{"id":27740,"date":"2019-10-16T12:56:28","date_gmt":"2019-10-16T19:56:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/paladinpointofsale.com\/retailscience\/?p=27740"},"modified":"2025-09-22T15:22:30","modified_gmt":"2025-09-22T22:22:30","slug":"national-cybersecurity-month-are-you-protected-from-a-security-breach","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/paladinpointofsale.com\/retailscience\/home\/national-cybersecurity-month-are-you-protected-from-a-security-breach\/","title":{"rendered":"National Cybersecurity Month: Are You Protected from a Security Breach?"},"content":{"rendered":"

[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ fullwidth=”on” _builder_version=”4.16″ parallax=”on” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_fullwidth_post_title meta=”off” featured_placement=”background” text_color=”light” text_background=”on” text_bg_color=”rgba(0,0,0,0.11)” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_color=”rgba(255,255,255,0)” text_orientation=”center” text_shadow_style=”preset2″ use_border_color=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_fullwidth_post_title][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section” _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Intro” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

Cisco Systems CEO Chuck Robbins says his company blocked 7 trillion threats \u2013 or 20 billion a day \u2013 to its customers\u2019 business networks in\u00a0<\/span>the\u00a0<\/span>last year. If those numbers aren\u2019t frightening for businesses everywhere, they at least force the question: Is your business protected from a security breach?<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Cybersecurity<\/span>\u00a0Ventures, a world leader in\u00a0<\/span>cybersecurity<\/span>\u00a0research, says\u00a0<\/span>cyberattacks<\/span>\u00a0are the fastest growing crime in the world and they are expected to top $6 trillion annually by 2021. That kind of growth is why the Department of Homeland Security 16 years ago designated October as National\u00a0<\/span>Cybersecurity<\/span>\u00a0Awareness Month. Its goal is to make everyone, not just business owners, aware of the increasing threat.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The threat has gotten so big the FBI now has 63 people on its\u00a0<\/span>Cyber\u2019s<\/span>\u00a0Most Wanted list. The bad actors range from lone wolves to rogue nations with\u00a0<\/span>many<\/span>\u00a0individuals hailing from countries like Russia, Iran and North Korea. Three years ago, there were only 19 people on that list.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The technology these people and organizations are exploiting was designed to make life easier. But as it has been embraced and improved, so has the skill of people who exploit it.\u00a0<\/span>People, businesses, organizations and governments have become so reliant on technology<\/span>,\u00a0<\/span>they can\u2019t function without it<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In its \u201c2019 Data Breach Investigations Report,\u201d Verizon\u2019s survey shows that\u00a0<\/span>69% of security breaches were perpetrated by people outside a business<\/span>\u00a0or organization and 34% involved some internal assistance. Organized crime was behind 39% of the incidents and 71% were financially motivated.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

While many businesses and organizations have network security programs that are ingrained in their structure and culture, statistics show that 50% of organizations haven\u2019t updated their security strategy in more than three years.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Retail Target ” _builder_version=”4.22.0″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” hover_enabled=”0″ use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n

\"ImageRetail Target<\/h2>\n

The retail industry is targeted for a variety of reasons. Thefts include business data, customer information and credentials, and payment transaction and card data. And the avenues to reach that data are many and varied.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Some of the largest data security breaches in history involved retailers. The largest involved an estimated 3 billion Yahoo user accounts that were compromised. However, eBay (145 million, 2014), Target (70 million, 2013) and Heartland Payment Systems (more than 100 million, 2018)\u00a0<\/span>all\u00a0<\/span>involved retail sales or payment companies.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Independent business owners might want to laugh off attacks on large corporations, but\u00a0<\/span>Cybersecurity<\/span>\u00a0Ventures, which works with Cisco, says nearly half of all\u00a0<\/span>cyberattacks<\/span>\u00a0are committed against small businesses. Approximately 60% of\u00a0<\/span>businesses\u00a0<\/span>that suffer a security breach from an attack never recover and close within six months.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

A study by technology research company\u00a0<\/span>Vanson<\/span>\u00a0Bourne, published in Small Business Trends, shows that security breaches cost small businesses $53,987 on average.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The point of sale, a business\u2019s digital management platform, is the\u00a0<\/span>bull\u2019s-eye<\/span>\u00a0that\u00a0<\/span>many<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>cybercriminals target. These attacks can range from skimming information right from payment terminals to sophisticated phishing, malware and\u00a0<\/span>ransomware<\/span>\u00a0campaigns designed to steal business, customer and payment data. The Target breach was perpetrated with credentials stolen from an air conditioning subcontractor that worked on several of the retailer\u2019s stores. That event also sped up the U.S. payment card industry\u2019s adoption of EMV \u2013\u00a0<\/span>Europay<\/span>,\u00a0<\/span>Mastercard<\/span>, Visa \u2013 chip-based payment cards.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Because of their ability to act as the hub of a business and centralize all processes \u2013 inventory management, sales transactions, customer relations, marketing and more \u2013 retail platforms can be vulnerable if not properly managed.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Baby Steps ” _builder_version=”4.22.0″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” hover_enabled=”0″ use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n

Baby Steps<\/h2>\n

There are some simple steps any business owner can take to lessen the\u00a0<\/span>damage of a security breach.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Make backup files.<\/strong> If you\u2019re not doing this now, you are years behind the curve. Industry experts suggest that companies use the 3-2-1 Rule for backing up their important files.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n