Information Protection Imperative To Building Customer Trust And Customer Experience

September 2014 Integrated Solutions For Retailers

By Bindu Sundaresan, strategic security solutions practice lead, AT&T

Balancing security, privacy, and innovation from a retailer perspective

Technology has changed the way we shop, but it also means retailers face serious cybersecurity issues. The retail sector has been targeted and damaged by highprofile cybersecurity incursions, resulting in a loss of customer confidence. Security threats exist at multiple points in the retail chain, from point of sale systems and online purchasing to employee access to sensitive information. It’s part of a dizzying trend of hackers exposing personal information.

Beyond Compliance: Protect ing The Customers’ Trust
In the retail space, a brand’s value lies heavily with customer perception and trust. Damage due to a breach in security seems to cost a company more than the up-front reparations — customers rely on retailers to protect their privacy and information. The breaches in the retail sector and their impact have been a striking reminder of how tightly brand name is tied to the trust of customers and how it can be shattered in an instant with the loss of customers’ data. Customers have expectations of a brand’s safety and quality.