In the past week, the UK was shaken by a wave of retail cybercrime incidents affecting high-profile retailers Marks & Spencer, Co-op, and Harrods. While Marks & Spencer fell victim to a ransomware attack, Co-op was affected by a data breach in which hackers reportedly stole 20 million Co-op customers’ data. Harrods also confirmed that it was experiencing “an attempt to gain unauthorised access” to its systems.
All these incidents add to the growing number of online threats to data safety and privacy, affecting the brands’ operations and raising questions about the e-commerce security measures they have in place.
As these e-commerce brands work towards picking up the pieces and restoring normalcy, hopefully, they’ve come to an important conclusion – that online threat prevention cannot be taken for granted.
This blog explores more about retail cyberattacks and how BlackBox Hosting’s reliable cybersecurity in the cloud can help your brand stay protected from the toughest of cyber threats.
Common Types of Retail Cybercrimes
Digitisation in the retail sector has brought many benefits, but this shift has also made retailers more vulnerable to online security threats. The most common types of retail cybersecurity threats include:
Data Breaches
Cybercriminals target retailers to gain access to sensitive customer information, including credit card information, email addresses, and contact numbers.
One way to prevent online threats to data safety is by implementing strong data protection measures, including encryption, multi-factor authentication (MFA), and regular security audits.
Phishing Attacks
Phishing is another common modus operandi in retail cybercrime, where cybercriminals use deceptive emails or websites to trick employees or customers into disclosing sensitive data. This gives scammers open access to your organisation’s systems, customer data, and financial information.
Integrating filtering and monitoring tools to detect suspicious activities can do a great deal to prevent future phishing attacks.
Malware and Ransomware
Ransomware and malware are malicious computer programs designed to infiltrate and damage computer systems or networks. In a ransomware attack, cybercriminals may lock your files, then demand a payment to unlock them.
Paying the ransom doesn’t guarantee the secure release of your system or data, which is why you need resilient data backup and recovery systems along with robust cybersecurity in your cloud.
Insider Threats
Insider threats pose a unique challenge for retail enterprises. Since employees and contractors often have legitimate access to sensitive information, it can be hard to spot when that access is being misused.
To reduce the risk, your business should implement strict access controls and carry out thorough background checks, as well as actively monitoring for any suspicious behaviour or unusual activity.
Cybercrime Impact – What’s On the Line For Your Brand?
Retail brands often store sensitive information and customer data on the cloud, which is why cybersecurity in the cloud should be non-negotiable for all businesses.
But the impact of cybercrime goes beyond just an online threat to data safety; it has a lasting effect on multiple retail assets.
The impact includes:
- Data Breaches: Customer Personally Identifiable Information (PII), order histories, and payment data may be stolen
- Disruption: Operations may be halted due to downtime
- Damage: Financial loss, reputational damage, and competitive disadvantage are all common effects of cybercrime
The best way to avoid having to deal with these repercussions is to strengthen your defences against rising retail cybercrime by boosting your cybersecurity measures.
How BlackBox Hosting Boosts Cyber Security in the Cloud
BlackBox Hosting is more than just a cloud storage service provider; we’re committed to your business’s safety and security with our cybersecurity practices.
Here’s how we help our partners and their clients detect, repel, and recover from the most sophisticated e-commerce security threats:
1. Multi-Layered Perimeter Defence
Multiple layers of defence protect your retail business from external online security threats. These layers filter known and emerging threats before they come in contact with your database or application.
Pre-Firewall design with Intrusion Detection (IDS)
A dedicated pre-firewall layer with real-time IDS analyses the inbound traffic for suspicious patterns before they reach the client’s environment.
Next-Generation Firewall (NGFW)
Our deep packet inspection is powered with a combination of Intrusion Prevention Systems (IPS) and live antivirus scanning to block, alert, and report anything malicious and threatening, from suspicious protocols to encrypted malware tunnels.
With traffic analytics, we analyse incoming traffic and deploy geo-blocking for uncharted regions of operation.
2. File Server Protection with FSRM + CryptoLocker Detection
We deploy File Server Resource Manager (FSRM) with CryptoLocker protection policies across our managed file services for:
- Detecting suspicious ransomware behaviour (e.g., rapid file renaming, or encryption attempts)
- Triggering real-time alerts
- Automatically isolating affected systems to prevent lateral spread
Trust our proactive approach over a reactive approach for safeguarding your e-commerce platform.
3. Secure Backup File Services with AV & Crypto Protection
With our backup file services, you’ll enjoy complete peace of mind in the case of data recovery. Our service has embedded antivirus scanning, malware, and CryptoLocker detection and mitigation, which ensures:
- Regular scanning of backup files for malware and cryptolocker, for immutable storage and clean data recovery
- Regularly updating malware signatures
Reach out to us for dependable DRaaS and BaaS services.
4. Unrivalled DDoS Mitigation
Manual Edge/Cogent Upstream Blocking
As an additional layer of security control, our team employs a diligent and effective manual process that uses Cogent and Upstream blocking.
Voxility Auto-DDoS Filter
Along with intelligent traffic protection, our powerful 1Tbps+ DDoS Shield means your business is equipped to withstand the most potent DDoS threats, leaving your operations unshakeable and secure.
Our DDoS protection comes at no extra cost to our clients.
5. Infrastructure-Level Resilience
BlackBox Hosting has a resilient IT infrastructure to support your business, including:
- Hosting in two Tier 3+ UK data centres
- Rapid disaster recovery
- 24/7 monitored and supervised private cloud with an experienced team of engineers
- Role-based access controls with MFA across the stack
Count On Blackbox Hosting for Online Threat Prevention in Retail
Whether you’re an e-commerce player, SaaS vendor, or a digital retail partner, ask yourself: how prepared are you against the next online security threat?
BlackBox Hosting combines multi-layered security, real-time threat detection, and threat-tested infrastructure to keep your e-commerce business online and protected around the clock.
We serve over 1 million end users via our white-label partners and know first hand how crippling the impact of downtime, data loss, and brand damage can be.
Contact us or call us on +44(0)203 740 7840 to learn how we can help you today.
