Retail Cybersecurity: Threats, Risks, and Solutions (2026)

Retail cybersecurity protects customer data as threats rise. Review common attacks and proven security measures for retail businesses.

Retail cybersecurity today is a hybrid risk. Retail cyber incidents rose 15% in the past year, according to Verizon's "2025 Data Breach Investigations Report", but the more telling shift is what today’s attackers are after. They're moving past payment card data toward customer credentials, internal business plans, and even operational reports. The whole store is now under threat.

And independent retailers now run more cloud tools, payment options, and digital touchpoints than ever. In its 2026 “SMB Threat Landscape” report, security firm VikingCloud found that 84% of small and midsize business owners manage cybersecurity themselves, often without dedicated expertise.

Every new connection may be a convenience for customers, but it’s also a potential entry point for a hacker. This guide covers current retail security challenges and practical steps small and midsize retail businesses can take to protect their businesses from cyberattacks.

What is retail cybersecurity?

Retail cybersecurity describes the practices businesses employ to protect information like customer data and digital tools like store devices from fraud and cyberattacks. These risks continue to rise, and they intensify during high-traffic shopping seasons when the volume of money moving online makes retail a target. 

Shopify merchants generated a record $14.6 billion in global sales over Black Friday and Cyber Monday (BFCM) weekend in 2025, up 27% from the prior year. More than 81 million consumers worldwide bought from Shopify-powered brands during the weekend, with sales peaking at $5.1 million per minute on Black Friday. With so much at risk, the importance of retail cybersecurity is evident.

Why is cybersecurity important in the retail industry?

Most of the day-to-day business in retail runs on digital tools, including in physical stores. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s 2025 small business technology report found 99% of small businesses use at least one technology platform to power their work, touching everything from marketing to operations. You need cybersecurity to protect all this information for your business and your customers.

Fraud costs are measurable. This includes revenue: Merchant Risk Council’s 2026 “Global Payments and Fraud Report” found ecommerce businesses lose 3.2% of annual revenue to payment fraud, while 62% reported more first-party misuse disputes, and 57% reported more refund or policy abuse.

Fraud incidents can also erode customer trust. If they have their money or personal data stolen while transacting business with your store, they may not feel comfortable shopping with you again, or recommending your brand to their friends.

For retailers, cybersecurity helps protect customer trust, payment systems, daily operations, and seasonal revenue when traffic and fraud attempts rise at the same time.

What are the most common retail cybersecurity threats today?

Retail cybersecurity threats keep changing as automated traffic and third-party risk grow. Thales’s 2025 "Bad Bot Report" found automated traffic made up 51% of all web traffic, while Verizon’s 2026 "Data Breach Investigations Report" found third-party involvement in breaches doubled from the previous year, to 30%. 

A good understanding of the main threat categories can help you prioritize your security budget. This includes criminals’ latest innovations in classic fraud approaches, and new and emerging criminal strategies. 

Credential phishing attacks

Phishing (or spoofing) is a form of social engineering in which fraudsters gain access by targeting people rather than network weaknesses. Criminals use fake emails, texts, or calls to pose as trusted people or businesses, tricking victims into sharing data, clicking harmful links, or downloading malware. Criminals use the stolen data for credit card fraud or account takeovers, or sell it to other criminals.

The FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3)’s 2025 Internet Crime Report recorded 191,561 phishing and spoofing complaints and $215.8 million in related losses, making phishing/spoofing the top IC3 crime type by complaint count. For retailers specifically, RH-ISAC’s first-quarter 2025 threat report found phishing was the most shared threat trend among core members, with credential harvesters and call-center phishing among the top reported threat types.

There’s also credential stuffing, in which attackers use automated tools to test stolen usernames and passwords across ecommerce accounts, admin panels, loyalty programs, and payment systems. The speed of automated tools allows criminals to attempt breaches on many sites in a short period of time.

Verizon’s 2025 “Data Breach Investigations Report” found credential abuse was the most common initial access vector in breaches, at 22%.

