your online store and ensure that no matter what happens, your data is secure. After all, you wouldn’t run a physical store without insurance—so why take the risk with your digital assets?
As you prepare for the biggest shopping weekend of the year, consider your data. Is it safe? Is it protected? With Rewind, the answer is a resounding yes.
P.S. We don’t want to give away too much yet, but we’ve got an amazing interview with one of our eCommerce partners coming up on the blog very soon—stay tuned!
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