Secure online transaction models

Secure online transaction models

-The simplest method of doing direct business online on Internet is to set up a secure world wide web server then create content pages and program forms to take orders.

Secure web servers

A secure web server must by definition support some type of security protocol. The two most important are secure hypertext transfer protocol (S-HTTP) and secure sockets layer (SSL), which was initially developed by Netscape and offered to the Internet community as a proposed standard in 1995. However, one of their primary advantages is their relative unobtrusiveness to the consumer using an SSL or S-HTTP enabled browser.

Secure server purchasing

The consumer browses through graphical and textual descriptions of the merchants’ products selects a purchase and usually clicks on a button that says “buy now” to make a purchase. If consumer is using a secure browser supported by secure server, that button will produce a form on consumer’s screen which the consumer must complete. Delivery and payment information has been provided the product will be delivered. If the customer is using a browser that is not secure or that uses a protocol not supported by the server, then some other method must be employed to consummate the transaction. Delivery information represents name, address, delivery address, email address and any other information necessary to deliver the product.
If product is a physical item, then a physical destination, preferred shipper and telephone number may be necessary.If product is a digital item, then it may be transmitted directly to consumer via the browser by e-mail or through some other application such as file transfer.

Secure server selling

- First the merchant needs to publish product offerings on Internet with secure server. Servers are available that support SSL, S-HTTP and both. Because the Internet is an open network based strictly on proper and widespread implementation of standards, it doesn’t make sense for merchants to limit their potential customers by using only one standard.

The merchant must go beyond merely setting up the server. As with mail orders there must be a mechanism for processing the information contained on an order form. Most often the merchant will use interfaces of some type to automate transactions. Companies selling physical products over Internet use email confirmations and shipping notices to keep customers up to date on status of orders and all merchants can use network applications to notify their internal organization of orders.