Here’s an example of a common type of phishing attack:

1. A retail employee receives an email that appears to come from a trusted source, like a vendor, a payment processor, or their own IT department.
2. They click a link.
3. They enter their credentials on a fake login page.
4. Attackers use those credentials to access ecommerce admin panels, point-of-sale (POS) back-end systems, email accounts, or payroll platforms.

Phishing campaigns include broad campaigns and targeted business email compromise (BEC) attacks. BEC schemes target finance and HR staff, impersonating executives to get employees to authorize fraudulent wire transfers or payroll changes. The FBI recorded 24,768 BEC complaints and $3 billion in BEC losses in 2025.

Perpetrators of fraud are always ready to embrace the latest technological investigations, and the potential for the use of AI in phishing scams is a prime example. In a dangerous evolution of BEC tactics, criminals can use deepfake phishing scams to contact employees with voice calls or even video calls that use deepfaked versions of superiors that can manipulate them into giving up money or data.

Common defenses against phishing and credential stuffing include:

• Phishing-resistant multi-factor authentication (MFA) on all critical systems: Hardware security keys or authenticator apps are more secure than SMS-based codes that can be intercepted.
• Email security filtersthat scan for malicious links: This includes suspicious sender patterns and known phishing sources.
• Simulated phishing training: This gives employees practice identifying attacks in a low-stakes environment.
• Strict approval workflows requiring out-of-band verification: An example is requiring a phone call to a known number before processing any request to change bank accounts, payment methods, or login credentials.
• Credential-stuffing protections: This includes rate limits, bot detection, breached-password checks, and login alerts.

Strong account security practices across your organization reduce the likelihood that a stolen or phished password will lead to a full breach.

Malware infiltration and data theft

Malware (malicious software) such as Trojans and viruses can be used by criminals to infiltrate retail systems through third-party software downloads, phishing emails with compromised links or attachments, or retail supply chain vulnerabilities.

Once malware enters a network, it can steal customer information such as credit card details, login credentials, and financial data. Point-of-sale (POS) systems are common targets. In 2019, malware stole data from payment cards used at Wawa’s in-store point-of-sale terminals and fuel pumps. The malware harvested card numbers, expiration dates, cardholder names, and other payment card data, and Wawa later agreed to an $8 million multistate settlement, at the time the third-largest credit card data breach settlement with attorneys general. 

The RH-ISAC 2025 industry report documented 4,712 threat events published to its Malware Information Sharing Platform (MISP) during 2024, containing 51,094 unique indicators of compromise. Malware families like FAKEUPDATES, which trick users into downloading malicious files disguised as browser updates, increased during 2024.

Malware can enter a retail environment through several paths:

• “Malvertising” campaigns place infected ads on legitimate websites that employees or customers visit.
• Compromised plugins for ecommerce platforms can contain hidden back doors.
• Pirated software installed on back-office machines often includes bundled malware.
• Macro-laced email attachments remain a threat for finance and operations staff who regularly receive invoices and spreadsheets.

Once inside a network, malware targets valuable retail data like payment card numbers, login credentials for banking and ecommerce platforms, and customer personally identifiable information (PII) that enables identity theft and account-takeover fraud.

Effective malware defenses include:

• Endpoint detection and response (EDR) software on back-office machines, servers, and employee workstations
• Separate network segments for POS devices, so malware on one system can’t move as easily into payment environments
• Strict software whitelisting that prevents unapproved applications from running
• Automated patching and regular security updates that close known vulnerabilities before attackers can exploit them
• Vendor hygiene protocols that vet ecommerce themes, plugins, and apps before installation and monitor them for suspicious updates
• Mandatory data security training for employees as well as contractors who access company systems

On a hosted platform like Shopify, several of these defenses shift from your plate to the platform's. For example, card data is processed inside Shopify's PCI DSS Level 1–certified environment and tokenized, so payment information never lives on your store's systems for malware to harvest.

