Rising Cyber Threats in Retail: Why Cyber Resilience Can’t Wait

The retail industry is under siege. As digital innovation accelerates and consumer expectations evolve, retailers are facing an unprecedented surge in cyber threats that test their resilience, trust, and adaptability. Recent studies reveal a sobering reality nearly half of retailers are encountering significantly higher attack volumes, while over a third have suffered a breach in the past year alone.

This alarming trend reflects the growing complexity of retail ecosystems. The same technologies that drive convenience and personalization AI-powered shopping tools, digital payments, and marketplace integrations also open new pathways for attackers. From deepfakes to synthetic identity fraud, these AI-enabled threats are evolving faster than most organizations can defend against them. Despite widespread awareness, only one in four retailers say they are ready for AI-powered attacks, and less than half feel prepared to handle deepfake-based scams.

The supply chain, a critical lifeline for retailers, also remains one of their greatest vulnerabilities. Nearly half of retail executives report limited visibility into their software supply chains, and only a small portion plan to prioritize supplier security validation in the coming year. This lack of oversight could expose retailers to cascading risks, especially as cybercriminals increasingly exploit third-party access points to launch sophisticated breaches.

Encouragingly, the industry is beginning to recognize the urgency. Following a wave of high-profile incidents, many executives now list cybersecurity as a C-suite priority. Organizations are embedding cybersecurity performance metrics into leadership roles and fostering company-wide cyber awareness programs. Yet, experts stress that these initiatives must go further. Cyber resilience must be “designed into” every layer of operations protecting not just systems, but also the trust of customers and partners.

For retailers, achieving this level of preparedness requires more than reactive defense it demands a proactive, intelligence-driven strategy. Managed Security Service Providers (MSSPs) like Directpath Global Technologies Inc. (DGT) play a vital role in helping businesses stay ahead of these threats. DGT provides comprehensive cybersecurity solutions including Mobile Threat Defense (MTD), Extended Detection and Response (XDR), Vulnerability Assessment and Penetration Testing (VAPT), SOC 2 compliance, Vulnerability Risk Management as a Service (VRMaaS), Web Application Firewall (WAF), and vCISO services. Its Artificial Intelligence Division goes a step further, tailoring data-driven defense and operational insights that strengthen resilience beyond cybersecurity alone.

The message for the retail sector is clear: the time to act is now. As cyber threats grow more sophisticated, resilience must become a board-level priority, embedded in every decision and process. Only through proactive investment, AI-enhanced intelligence, and trusted partnerships can retailers ensure a secure, resilient future for their business and their customers. Source: The Canadian Press