Running an online store involves handling a great deal of customer personal information. Credit card details for online payments, shipping addresses for deliveries — important personal data is exchanged constantly.
To keep your store running stably, server uptime and security measures are among the key things to check when choosing an ecommerce platform. They're also a benchmark customers use when deciding which store they can shop with confidently.
This article gives you a clear rundown of Shopify's servers and security measures. Let's also look at what safeguards and preventive steps are in place in case the server ever goes down.
How Much Does a Shopify Server Cost?
Server costs are included in every Shopify plan, so there's no extra fee for the server itself. Server management and maintenance are also handled entirely by Shopify, which is a major advantage for stores that aren't used to managing servers, or for businesses without a dedicated server administrator.
Shopify's Server Uptime Is 99.98%
Shopify officially reports a server uptime of 99.98%, an outstanding figure. It's said to be capable of processing over 10,000 orders per minute, allowing for stable operation even during peak shopping periods with a global surge in orders, such as Black Friday.
Reference: https://www.shopify.com/enterprise/blog/39670019-introducing-the-shopify-plus-blog
Where Are Shopify's Servers Located?
According to Shopify's official information, Shopify makes use of data centers around the world. That said, the specific server locations or data center sites are not publicly disclosed in detail.
This global cloud network enables fast page loading even for customers who are geographically far away.
Shopify's Server Security Measures
Compared with other ecommerce platforms, Shopify implements very robust security measures. Here we introduce the security measures Shopify has in place.
Always-On SSL
Shopify provides always-on SSL for every store, meaning communication with customers visiting your store is always encrypted. Because important data such as personal information and credit card details is also encrypted, the risk of it being stolen by a third party is reduced.
In addition, search engines like Google tend to favor SSL-enabled sites, so it's also advantageous from an SEO standpoint.
How Always-On SSL Works
Always-on SSL refers to a setup where SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) is used across an entire website to encrypt all data communication.
When SSL is used, a website's URL changes from "http://" to "https://." Depending on the browser, a lock icon may also appear in the address bar, letting users know the site is safe.
Two-Factor Authentication
Shopify has implemented two-factor authentication for logins. Since store operators are required to use two-factor authentication for every registered user, this helps prevent unauthorized access to the store's admin.
In addition, setting access permissions for admin accounts on a per-user basis and removing unnecessary staff accounts as needed further reduces the risk of unauthorized access.
PCI DSS Certification
Shopify holds PCI DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard) Level 1 certification, the highest security standard for handling credit card information.
Reference: https://www.shopify.com/jp/security
What Is PCI DSS?
PCI DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard) is an international security standard for safely handling credit card information. It's a set of security requirements established by the card brands (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, JCB, and others) and applies to every business that handles card data.
ISO/IEC 27001 Certification Status
As of December 2024, Shopify itself has not obtained ISO/IEC 27001 certification. (Confirmed directly with Shopify.)
However, "Google Cloud" and "Amazon Web Services (AWS)," which host Shopify's services, do hold ISO/IEC 27001 certification, so stores built on Shopify also operate within these certified security environments.
(References)
- Google Cloud: ISO/IEC 27001
- Amazon Web Service: ISO and CSA STAR Certified
- Shopify’s Infrastructure Collaboration with Google
What Is ISO/IEC 27001?
ISO/IEC 27001 is the international standard for an "Information Security Management System (ISMS)." It establishes a framework for ensuring the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of information, and is designed to help businesses manage and reduce their security risks.
Reference: What is ISO/IEC 27001?
What to Do If the Server Goes Down or an Error Occurs
While guaranteeing high uptime and strong security, Shopify's servers are also backed by a support system for handling downtime or errors.
Preventing Server Downtime
Common causes of server downtime include sudden traffic spikes and cyberattacks. Shopify takes measures — such as globally distributed server infrastructure and security safeguards — to prevent downtime from happening in the first place. It also works to minimize the impact of scheduled maintenance by, for example, notifying users of maintenance in advance.
Server downtime is extremely rare, but if you have an important event coming up for your store and want to be sure to avoid any downtime or errors, get in touch with Shopify Support in advance to check on server status and whether there's anything you can prepare ahead of time.
You can also check server status at any time using the real-time server status page Shopify provides.
If a Server Error Occurs
If a server error does occur, first check the official server status page, and if the cause is unclear and the issue isn't resolved, contact Shopify Support. Depending on the cause, the error may be related to a custom app or plugin issue, so it's also worth checking whether you've made any recent changes to your store.
Comparing Shopify's Servers with Other Ecommerce Platforms
A key strength of Shopify's servers and security measures is that they can support businesses of a scale large enough for global operations. Compared with services aimed mainly at small domestic ecommerce sites in Japan, such as BASE and Color Me, Shopify can be considered relatively more secure.
Build Your Store on Shopify's Reliable Servers
Shopify's servers stand out for their outstanding stability and security. They're also low-maintenance, letting business owners focus on running their business rather than managing servers. Compared with other ecommerce platforms, Shopify offers superior security and server performance — start running your ecommerce site on Shopify today.
The blog article below walks through the process of setting up a Shopify store in detail. We hope you find it useful.
