How a Modern Security Approach Could Have Prevented Recent Retail Cyberattacks

The retail sector is under siege. In recent weeks, several UK high street retailers have been hit by cyberattacks that disrupted operations, disabled payments, and took online ordering systems offline. The impact has ranged from temporary in-store downtime to significant reputational damage.

For retailers who operate at high volume with narrow margins, even a short disruption can be costly — not just in terms of revenue, but in customer trust and brand perception. These incidents serve as a wake-up call that the traditional patchwork of legacy systems and perimeter-based defences is no longer enough.

In this post, we’ll explore how a more modern, cloud-delivered security model — Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) — can help retail leaders better protect their operations, adapt to a fast-changing threat landscape, and enable digital transformation safely.

The Retail Environment: Unique Pressures, Unique Risks

Retail is a highly dynamic and distributed industry. Stores, warehouses, e-commerce platforms, and customer service systems are interconnected and often span different geographies. At the same time, the sector is digitising rapidly, introducing cloud-based inventory systems, mobile point-of-sale (POS), and omnichannel customer experiences.

But with that transformation comes risk.

Some of the key challenges retail leaders face include:

  • Distributed environments: Dozens or even hundreds of locations need consistent and secure connectivity.
  • Seasonal and third-party staff: Often temporary, using unmanaged devices and needing rapid onboarding and offboarding.
  • Legacy systems: Many retail environments still depend on ageing infrastructure and siloed security tools.
  • Cloud and SaaS sprawl: Teams use various platforms for CRM, e-commerce, marketing automation, and supply chain — often outside IT’s visibility.
  • High-value data: Payment card data, loyalty accounts, and customer profiles are prime targets for attackers.

When cyberattacks hit, they don’t just threaten the back office — they can take down tills, websites, supply chains, and customer communications. And they often start small, exploiting gaps in connectivity, access control, or monitoring.

The Case for SASE in Retail

Secure Access Service Edge (SASE, pronounced “sassy”) is not a single product, but a framework. It brings together several cloud-delivered security and networking capabilities into a unified model. These include:

  • Secure Web Gateway (SWG) – to block malicious websites and prevent malware downloads across browsing activity.
  • Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) – to replace VPNs with contextual, identity-aware access to internal apps.
  • Firewall as a Service (FWaaS) – to inspect all traffic across all ports and protocols, regardless of where it originates.
  • Cloud Access Security Broker (CASB) – to monitor and control access to SaaS platforms and enforce data protection policies.
  • Integrated SD-WAN – to optimise branch connectivity and maintain performance during disruptions.

So how does this help retailers specifically?

Protecting Storefronts and Back Office

Retail stores rely on internet-connected POS systems, staff terminals, and devices for customer engagement. If one of these devices becomes compromised — for example, through a phishing email or malicious link — attackers can gain a foothold.

A cloud-based SWG and ZTNA approach ensures that even if an attacker gains initial access, they cannot move laterally across the network or reach sensitive systems. All access is governed by identity, device posture, and behaviour — not just a username and password.

Enabling Resilience and Continuity

When retailers are targeted by ransomware or denial-of-service (DoS) attacks, the goal is often to disrupt operations and extort money. Integrated FWaaS and SD-WAN capabilities can absorb or mitigate these attacks at the network edge, keeping critical systems online. This is especially important during peak trading periods when uptime is non-negotiable.

Securing the SaaS Explosion

From supply chain coordination tools to customer loyalty platforms and e-commerce systems, SaaS is embedded in every part of the retail stack. But not all apps are approved or monitored — leading to shadow IT and uncontrolled data exposure.

A CASB helps identify and manage this risk. It can enforce policies like blocking uploads of sensitive data, detecting unusual access patterns, and identifying unsanctioned app usage. For leaders concerned with compliance and data privacy, this capability is essential.

Managing Workforce Complexity

Retailers work with a diverse workforce — including in-store employees, regional managers, call centre teams, franchise partners, and seasonal workers. ZTNA ensures that each user gets access only to the specific systems and data they need, and only under approved conditions (such as using a corporate-managed device, from a known location, and within working hours).

This principle of “least privilege” dramatically reduces the blast radius of a compromised account.

What Retail Leaders Should Do Next

While the promise of SASE is clear, successful adoption starts with the right mindset and planning. Here are some recommendations for senior IT and security leaders in retail:

  1. Evaluate current security gaps in how users, devices, and applications connect across your environment — especially in-store and in the cloud.

  2. Define a SASE-aligned architecture that brings together access control, network security, and traffic inspection into a cloud-delivered model.

  3. Prioritise key components such as ZTNA, SWG, and CASB — which can deliver immediate value in protecting access, detecting threats, and reducing data loss.

  4. Consider the user experience — SASE should simplify access for staff and partners, not hinder productivity.

  5. Take a phased approach — start with pilot deployments in a few stores or departments before rolling out more broadly.

Retailers don’t need to rip and replace everything overnight. But as attackers become more sophisticated, and digital operations become more central to business success, the case for modernising security architecture becomes more urgent.

Final Thoughts

Cyberattacks on high street retailers are no longer hypothetical risks — they are active, ongoing, and increasingly disruptive. To keep stores running, protect customers, and support digital growth, retailers need more than just reactive firewalls or isolated endpoint tools.

Secure Access Service Edge offers a way forward: a scalable, cloud-first security model that protects users, systems, and data wherever they are.

For retail leaders, now is the time to take stock, reassess the approach to security, and ensure that both physical and digital storefronts are resilient against the next wave of threats.