Black Friday’s back – what about the criminals?
We Brits have officially embraced the USA’s pre-Christmas sale phenomena known as Black Friday. In 2016, over £1.2billion was spent online alone during Black Friday, according to the Centre for Retail Research (CRR). The analysts all believe this will increase in 2017.
Duncan Sutcliffe, director, Sutcliffe & Co, commented: “The figures from last year’s Black Friday are amazing, so it’s not surprising that retailers are excited about it, so much so, some have already started their ‘Black Friday deals’, despite the day itself not officially happening until 24 November.
“However, as the levels of online transactions increase, so does the threat of cyber-attack.”
There is a lot of advice available on websites like www.getsafeonline.org on how to recognise fraudulent behaviour or cyber-attacks. Duncan added, “A little bit of education could make a big difference.”
The government recently announced that over half of UK businesses had suffered a cyber breach – leaving them, their clients, and suppliers, vulnerable.
“Business owners need to move with the times and do what they can to protect themselves and their customers from the risks associated with cyber-crime and fraud. Implementing a few simple steps can help minimise the effects of a cyber-attack,” Duncan continued.
For example, as a business owner, you can achieve certification to Cyber Essentials, or at least effecting the basic technical measures that Cyber Essentials certification recommends.
Business owners should also make sure their insurance protects them from cyber-risks. Traditional insurance policies for retailers, wholesalers and manufacturers will normally exclude cyber-crime and data breaches, so business owners should ask about specific cyber and crime cover.