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What's new
What's new includes information about new functionality and changes in existing functionality from WebSphere Commerce Version 7 to WebSphere Commerce Version 8 release.
New features and functionality
This section describes the new features and functionality available with WebSphere Commerce.
What's new for administrators
As an administrator you install, configure, and maintain WebSphere Commerce and the associated software and hardware. Learn about the new features and functionality offered by WebSphere Commerce that will help you be successful in performing your administrative tasks.
Security enhancements
Learn about the new security features and functions that are offered by WebSphere Commerce in the areas of authentication, authorization, and access control policies. These features and functions are important for the chief security officer or the security administrator responsible for securing your site.

What's new
What's new includes information about new functionality and changes in existing functionality from WebSphere Commerce Version 7 to WebSphere Commerce Version 8 release.
- ... in Version 8 Mod Pack 4
  What's new includes information about new functionality and changes in existing functionality from WebSphere Commerce Version 8 to WebSphere Commerce Version 8 Mod Pack 4.
- ... in Version 8 Mod Pack 3
  What's new includes information about new functionality and changes in existing functionality from WebSphere Commerce Version 8 to WebSphere Commerce Version 8 Mod Pack 3.
- ... in Version 8 Mod Pack 2
  WebSphere Commerce Version 8.0.2 was released for IBM Commerce on Cloud only.
- ... in Version 8 Mod Pack 1
  What's new includes information about new functionality and changes in existing functionality from WebSphere Commerce Version 8 to WebSphere Commerce Version 8 Mod Pack 1.
- New features and functionality
  This section describes the new features and functionality available with WebSphere Commerce.
  - What's new for administrators
    As an administrator you install, configure, and maintain WebSphere Commerce and the associated software and hardware. Learn about the new features and functionality offered by WebSphere Commerce that will help you be successful in performing your administrative tasks.
    - Maintenance strategy
      WebSphere Commerce delivers two types of maintenance packages: fix packs and mod packs. A fix pack contains code fixes and security fixes. A mod pack contains new features and enhancements to existing features. A mod pack also contains most of the fixes that are available at the time of its release. Both types of maintenance packages are cumulative: a fix pack includes all previous fix packs and a mod pack includes all previous mod packs.
    - Installation enhancements
      Learn about the new features and functionality that are offered by WebSphere Commerce that improve your installation experience. Significant installation enhancements in this release include zero downtime when you apply fix packs and mod packs, and a simplified WebSphere Commerce installation process.
    - Migration enhancements
      Learn about the new features and functionality offered by WebSphere Commerce that reduce the complexity of your migration tasks.
    - Performance enhancements
      Learn about the new features and functions that are offered by WebSphere Commerce Version 8 to improve your site performance.
    - Security enhancements
      Learn about the new security features and functions that are offered by WebSphere Commerce in the areas of authentication, authorization, and access control policies. These features and functions are important for the chief security officer or the security administrator responsible for securing your site.
  - What's new for developers
    Learn about the new features and functionality WebSphere Commerce offers developers.
  - What's new for business users
    Learn about the new features and functionality WebSphere Commerce offers business users.
- IBM WebSphere Commerce Validated Technology Partner Solutions
  IBM WebSphere Commerce Validated Technology Partners bring together innovative and relevant e-commerce services and solutions to help serve the global community of WebSphere Commerce customers across a wide range of industries. By leveraging prebuilt integrations, WebSphere Commerce customers can deliver additional value faster with complimentary capabilities that differentiate the customer experience.
- Deprecated functionality
  If you are migrating from an earlier version of WebSphere Commerce, be aware of the various features that are deprecated or removed from this and earlier releases.
- Discontinued functionality
  If you are migrating from an earlier version of WebSphere Commerce, be aware of the various features that are deprecated or removed from this and earlier releases.

Security enhancements

Learn about the new security features and functions that are offered by WebSphere Commerce in the areas of authentication, authorization, and access control policies. These features and functions are important for the chief security officer or the security administrator responsible for securing your site.

SHA-256 cryptographic hash is used by default

In Version 7, SHA-1 was used by default. Now, the SHA-256 hash is used. For example, user passwords are hashed by using the SHA-256 algorithm.

HttpOnly flag is set by default for session cookies

By using httpOnly cookies, you can prevent cookies from being manipulated with JavaScript within the browser and reduce the possibility of cross-site scripting attacks and cookie theft. In Version 7, you enabled httpOnly for session cookies manually. Now, this flag is set by default.

Command line utilities support the -passwordFile parameter

When you use utilities, it is no longer necessary to supply a password on the command line. Utilities that require a password now support a -passwordFile parameter.

Non-sequential primary key for ORDERS and ADDRESS tables

The non-sequential key generation is enabled for ORDERS and ADDRESS tables. The enablement changes the KEYS table for the entries in column TABLENAME with values of ORDERS and ADDRESS. For more information, see Managing the KEYS table for non-sequential key enabled tables.