Chapter 16: Building an E-Commerce Trust Infrastructure

“When a man assumes a public trust, he should consider himself as public property.”

—Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826)

Overview

A secure e-commerce Web site can provide businesses with powerful competitive advantages, including increased online retail sales and streamlined application processes for products such as insurance, mortgages, or credit cards. E-commerce credit card sales can be especially lucrative; according to independent analysts, cash transactions on the Internet will reach $13 billion in 2004, and $74 billion in 2009. By offering products and services on the Web, businesses can gain unique benefits:

• New customers

• Cost-effective delivery channel

• Streamlined enrollment

• Better marketing through better customer knowledge^[1]

^[1]“Setting Up an E-Commerce Infrastructure,” 2003 VeriSign, Inc. All rights reserved. VeriSign Worldwide Headquarters, 487 East Middlefield Road, Mountain View, CA 94043.