Ransomware encryption and demands

Ransomware is malware criminals use to encrypt company data and demand ransom payment as a condition for decryption. Many businesses agree to pay to avoid extended disruptions. With their systems unable to function due to malware, a business’s revenue losses can compound every hour; factor in the reputational loss from frustrated customers, and it’s not surprising companies choose to pay up.

While ransomware attacks have historically been associated with enterprise-level businesses, they now targets midsize and specialty retailers as well. Verizon’s 2025 Data Breach Investigations Report found ransomware appeared in 44% of breaches, up 37% from the previous year.

For small to midsize retailers, a ransomware attack can disrupt sales, customer service, and supply chain operations: 

• Encrypted point-of-sale (POS) servers block in-store sales. 
• Locked ecommerce platforms prevent online orders. 
• Frozen inventory and fulfillment systems mean no shipments. 
• Disrupted customer service channels can delay refunds, order updates, and support requests, while supply chain interruptions can leave retailers unable to restock or fulfill orders. 

Ransomware gangs also practice “double extortion”: first, stealing customer data before encrypting systems, then threatening to publish it unless additional ransoms are paid.

Your security team can map attacks to a "kill chain," a concept popularized by Lockheed Martin's Cyber Kill Chain framework. Ransomware attacks have stages, so you can spot where you can intervene:

• Initial access through phishing, exposed remote desktop services, or vulnerable software
• Privilege escalation as attackers move from a single compromised account to administrative control
• Data exfiltration as attackers copy sensitive files to external servers
• Encryption and extortion as attackers lock systems and demand payment

Defending against ransomware requires preparation across multiple fronts:

• A 3-2-1 backup strategy, meaning you maintain three copies of critical data, on two different media types, with one copy stored offsite or in immutable cloud storage that attackers cannot delete
• Network segmentation that limits an attacker’s ability to move laterally from a compromised system to critical infrastructure
• Rehearsed incident response plans that define who does what when an attack is detected

DDoS attacks for service disruption

Distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks occur when attackers flood websites with traffic using botnets—connections from a network of malware-infected machines—causing downtime and revenue loss. These attacks piggyback on bot traffic and AI-driven scripts, and tend to intensify during peak shopping periods. Thales reported that bots made up 53% of traffic to retail websites in 2025, with bad bots accounting for 39% of retail web traffic. 

A successful DDoS attack can do everything from disabling payment gateway connections at checkout to overwhelming APIs that connect inventory systems across channels. DDoS attacks come in two forms:

• Volumetric attacks that flood network connections with more traffic than infrastructure can handle
• Application-layer attacks that target specific functions, like submitting endless cart additions or search queries, that consume server resources without overwhelming bandwidth

Protecting against DDoS requires infrastructure-level defenses like:

• Content delivery networks (CDNs) that absorb volumetric attacks across distributed global infrastructure
• Web application firewalls (WAFs) with DDoS-protection rules that identify and block malicious traffic patterns
• Rate limiting that prevents any single IP address from overwhelming specific pages or functions
• Preconfigured “under attack” modes with hosting providers that retailers can activate when an attack begins

Shopify's DDoS protection is built-in. The infrastructure automatically detects and filters malicious traffic surges while letting legitimate shoppers through, monitored in real time so a store stays up during an attack instead of going dark. 

Web app vulnerabilities for data theft

Attackers exploit weaknesses in ecommerce platforms to steal customer information through malicious code injection, database query manipulation, or cookie tampering. Verizon’s 2026 Data Breach Investigations Report found that 31% of breaches now start with software vulnerabilities, making vulnerability exploitation the top initial access vector, ahead of stolen credentials.

For retailers, this trend indicates several growing risks:

• Outdated plugins on your ecommerce platform may contain known vulnerabilities with publicly available exploit code.
• Themes that haven’t been updated in years can contain security flaws.
• Custom integrations built by agencies or freelancers may lack sufficient security controls.
• Exposed admin panels with default or weak credentials offer attackers direct access.
• Shadow data, such as duplicate customer records, forgotten exports, or data stored in unsanctioned tools, can create exposure outside approved systems.

