E-commerce merchants need to prepare for when the cumulative size of their store is too much for the server to handle. By adding new pages, inventory lists, plugins, and images, merchants are slowly encroaching upon the data limit available to them in CPU or on the server. The result is a slower site prone to lags and shutdowns. Not only is site speed compromised for mobile and desktop - a cybersecurity threat emerges as more unprotected files are floating around the backend of a site without proper protection.
What can web developers do to ensure a secure site and maintain a seamless buyers experience for millennial audiences?
It all comes down to caching. In computing, caching is the practice of storing data temporarily in the local environment (the CPU) for future use, before clearing it if no longer necessary. When properly executed, caching speeds up load times and helps the application run faster.
Multi-level caching exists on Magento 2 that makes it possible for developers to maximize memory and security.
Caching Levels in Magento 2: Entry Tagging
From a security standpoint, cashing should be set up to clarify who has access to previously searched responses.
Google recommends every response posted to the site should specify a caching policy. Each page should state if the response can be cached, by whom, and for how long. Two important cache types for pages are:
- Cache-Control - Provides detailed instruction on how the browser should cache each response, without having to contact the server.
- ETaps - These present a re-evaluation token to the browser to account for any updates made to the response. Particularly useful for software instructions that are timely to process but frequently used (and infrequently updated).
It is imperative to set up every page with cached control so that customers can shop without any hitches.
Caching Levels in Magento 2: Custom Functionality
On a deeper level, Magento 2 offers web developers an alternative to the file-based mechanism used in standard caching. For example, for vendors with a high daily search volume and expanding store catalog, the Zend_Cache_Backend_File may not be up to the challenge. In the first place, the Level 2 backend is harder to analyze because it relies on two servers. Furthermore, the use of a database in the dual backend means it is not suited to be scalable for a vendor with consistently high traffic.
In this type of circumstance, Redis offers an ideal customized solution. Redis has a more flexible backend that indexes files rather than scans them, storing the metadata and the cache in a single file. These features make it scalable for large volumes of data. Ultimately, of course, the need for custom cache functionality comes down to the needs of the vendor in question.
If your e-commerce site is experiencing issues with microprocessing speed, CPU limitations, or any issues related to caching, you have come to the right place. At Commercebees, we offer the Magento custom extension and expertise to optimize your tiered caching system for security and efficiency.
