{"id":100959,"date":"2019-08-16T09:00:09","date_gmt":"2019-08-16T16:00:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.paloaltonetworks.com\/blog\/?p=100959"},"modified":"2019-08-15T14:44:00","modified_gmt":"2019-08-15T21:44:00","slug":"cloud-retailers-store-digital-transformation-means-upping-cybersecurity-game","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/origin-researchcenter.paloaltonetworks.com\/blog\/2019\/08\/cloud-retailers-store-digital-transformation-means-upping-cybersecurity-game\/","title":{"rendered":"Retailers: Store Digital Transformation Means Upping your Cybersecurity Game"},"content":{"rendered":"

E-commerce is growing steadily worldwide, yet <\/span>seven out of ten retail purchases are still made in stores<\/span><\/a>. This does not exclude brick-and-mortar retailers from being interested in digital technologies and transformation to enhance both customer experiences and store modernization. Retailers continue to invest in stores to offer the <\/span>experiences that customers expect<\/span><\/a>, including personalized shopping, convenience and loyalty rewards.<\/span><\/p>\n

Not long ago, the only digital technology in a store might be a point-of-sale (PoS) system. Now, digital transformation is helping retailers deliver excellent in-store customer experiences.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Take in-store Wi-Fi as an example and some of its use cases. Some retailers equip their associates with mobile devices, so they can meet customers where they are instead of standing behind a counter waiting for customers to come to them. Using Wi-Fi, associates answer product questions, check inventory and ring up purchases. Once the store is closed, an in-store network makes e-learning both possible and convenient. Better trained associates serve customers better.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In-store Wi-Fi also makes it faster and easier for shoppers to research products with their smartphones before they buy. Wi-Fi can even help deliver personalized messages to shoppers entering the store via their brand app. It\u2019s no wonder that in-store Wi-Fi <\/span>has a positive impact on dwell time, customer loyalty and sales<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

There are many other examples of how digital transformation is improving customer experiences in stores. Sensors track inventory so stores do not run out of stock. Omnichannel lets customers purchase items online and quickly pick up in a store. Digital signage offers new ways to promote and educate shoppers about products. The list goes on.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

As stores go digital, they collect and store more data on their customers than ever, and regulations require retailers to protect it. However, as negative headlines continue to show us, retailers are still prime targets for cyberattacks, typically for credit card information theft from PoS systems. More devices and networks within stores expand the attack surface by increasing possible entry points for hackers to steal customer information from loyalty programs, customer databases and more. The increase in devices also open retailers up to attacks that bring down networks and damage brand reputations, such as <\/span>turning digital signage into bots that launch DDoS attacks<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Cybersecurity plays a key role in protecting store data and operations.\u00a0 Retailers can apply the same cybersecurity best practices in stores as top brands follow in their data centers:<\/span><\/p>\n