As headless commerce and API-first architectures have grown, so have the places you can get hacked. OWASP API Security Top 10, the current industry standard for API risk, catalogs these threats specifically, singling out business-logic abuse and over-trusted third-party API connections.

Defenses you’ll need for web application security include:

• Automated patch management that applies security updates within days
• Dependency-scanning tools that identify vulnerable libraries and components in your ecommerce stack
• Regular web application-penetration testing; at minimum annually, and after any major platform changes
• Least-privilege access to admin panels, limiting who can make configuration changes
• Web application firewall (WAF) rules tuned for retail traffic patterns, protecting cart, checkout, and login endpoints from common attack techniques

Shopify's own platform is under constant adversarial testing through our public Bug Bounty program. Further, platform patching and security updates run continuously on Shopify's infrastructure rather than waiting on you to apply them. 

Social engineering manipulation

Social engineering includes tactics such as spear phishing—targeted phishing attacks—and “whaling,” which is phishing aimed at top executives. Criminals use these tactics to trick someone in a company into revealing sensitive information or granting network access. Verizon’s 2026 Data Breach Investigations Report found that the human element appeared in 62% of breaches, while mobile social engineering success rose 40%, showing that employee manipulation and credential theft remain major breach risks even as vulnerability exploitation grows.

While most people are familiar with email phishing, that’s only one type of social engineering. Other attacks include:

• An attacker calling retail locations posing as IT support, persuading employees to install “remote assistance” software that grants system access
• Fraudsters impersonating card processors, claiming they need to verify account details to prevent service interruptions
• Fake vendor representatives initiating onboarding processes designed to harvest credentials or install malware

Successful social engineering can lead to bypassed multi-factor authentication (MFA) through SIM swapping or social pressure, fraudulent refunds processed by manipulated customer service staff, and malicious configuration changes to ecommerce and point-of-sale systems.

Defending against social engineering requires process-based controls:

• Strict verification workflows requiring call-backs to known phone numbers before processing any sensitive request
• Dual approval requirements for high-risk actions like bank account changes, large refunds, or customer data exports
• Least-privilege access that limits what any single compromised account can do
• Security-awareness training integrated into onboarding, not only annual compliance checkboxes

Shopify's tooling limits how much damage a single deceived or compromised account can do. The highest-value target, your payout bank account, is locked to the store owner and can't be delegated to staff at all. Every admin change lands in an activity log you can review, and financial actions in Bill Pay notify both the staff member and the owner automatically.

Supply chain software vulnerabilities

Supply chain attacks can target multiple retailers through a single supplier by exploiting vulnerabilities in third-party software. If one supplier doesn’t have strong security in place, a business’s network can become vulnerable.

Third-party software, cloud platforms, and service providers represent a large share of retail cyber risk. Verizon’s 2026 Data Breach Investigations Report found third-party involvement reached 48% of breaches, up from 30% the previous year.

Retailers face potential exposure through every external integration that touches customer or payment data:

• Payment processors
• Ecommerce platform providers
• Marketing automation tools
• Loyalty program platforms
• Analytics services
• Cloud data warehouses
• Third-party logistics providers (3PLs)

If a vendor that connects to your store is breached, attackers may be able to reach your systems or customer data through that trusted connection, even if your own security controls are strong. Advanced persistent threats (APTs) can also enter through supply chain vulnerabilities, using trusted vendor access or compromised software updates to maintain long-term access.

Mitigating supply chain risk requires ongoing vigilance:

• Vendor risk assessments before onboarding any new service that will access customer or payment data
• Data minimization that limits what information you share with third parties to only what they need
• Strong contract language requiring vendors to maintain specific security standards and notify you of any incidents
• Regular access reviews that verify which vendors still need access and revoke permissions for those that don’t

Retail cybersecurity challenges and how to overcome them

Retail data security becomes more complex as stores add sales channels, payment tools, apps, and vendors. Verizon’s 2025 Data Breach Investigations Report found third parties were involved in 30% of breaches. Below are some of the challenges you’ll face in protecting your business and how you can overcome them.

