Data Security

Getting hacked isn’t just a concern for tech companies anymore. Businesses of all shapes and sizes have digital, forward-facing assets. Retailers, in particular, possess a large amount of consumer data — from purchasing habits to personally identifiable information like names, addresses and credit card numbers — making them attractive targets for criminals. A breach of…

U.S. retail faces daunting digital challenges, and IT security is among the biggest. Traditional retailers are struggling to balance brick-and-mortar businesses with emerging online retail trends, while at the same time battling digital natives like Amazon.com and Wayfair. With ultra-high volumes of personally identifiable information (PII) and payment card information changing hands with every transaction, the retail industry is one of the most, if not the most, vulnerable targets for cyberattacks. Not surprisingly the question on the minds of IT and business leaders in U.S. retail is, “What will it take to stop the breaches?” The data in this report are derived from detailed input from 100 senior retail IT security managers in the U.S. and 96 IT security managers from retailers in other countries, and is part of the Global Thales 2018 Global Data Threat Report. The report polled 1,200 IT security managers in eight countries and across four major vertical markets.

For years, cybersecurity experts have debated whether companies should pay hackers’ ransoms. Some experts pointed to the expediency of handing over the ransom — it can be less expensive to pay than to spend time and money getting systems back up and running. However, the overwhelming majority argued that paying the ransom encouraged more attacks.…

The European Union's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) went into effect on May 25, 2018. Leading up to this day, organizations spent months, even years, assessing data collected from customers and employees as well as data privacy security procedures in place. As businesses continue to work toward maintaining compliance with the new regulations, it's still too early…

Recent data breaches affecting retailers threaten to undermine consumer trust and brand loyalty, making these incidents — and risks of future ones — more than a security team concern. Fraud is everyone’s problem, whether you're a security architect or a CEO, just as customer experience is an organizationwide goal. A promise to keep transactions safe…

Macy's is warning online customers that it discovered a data breach that targeted profiles on macys.com and bloomingdales.com for almost two months, the Detroit Free Press reports. According to a letter mailed to Macy's customers this week, the retailer's cyber threat alert tools detected suspicious login activities on June 11, and that  this "suspicious activity" was being…

California’s new consumer privacy law is facing a backlash from businesses, including retailers, across the U.S. that contend the law will hurt their businesses, according to a report in The Wall Street Journal. The California Consumer Privacy Act of 2018 grants consumers more control over and insight into the spread of their personal information online, creating one…

Adidas has warned millions of U.S. customers of a potential data breach. The athletic wear company announced in a press release on Thursday that an “unauthorized party” claims to have acquired customer data from its U.S. website. According to a preliminary investigation conducted by outside data security firms and law enforcement, the leaked data is believed…

Now more than ever, cybersecurity is one of the most important concerns and key area of risk for businesses. Recently, the EU’s deadline for compliance with the General Data Protection Rule (GDPR) passed, leaving companies with the significant responsibility to align with the new law and demonstrate firm control and security over customers’ data. Implementing…

Data privacy scandals like Cambridge Analytica have seized the public consciousness and pulled into sharp focus the need for a consent-driven approach to marketing. Consumers want personalized offers, but they also want to control their personal information. This prevailing opinion was captured in our latest survey, Privacy, Personalization, and Promotions, which polled a cross-section of…