Retailers store a lot of customer data and must comply with several regulations. This makes them an attractive target for cyberattacks seeking to steal information and money. A strong cybersecurity strategy is the best way to prevent such attacks and ensure compliance. However, retailers must balance their security measures with operational efficiency.
Firewalls
Firewalls are the first defense against threats, malware, and cyberattacks. They are software or hardware between a retail business’s internal networks and the outside world. Firewalls need to be constantly updated and patched. Without them, retail companies are vulnerable to various attacks and cyberattacks, including phishing, ransomware, and POS malware. A cyber security for retail strategy should also include robust access management for its networks, devices, and users. This includes proper authentication of staff for their role in the company and more robust verification options for those who need access to customer data. In addition, tracking every person who enters a physical location and every device connected to a network should be possible.
Different types of firewalls offer varied methods for filtering incoming and outgoing data packets. A proxy service firewall works more like a guard at a physical gate, looking at a person and deciding whether to admit them based on their background and what they’re trying to do. Using a combination of network layer inspection and advanced data identifiers, this firewall effectively keeps out bad web traffic and prevents the spread of viruses.
Encryption
Retailers collect vast amounts of customer data, making them a prime target for cybercriminals. Whether it’s credit card information, purchase history, or other personal details, hackers can steal this information to commit fraud and identity theft. Retailers must adopt a robust cybersecurity strategy to protect this information and uphold privacy regulations. Unfortunately, many retailers lack the resources, budgets, and specialized skills to address their IT security needs fully. They also need help with employee turnover, a distributed workforce, and limited IT infrastructure. In addition, many retail boards need to be faster to elevate security to a board-level discussion. As a result, their information security strategies fall short of the industry’s needs. The most effective way to secure your retail business is to use encryption, which scrambles your data into a form that cannot be read unless decrypted. This protects sensitive data in the event of a breach and reduces liability for retailers. Retailers must encrypt sensitive data at rest and in transit, where most violations occur. Retailers must also follow the highest security standards for their hardware, software, and network components.
Monitoring
Retailers rely heavily on third-party vendors for technology and services, including cloud service providers, point-of-sale system (POS) software, and third-party apps that enable e-commerce sites. These systems and apps are vulnerable to cyberattacks, making them an attractive target for hackers. Cybersecurity solutions like firewalls and antivirus software can help protect retail businesses from cyber threats. A strong cybersecurity strategy involves monitoring all activities on a retail business network. Cyberattacks occur over time, requiring constant monitoring to detect them. A retail business can do this by leveraging data analytics and security automation. Security automation uses data feeds, logging, and human intelligence to identify and detect bad actors in the early stages of an attack. Then, it can automatically respond to the attack by blocking activity and alerting appropriate personnel. For example, if a retail store detected a DDoS attack, it could immediately use an automated tool to send traffic to an attacker’s servers to prevent the attacks from affecting customers. It could also quickly isolate and remove malicious code or files from a device. Retailers must fill the technology, process, and staffing gaps that hamper their ability to implement an effective information security posture. They must invest in security solutions that can withstand complex attacks. The short-term savings of not investing in security are not worth the potentially substantial losses caused by a payment card data breach.
Training
For retail businesses to be secure, employees must understand their role in securing the data that drives the business. Educating staff on best practices, including changing passwords often and never sharing them, can reduce the risk of a cyber incident. Training should be provided on an ongoing basis and include specific information for employees who handle customer credit card data or point-of-sale (POS) systems. It’s also essential to ensure that employees know the risks of using public WiFi when working remotely and the importance of updating security software regularly. This can help to prevent the most common compromises that lead to data breaches and the need for ransomware payments. Cyber attacks are becoming increasingly sophisticated and targeted. As a result, retail businesses must elevate cybersecurity to the board level and invest appropriately in the necessary technology, processes, and people. This includes the CISO, who should embody and lead the cybersecurity strategy. Despite the recent focus on pandemic-related cost-cutting and uncertainty about future sales, retailers must remain focused on protecting their data. A strong cybersecurity strategy can be developed by leveraging modeling, prioritizing threats, estimating their impact, and identifying the protections that mitigate them. This is the same approach required for any other strategic process, and it will be even more critical in light of the increasing sophistication of cyberattacks.