Data leaks and retail data security

Data leaks happen when sensitive information is exposed to unauthorized parties, often due to security gaps or human error. This can include customer data, financial records, or proprietary business information.

The retail sector is vulnerable, ranking third in data-leak susceptibility. Breaches can erode customer trust and weaken a retailer’s competitive position, especially when shoppers have other places to buy. For instance, 82% of buyers say they’ll stop online engagement with brands following a data breach.

Weak cybersecurity practices, poorly secured credentials, human errors, and third-party vulnerabilities are common causes of retail data breaches.

Here's how to reduce your exposure:

• Encrypt sensitive data to help prevent criminals from using leaked information.
• Use point-to-point encryption (P2PE) to protect payment data from the point of entry through processing.
• Assess third-party vendors for compliance with cybersecurity standards.
• Maintain compliance with regulations like PCI DSS, GDPR, CCPA, and, depending on product category or customer location, HIPAA.
• Use data loss prevention (DLP) software to monitor and control data transfers.
• Train employees on data breach prevention and cybersecurity in the retail industry. Refresh training as needed.

Cybersecurity skill gap

The challenge to companies hiring cybersecurity talent is shifting from headcount to skills. ISC2’s 2025 "Cybersecurity Workforce Study" found teams now prioritize critical skills gaps over the number of available workers. The ecommerce sector also faces this skill gap, making it harder to protect buyer data and keep operations secure.

Verizon found that 68% of data breaches involve human error, which means employee training should be a priority.

These steps can help protect your business:

• Invest in upskilling programs for your existing IT staff.
• Use AI-powered security tools to support human capabilities.
• Work with a managed security service provider (MSSP) if you don’t have in-house cybersecurity expertise.
• Support employees in getting certifications related to cybersecurity in retail.
• Provide market-rate compensation to cybersecurity recruits and encourage diversity in hiring.
• Create cross-functional teams to spread cybersecurity awareness across the organization.
• Invest in post-data breach preparedness, since 75% of increased breach costs come from lost business and post-breach response activities.

Web application attacks

Web application attacks exploit security gaps in ecommerce websites, content management systems, and customer portals. Akamai’s 2025 “State of Apps and API Security” report found global web attacks rose 33% year over year, reaching 311 billion attacks in 2024, and its 2025 commerce cybersecurity report says commerce was the industry most affected by web attacks.

Common risks include insecure code, outdated systems, third-party JavaScript, and loose network access. Traceable’s “2025 State of API Security Report” found 57% of organizations were hit by an API-related data breach in the previous two years.

Start with these defenses:

• Use secure coding practices and conduct regular code reviews.
• Keep all software, especially legacy systems, updated and patched.
• Limit and vet third-party JavaScript usage.
• Use web application firewalls (WAFs) to detect and block malicious traffic.
• Implement strong authentication measures, including multi-factor authentication.

Insider threats

Insider threats are risks posed by people within an organization, including employees, contractors, or partners. These threats can be either malicious (intentional harm for personal gain), or negligent, like unintentional harm due to carelessness or lack of awareness.

For example, a disgruntled employee may access customer credit card information and sell it on the dark web, or a negligent colleague may connect to company systems through unsecured public Wi-Fi networks.

Detecting insider threats can be difficult because these people have correctly authorized access to the company’s systems and data. Traditional security tools like firewalls are generally ineffective against these threats.

And these risks are expensive. The 2026 “Cost of Insider Risks Global Report” found the average annual cost of insider security incidents reached $19.5 million, up from $17.4 million in 2025.

Here’s how to lower your risk:

• Perform regular risk assessments of employee access rights.
• Put strict access controls in place to make sure people have the minimum necessary access.
• Use a zero-trust security model, which treats every user and device as potentially untrustworthy until they’ve been verified.
• Apply advanced analytics and machine learning to track user behavior and spot suspicious patterns.

