Threat Trends | 2 mins
Businesses across all sectors have become increasingly concerned about cybersecurity. However, the retail industry stands out as particularly vulnerable due to its reliance on digital channels and the vast amounts of sensitive customer data it collects.
As cybercriminals become increasingly sophisticated, retail organizations face a wide range of challenges in safeguarding their digital assets and protecting customer information from malicious actors.
Retail Attack Surface Management Challenges
Recent statistics paint a concerning picture of the cybersecurity landscape within the retail sector. According to research, a staggering 24% of cyberattacks target retailers, highlighting the attractiveness of these businesses as lucrative targets for cybercriminals. Furthermore, a concerning 98% of applications in the retail industry have been found to have security vulnerabilities, indicating widespread weaknesses in digital defenses.
One of the primary challenges facing the retail sector is the management of its digital attack surface. With the proliferation of online channels and the adoption of omnichannel strategies, retail organizations are grappling with an increasingly complex and dynamic attack surface. This complexity is further compounded by the global nature of retail operations, which adds layers of intricacy to cybersecurity efforts.
Retailers must contend with a variety of attack vectors, including exploited vulnerabilities, compromised credentials, and malicious emails. Exploited vulnerabilities, in particular, pose a significant threat, making up a large proportion of attacks encountered by retail organizations. The dynamic nature of the retail environment, coupled with the global complexity of operations, presents unique challenges in managing and securing the digital attack surface.
Despite the alarming statistics and the growing sophistication of cyber threats, many retail organizations struggle with limited visibility into their attack surface. Over half of retail IT and business leaders admit to having blind spots in securing their digital assets, with cloud assets posing the greatest challenge. This lack of insight leaves retailers vulnerable to cyber attacks and highlights the urgent need for proactive security measures.
The Imperative of Continuous Threat Exposure Management
To address these challenges, retail organizations must adopt a proactive approach to cybersecurity. Traditional approaches to vulnerability management are no longer sufficient in the face of evolving threats and complex attack surfaces. Instead, organizations must embrace Continuous Threat Exposure Management (CTEM) to continuously monitor, identify, and mitigate threats in real-time.
CTEM offers a holistic and proactive approach to cybersecurity, enabling organizations to prioritize remediation efforts based on validated threats and business criticality. By continuously assessing threats and vulnerabilities, organizations can allocate resources effectively and reduce their risk of a successful attack. Furthermore, CTEM empowers organizations to stay one step ahead of adversaries by providing real-time visibility into their exposure to threats.
Overall, the retail sector faces significant challenges in managing its digital attack surface and safeguarding customer data from cyber threats. To address these challenges, retail organizations must embrace proactive security measures such as Continuous Threat Exposure Management. By adopting a proactive approach to cybersecurity, retailers can enhance their security posture, protect their digital assets, and safeguard customer trust in an increasingly digital world.
