Protect Your Store from Threats with Magento Security Scan

• What is a Security Scan for Magento?

• How to Prepare Your Magento Store for a Security Scan?

• 8 Differences Between Free and Paid Security Scanning Tools

• 3 Different Magento Security Scanning Tools

• 5 Post-Scan Best Practices to Secure Your Store

• FAQs

• Summary

What is a Security Scan for Magento?

A Magento security scan is a tool Adobe provides. It helps merchants check their eCommerce sites for potential security vulnerabilities and malware.

The tool scans websites for common issues. These could compromise the site's integrity and customer data. These include:

• Outdated software or extensions

• Unprotected files or sensitive data exposed

• SSL/TLS issues

• Malware

The scanner helps merchants identify these risks and take action to fix them. It ensures that their store remains secure. It is available to authorized users linked to Adobe Commerce accounts.

How to Prepare Your Magento Store for a Security Scan?

1. Backup Your Store

• Before running any security scan, create a full backup of your store.

• It should include the files such as Magento code and media files. It also includes a database with customer information and order history.

• A backup ensures that you can restore your store. It is possible if any issues arise during the scan or if you need to roll back changes.

2. Update Magento and Extensions

• Ensure that your store is running the software’s latest version. Apply any Adobe security patches or updates. It includes:

  1. Magento core updates

  2. Updates for installed extensions and plugins

  3. Themes and third-party modules

• Outdated software and extensions are common vulnerabilities. A security scan can flag them.

3. Secure File Permissions

• Review and adjust file and directory permissions. It helps ensure sensitive files are not accessible to the public.

• Magento’s app and var directories should have restricted permissions. Security scan could flag a misconfigured file permission.

4. Ensure the Installation of SSL/TLS Certificates

• Magento requires an SSL/TLS certificate. It helps secure data transmitted between the server and customer browsers.

• Before scanning, verify the correct installation of your SSL certificate. It should be functioning on your website.

• It ensures the encryption of customer transactions, preventing potential vulnerabilities.

5. Disable Cache and Maintenance Mode

• If your Magento store is set to run in maintenance mode or uses aggressive caching. Disable them before running the security scan.

• Maintenance mode can block the scan from accessing your store's pages.

• Cached versions of your site might prevent the scan from identifying current vulnerabilities.

6. Ensure All Third-Party Services and Integrations are Running

• Check that third-party services or integrations like payment gateways or APIs work.

• If these services are down or misconfigured, it could interfere with the scan’s accuracy. It leads to false positives or missed vulnerabilities.

• If your scanning tool allows, consider running a test scan. It helps ensure everything is set up. It can help you identify issues before performing a full scan.

7. Review Your Security Settings

• Double-check your Magento security settings to ensure:

  1. Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) for admin accounts

  2. Strong passwords are in use for all user accounts

  3. Limit admin access by IP or using a VPN

• Following these preparation steps helps ensure your Magento security scan runs. It helps identify potential vulnerabilities and keep your store safe.

8 Differences Between Free and Paid Security Scanning Tools

Feature	Free Magento Security Scanning Tools	Paid Magento Security Scanning Tools
1. Coverage	It offers basic security checks. These include outdated software and common malware. It covers the most common security risks for smaller stores.	It offers comprehensive vulnerability detection. These include complex issues like custom code vulnerabilities and SQL injection. It covers various security aspects like file permissions and SSL issues.
2. Scan Frequency	It offers manual scans or infrequent automatic scans. It requires the user to start the scan or set up basic schedules.	It offers automated daily or custom scan frequency. You can schedule scans at regular intervals. It helps ensure ongoing security assessments.
3. Updates and Maintenance	Less frequent updates. It could lead to outdated security measures. Quick addressing of new threats.	Regular updates and patches help manage new threats. Fast updates help stay ahead of security risks.
4. Customization	Limited or no customization for scan settings and reports. Default settings cover general vulnerabilities but may miss store-specific concerns.	It offers customizable scan settings. It is able to choose which areas of the store to scan. Offers tailored reports based on store needs. It enables more detailed threat analysis.
5. Support	Limited support. It often relies on community forums or online resources. No direct customer service channels for troubleshooting.	It comes with dedicated support channels such as email or phone support. Priority customer support for urgent issues. It also offers expert guidance on resolving vulnerabilities.
6. Integration	There is no integration with other security measures or external tools. These include web application firewalls or intrusion detection systems.	It offers integration with extra security tools like WAFs and monitoring solutions. It can create a layered security setup with various tools working in tandem.
7. Compliance Checks	It offers basic checks for some compliance standards like SSL encryption. Basic PCI DSS compliance. Limited to core compliance features. It may not meet all regulatory needs.	Advanced compliance checking, such as PCI DSS and GDPR. It provides detailed reports for compliance. It helps stay within legal requirements.
8. Real-Time Alerts	Limited or no real-time alerts for ongoing threats. It may provide only a simple scan result after completion.	Sends immediate notifications and alerts for the detection of vulnerabilities or threats. Send alerts via email or SMS for prompt response.