IoT devices

An Internet of Things (IoT) device cyberattack happens when attackers exploit security gaps in connected retail devices. These attacks target smart devices like POS systems, digital signage, and RFID tags.

Cybercriminals can compromise these devices to gain unauthorized access to sensitive data, disrupt operations, or use them as entry points into your broader network. Palo Alto Networks’ 2025 “Device Security Threat Report” found that 48.2% of IoT-to-IT connections came from high-risk IoT devices, which is why device updates, access controls, and network segmentation are crucial.

Protect your retail business with these steps:

• Make sure IoT devices receive software and firmware updates to patch vulnerabilities and protect against known threats.
• Use strong authentication methods and access controls.
• Separate IoT devices from critical business systems through network segmentation, so potential intruders can’t access the whole network.

Ecommerce fraud

In 2025, ecommerce fraud caused an estimated $56 billion in losses worldwide, and Juniper Research forecasts that figure will reach $131 billion by 2030. 

These are some common types of ecommerce fraud that can affect a business and how Shopify protects against them:

• Account takeover (ATO): Attackers use stolen credentials to access customer accounts, make unauthorized purchases, or steal personal information. Shopify's customer accounts use passwordless sign-in, which removes the credential that takeover attacks depend on. For your own admin, two-step authentication does the same job for staff accounts.
• Chargeback fraud (friendly fraud): Customers dispute legitimate charges to get refunds, often after receiving the product. Shopify's dispute management tools help you assemble and submit evidence to contest illegitimate disputes, and turning on dynamic 3D Secure shifts liability for fraudulent chargebacks to the card issuer.
• Payment fraud: Unauthorized payments made using stolen credit cards. Around 43% of customers have experienced payment fraud. Shopify's built-in fraud analysis automatically scores every order against signals like AVS and CVV checks, IP details, and repeated card attempts, flagging high-risk orders for review before you fulfill. And for Shopify Payments stores, card-testing protection blocks the rapid-fire attempts fraudsters use to validate stolen cards.
• Interception fraud: Fraudsters order parcels with a stolen card and use the cardholder’s billing and shipping address. They then intercept the parcels before they reach the buyer, often by changing the delivery address through customer care or the delivery company. Shopify's fraud analysis surfaces the proxy and IP-location signals that flag these orders, and holding fulfillment on high-risk orders gives you a window to verify before anything ships.

"I used to have an agent, and almost her whole job was fraud. Now she doesn't have to deal with that anymore," says Julian Klenda, CEO at Maine Lobster Now. The brand, after moving from Magento to Shopify, reduced their chargeback rate due to fraud by 93%. 

Recent retail data breaches

Data breaches can affect retailers of any size. Here are some examples of recent retail data breaches:

Marks & Spencer

British retailer Marks & Spencer disclosed a cyberattack in April 2025 that disrupted online orders, store operations, and product availability. Reuters reported the incident forced the retailer to suspend online orders for seven weeks and caused £131.3 million in related costs.

Marks & Spencer said some personal customer data was taken, including contact details, dates of birth, and online order history. The company said the incident didn’t involve usable card or payment details or account passwords.

Here are some lessons to take away from the Marks & Spencer incident:

• Segment ecommerce, store, and fulfillment systems to limit disruption from one compromised area.
• Maintain incident response plans that cover online ordering, product availability, and customer communications.
• Monitor systems continuously so teams can identify unauthorized access sooner.

Coupang

South Korean ecommerce company Coupang disclosed a data breach in 2025 affecting 33.7 million customer accounts. Reuters reported that unauthorized access exposed personal information and prompted an emergency South Korean government meeting.

In February 2026, South Korean officials said the breach involved security management failures and authentication vulnerabilities. A former engineer was accused of exploiting those weaknesses, while regulators and police continued separate investigations.

Here are some lessons to take away from the Coupang incident:

• Revoke employee and contractor access as soon as roles change or employment ends.
• Protect authentication keys, admin credentials, and internal tools with strict access controls.
• Review logs for unusual access patterns, especially when sensitive customer data is involved.

