How to Change the Encryption Key in Magento 2?
As the title indicates, this article will discuss how to change the Magento 2 encryption key. Most merchants are unfamiliar with this key, meaning they are unnecessarily putting their store’s security at risk. Remember, a security breach can lead to substantial financial losses, reputational damage, and lawsuits from affected parties. Therefore, it is imperative to change this key frequently.
What is Magento Encryption Key?
It is simply a security tool which protects your store’s sensitive data such as passwords, payment information, and other personal details. Simply put, if someone were to get their hands on your store’s encryption key, they can cause considerable damage.
Importance of Changing the Magento 2 Encryption Key
There are several reasons why we recommend store owners should keep changing their encryption key. Let’s look at them one by one.
- Data Security
As mentioned earlier, the encryption key is used to secure your store’s sensitive information. By changing the key frequently, you can ensure that the data cannot be decrypted by an unauthorised individual who may have gotten access to an older key.
- Compliance With Best Security Practices
Ask any security professional or company and they’ll stress upon the need for a proactive approach to security management. By frequently changing the encryption key, Magento 2 store owners ensure they comply with the best practices proactively.
- Migrating your Store or Using a Backup
If you migrate your Magento 2 to a new server, recover using a backup, or update to a new Magento version, there is a chance that the older encryption may no longer be compatible. Therefore, changing the key ensures compatibility.
- Insider Threats
A disgruntled employee or third-party service provider may have access to your encryption key. To get back to you for whatever reason, they can use the key to cause irreparable damage. Therefore, regularly changing the key can protect against this threat.
Generate Magento Encryption Key
To generate the Magento encryption key i.e. change it, follow the below steps.
Step 1: Log in to your Magento 2 Admin Panel. From there, go to System > Other Settings > Manage Encryption Key.
Step 2: You will have two different options to generate Magento encryption key as shown below.
You can either opt for the Auto-generate a Key option. To do so, simply set it to ‘Yes’.
The other option is to generate New Key. You will have to enter the key yourself. Ensure that it is something truly unique.
Step 3: Afterwards, click on ‘Change Encryption Key’.
Where is the Magento Encryption File Located?
Once you complete Step 3, Magento will save the file to app/etc directory. To access it, go to your server’s file system. The encryption file is labelled as ‘env.php’. Open the file using any text editor and locate a section called ‘crypt’ or ‘install. This is where you’ll find the encryption key, allowing you to change the key quite easily. Remember to backup the key to a secure location such as an external hard drive or cloud storage. Lastly, change the key every 3 to 6 months.
Final Thoughts on Magento 2 Encryption Key
This concludes our article on how to generate Magento encryption key. Your store’s security should always be your top priority and changing the encryption key regularly is the first step towards protecting sensitive data.
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