No matter how advanced or promising your website, app, or device is, neglecting user experience will prevent it from reaching its potential. By showing awareness to users, you can make sure that your product is not only useful but also something that actual people can use to improve their lives.
The user experience needs to be appealing, but it also needs to be secure. How do you balance these two principles? Which practices should you follow to integrate security and a positive user experience seamlessly? Here’s what to consider.
Security as a Core Part of UX
Cybersecurity and UX design share several core goals. Building user trust, increasing productivity, avoiding mistakes, and guaranteeing compliance are the goals of both. To that end, UX designers must account for cybersecurity at every step of the design process. This ensures you’re building easy-to-use yet secure tools from the ground up and don’t need to waste resources on potentially lackluster implementation after the fact.
Communicate Secure Design
A secure site or app should look the part! This means you’ll want the user experience to emphasize attention to security through various means. The lock icon in front of your website’s HTTPS address is one such indicator, while successful password creation or change messages can be another. If the interface has messaging services, emphasize its security by pointing out encryption and other features.
Data Collection & Handling Practices
Successful sites and apps constantly refine and improve their features, which isn’t possible without continuous data gathering. However, collecting too many data points and prompting users to enter various personal information erodes trust while introducing speed bumps in their journey. Reduce the amount of collected data to the essentials required for successful operation.
Another priority is storage and controlled access to user and company data. Any collected data, especially sensitive and personal data, should be encrypted and stored securely in several locations. Consider employing only the best VPN to ensure secure communication and data handling via an encrypted connection. By doing this, you can stop vulnerabilities from developing when you access such data via insecure networks.
Transparency in Data Handling
Having robust data storage and collection protocols in place provides a security foundation. However, you’ll also want to communicate this to users to build trust organically. Start by creating a straightforward privacy policy with easy user access. When asking them for data and permissions, explain what you’ll use the data for and why these permissions are necessary.
Password Considerations
Creating a secure account can be a major hang-up, so smoothing this step over is crucial for user retention and engagement. The trick is to balance convenience with secure account practices like using secure passwords.
For example, you can guide users in creating adequate passwords with visual cues like strength indicator colors. Another option is to install inconspicuous pop-ups that inform users of best practices and urge them to create, store, and enter passwords safely using a password manager. For those unsure about which password manager to choose, checking out a NordPass review can provide insight into its features, security, and ease of use.
Authentication
A second authentication measure greatly improves account security but can put users off if it’s too intrusive. Gently insist that such measures are necessary for comprehensive account protection but go with straightforward ones like biometric authentication or 2FA that engage only when someone tries to sign into an account from an unknown device.
Supportive Error Handling
No one wants to feel inadequate if they can’t master the intricacies of a user interface. Rather than offering harsh and generic error messages, inform users about what they might have done wrong and how they can correct their mistakes.
Provide only enough vague information to complete the necessary step. This will help genuine users while hiding useful information from hackers. For example, you wouldn’t want the latter to know that the username they entered does indeed exist in your database, would you?
Give Users Control
Overwhelming users with options will put some off, but so will handholding. It’s a great idea to create a brief interactive tutorial when explaining a UI for the first time and having tight security settings as defaults. However, involved users will appreciate the option to disable some notifications or change their preferences.
This is another opportunity to empower users regarding data privacy. You can let them decide which data collection processes to participate in and offer easy ways of opting out of or into them.
Test and Update Regularly
There’s always room to improve the user experience from both usability and technical standpoints. Encourage users to leave feedback and implement the best and most requested features when able. Even more importantly, regular hacking tests and audits should be carried out to identify vulnerabilities and strengthen defenses against attacks.
Related Posts:
Cybersecurity for Small Businesses: 10 Essential Tips for Staying Safe in 2024