Best retail cybersecurity solutions

Effective retail cybersecurity requires coordinated controls, not one tool. Retailers need controls that protect as many possible points of entry as possible. Here are some cybersecurity options available on the market today.

Shopify POS

Shopify POS has features for retailers to prevent unauthorized access and support compliance when processing in-person sales. These include:

• Staff permissions: Set specific permissions for staff members to control their access to Shopify POS. Staff must have the necessary permissions to log in and use the POS app.
• Staff PINs: Each staff member uses a unique 4- to 6-digit PIN to access the Shopify POS app. Each transaction is tied to the employee who processed it, so everyone is accountable.
• Reentry of PIN for security: During a transaction, if an error occurs or if the checkout is canceled, the staff member must reenter their PIN. This prevents unauthorized access during the checkout process.

You can also create custom POS roles defining staff members’ actions within the POS app. 

Note: Staff with limited permissions can’t access the POS unless a staff member with the appropriate permissions logs in first, which adds another layer of security.

Shopify Protect

Shopify Protect works with Shop Pay, Shopify’s accelerated checkout option, to provide fraud and chargeback protection for eligible ecommerce businesses. Shop Pay also converts 1.72 times higher than standard checkout methods.

Shopify Protect is available for eligible Shop Pay transactions authorized through Shopify Payments for US-based stores. Coverage applies at no extra cost when eligible orders meet Shopify Protect requirements, including fulfillment and tracking rules.

Lacework FortiCNAPP

Lacework FortiCNAPP is Fortinet’s cloud-native application protection platform. It helps teams manage cloud risk, detect active threats, and protect cloud environments across AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, and private clouds. FortiCNAPP uses automation to analyze cloud security data and help security, operations, and developer teams focus on risks that matter.

Arctic Wolf

Arctic Wolf has cloud-native security operations for businesses of different sizes. Its platform analyzes more than 10 trillion security events per week. Its visibility across endpoints, networks, and clouds helps security teams detect threats across systems and support threat detection and response.

CyberArk

CyberArk, now part of Palo Alto Networks, is an identity security platform used to secure human, machine, and agentic identities across enterprise environments. CyberArk helps safeguard personal and automated accounts, so users and systems can access resources with identity controls in place.

Retail cybersecurity FAQ

What is the most common cyberattack in retail?

Attackers use phishing and credential-based attacks as common starting points for retail breaches, often leading to account takeover, malware deployment, and fraud. The effects of successful phishing can include stolen credentials used to access ecommerce admin panels, modify payment settings, exfiltrate customer data, or deploy ransomware. 

What data is most at risk in retail cyberattacks?

Customer data is most exposed in retail cyberattacks, including: 

• Names 
• Email addresses
• Passwords 
• Payment card details 
• Billing and shipping addresses 
• Loyalty account data
• Order history 
• Employee data
• Payroll records
• Vendor information
• Ecommerce admin credentials

What are the top 3 targeted industries for cybersecurity?

According to Verizon’s 2026 Data Breach Investigations Report, cyber threats are shifting toward software vulnerabilities and third-party access. Verizon found 31% of breaches now start with vulnerability exploitation, and third-party involvement reached 48% of breaches.

For retailers, that means cyber risk extends beyond company size. Ecommerce sites, payment tools, cloud platforms, vendors, and store systems can all create entry points. Small to midsize retailers should build defenses around the systems and partners they rely on most, including software updates, multi-factor authentication, vendor access reviews, and incident response planning.

How much does a retail data breach typically cost?

Breach costs vary by company size, location, data type, and response time. IBM’s 2025 Cost of a Data Breach Report found the global average breach cost was $4.44 million.

How does ecommerce increase cybersecurity risk for retailers?

Ecommerce increases cybersecurity risk by adding more digital entry points, including online checkout, customer accounts, payment tools, apps, APIs, and third-party vendors. Attackers can target these systems with phishing, credential stuffing, payment fraud, malware, and software vulnerabilities.