Omni-Channel Needs Omni-Security

REDWOOD SHORES, Calif., Nov. 17, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- iSheriff, the industry leader in cloud-based Enterprise Device Security, today released a new report illustrating how the newest, technology driven retailing strategy – known as Omni-Channel Retail – will significantly increase cyber-security risks for consumers and companies.

As retailers expand their online and network based customer interactions to blur the lines between traditional, in-store retail and online retail, they will exponentially increase their exposure points and opportunities for security breaches. Unfortunately, many of the same companies aggressively building omni-channel capabilities are struggling with cyber security: the top 5 retail breaches of 2014 alone exposed a collective 495 million customer accounts, and 2015 saw 523 security incidents in the retail sector, 164 with confirmed data loss.

"The benefits of omni-channel are clear for retailers as they try to change the game on the e-commerce leaders. But, the costs and risks should not fall on the backs of consumers who will now have much more personal data at risk of exposure," said Oscar Marquez, iSheriff's Chief Technology Officer.  "Whether they are buying online or in store, at a fixed register or mobile point of sale device, by swiping or typing, customers need to know their personal and payment data is secure. Omni-channel needs omni-security."

In the white paper, iSheriff identifies three major security risks of an omni-channel strategy, which include:

1. Protecting multiple points of exposure.  Expanding security from today's infrastructure of a limited number of point of sale (POS) terminals and employee computers to multiple mobile POS devices, sensors, employee smartphones, in-store beacons, workstations, and tablets on the corporate network, will increase exposure points and risk exponentially. In addition, transactional data that moves from online to in-store and between in-store devices, creates many more points of entry for cybercriminals.
2. Enhancing security visibility and policy enforcement.   Deploying new technologies and point products will make it more difficult for IT departments to get a clear and comprehensive view their security posture.  More points of delivery means a more complex information supply chain.  Likewise, the need to interact with and manage many vendors can create additional risk and introduce devices that are no longer "owned" by the retailer.
3. Addressing new, device-specific malware.  As recent history with POS devices has shown, cybercriminals will develop malware that is device-specific. As new omni-channel devices become part of the retail IT infrastructure, malware will emerge specifically targeted to exploit vulnerabilities unique to those devices.

Click here to view the iSheriff white paper, Omni-Channel Needs Omni-Security.

About iSheriff, Inc.

iSheriff is a leading cloud-based provider of Enterprise Device Protection to more than 3,000 organizations worldwide. The company's global cloud network, award-winning security, and SaaS delivery model, provides a single security platform to protect all of an enterprise's internet-enabled devices, including laptops, servers, tablets, point-of-sale terminals, industrial equipment, and Internet of Things technologies. iSheriff has been recognized by leading analysts and industry publications, including SC Magazine, Network Computing, and IDC. Virus Bulletin's VB 100 independent comparative testing named iSheriff the most effective solution against new and emerging malware.

PR Contact
Gutenberg Communications for iSheriff
John Kreuzer, 408-827-4360
[email protected]

SOURCE iSheriff