In the age of the digitally-savvy consumer, data is more important than ever.
More and more customers are shopping online, and even those making in-store purchasing decisions are often using digital tools while doing so.
To keep up with these changes, retailers are gathering customer demographic data for marketing, inventory data, and customer personal and financial data for online shopping transactions.
With all this data comes the need to protect it from malware and other cyberattacks. And although many retailers are concerned about privacy breaches and cybersecurity, many are unsure of the best approaches for protecting themselves and their customers.
E-skimming on the rise
Recently, several high-profile ransomware attacks have made the news, and while those types of attacks are certainly a concern, they are not the most common type faced by retailers.
One of the most common threats is credit card skimming. This itself isn’t new – retailers have been fighting against point-of-sale malware for years. However, with the rise of online shopping, hackers have now turned to e-skimming.
E-skimming is a practice that injects malicious code into the checkout page of a retailer’s website, collects customer data and then sends the data back to the hackers.
This type of skimming, along with other e-commerce malware, is on the rise. One recent report indicates these types of incidents have increased almost 400% since 2018.
Cybersecurity best practices
By following a few industry best practices and selecting a security provider equipped with the right tools for your industry, businesses can protect themselves from security breaches and other cyberattacks.
Secure your digital POS
Just as you protect your physical point-of-sale system, you also need to ensure your digital checkout system is secure. Customer data is most vulnerable when being transmitted to your business during the checkout process.
Your security team should be able to lock up this data tightly using advanced tools such as cloud management and next-generation firewalls.
Monitor around the clock
When a potential threat rears its head, you can avoid disaster by identifying the threat early and heading it off so that it cannot progress. To do this, you must be constantly vigilant, monitoring your business around the clock.
Identify & contain threats
The most important part of being able to stop a potential cyberattack is having a strong security team that is focused on protecting data. This team needs to be able to recognize the danger signs so they can implement a remedy and prevent a possible data breach.
Once the threat is identified, your team should be prepared to immediately act to contain the problem before it escalates.
Your security team can use tools like Encrypted Traffic Analytics and Rapid Threat Containment to assist them in identifying and containing threats to your network and data.
Take action
The best thing you can do to protect your business and your customers from cyberattacks is to select a quality security provider. The team you choose should be able to assess your specific needs and identify both vulnerabilities and security solutions.
Staley Technologies takes protecting data seriously and offers best-in-class technology deployment and services to help you stay ahead of today’s cyberthreats. For more information, contact us at (800) 280-9675 to speak with an expert.