3 Different Magento Security Scanning Tools

1. Magento Security Scan Tool

The official Magento security scan tool is a free service provided by Adobe. It scans your Magento store for common security issues. It also provides real-time alerts for vulnerabilities.

Features:

• Automatic scans check for vulnerabilities like outdated patches or insecure configurations.

• It provides a comprehensive security checklist. It helps take action to secure the site.

• Ensures the store has the latest security patches installed. It sends alerts for missing patches.

• Identifies weak or default passwords in Magento admin accounts.

2. Acunetix

Acunetix is an automatic vulnerability scanner for applications, including Magento. It can determine exposures like SQL injection and Cross-Site Scripting.

Features:

• Runs automated vulnerability assessments of Magento stores to determine weak spots.

• Detects vulnerabilities, such as server misconfigurations and SQL injections. These can be hard for manual identification.

• Provides in-depth reports that show which vulnerabilities are critical and need immediate attention.

• Acunetix scans for Magento-specific vulnerabilities. It works on other CMS platforms and custom-built sites.

3. Qualys

Qualys is a cloud-based security solution with scanning capabilities for web applications. It helps businesses maintain PCI-DSS and GDPR compliance.

Features:

• Identifies various vulnerabilities. It includes those that affect both web applications and network infrastructure.

• Scans can be set up to run on a continuous basis. It helps detect new vulnerabilities as they arise.

• Assists in achieving and maintaining PCI compliance with industry security standards.

• Qualys integrates well with internal IT systems. It allows for a more simplified workflow in fixing vulnerabilities.

5 Post-Scan Best Practices to Secure Your Store

1. Review the Scan Results

• Review the scan results for critical vulnerabilities. Also, review the security issues flagged by the scan tool.

• Identify the most critical vulnerabilities, such as:

  1. SQL injections

  2. XSS

  3. Unpatched extensions

• You should focus on fixing them. Start with issues that could cause immediate damage. These include malware infections or outdated core files.

2. Apply Security Patches and Updates

• Ensure that your Magento store is running the latest version. Apply the latest security patches from Adobe.

• Check for and install patches with the release. It helps avoid known vulnerabilities.

• Update all third-party extensions and themes. Ensure you source the extensions from reputable providers. It is compatible with your Magento version.

• Set a schedule to apply updates and patches, even if you don’t find any issues. Automated patch management can be set up for better convenience.

3. Fix Identified Vulnerabilities

• If the scan detects malware, remove it immediately. Some tools offer automatic malware removal, but they need manual removal. You should follow the guide provided by the scanning tool.

• Ensure file and directory permissions are set. Sensitive files like app/etc/local.xml should not have write permissions. Use the principle of least privilege to avoid unnecessary access.

• If the scan identifies SSL/TLS issues. Ensure proper installation and configuration of SSL certificates. Force HTTPS to secure data during transmission.

4. Harden Your Store’s Security

• Use 2FA for your Magento admin and any critical user accounts. It adds a layer of protection to control unauthorized access.

• See that all users, especially admins, use strong passwords. Encourage the use of a password manager to generate and store passwords.

• Limit admin access to trusted IP addresses. Restrict who can access the admin panel. Consider using a VPN or a secure connection for extra protection.

5. Conduct Regular Security Audits

• Automate security scans on a regular basis. It helps ensure early detection of vulnerabilities. Use the same or updated tools to run periodic checks.

• Consider conducting periodic penetration tests to simulate cyberattacks on your store. It helps uncover hidden vulnerabilities that a standard scan may not detect.

FAQs

1. How Can I Prepare My Magento Site for a Security Scan?

Back up your Magento site and update all extensions and core software. Also, review file permissions and disable cache or maintenance mode. The preparation ensures accurate security tests and reliable scan results.

2. What Does a Magento Security Scan Check For?

A Magento security scan looks for common vulnerabilities. These include outdated extensions and malware. It evaluates security status and flags issues that need immediate attention. The scan also checks SSL configurations to ensure encrypted customer transactions.

3. Can the Magento Security Scanner Detect All Security Threats?

Magento security scanner detects many common security threats. It may not catch all advanced attacks, especially custom vulnerabilities. Regular scans and external security audits help maintain powerful protection against emerging risks. It helps secure your store.

4. What Does the Adobe Commerce Security Scan Tool Check For?

It checks for vulnerabilities in Adobe Commerce and Magento open source stores. It evaluates your store's Magento 2 security. It is by identifying outdated software and unprotected files. The scan report provides a detailed overview of vulnerabilities.

Summary

Magento security scans protect your online store from vulnerabilities and misconfigurations. The article explores the key features of the tool, including:

• Backup your store, update Magento, and review security settings before scanning.

• Choose between free tools for basic checks or paid tools for advanced protection.

• Use tools like Adobe’s scanner, Acunetix, or Tenable.io for thorough assessments.

• After scanning, apply patches, fix issues, harden security, and schedule regular audits.

Protect your store with regular security scans and expert support. Choose managed Magento hosting for smooth updates and strong security.