A guide to the technologies and trends shaping the market
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Retail Council of Canada embarks on new cybercrime awareness venture
By Neil Sutton
The Retail Council of Canada (RCC) recently launched a new cybercrime prevention campaign to provide educational resources for retailers and their employees, from frontline workers to IT security professionals.
T he Retail CyberSecure initiative, which kicked off at the begin -
“Over
the last
few years, we’ve
heard more and more from retail organizations about cyber.”
—
Rui Rodrigues, RCC
ning of this year, was made possible through the support of the Ontario Ministry of the Solicitor General and includes partnerships with the RCMP and the Ontario Provincial Police, among other organizations.
The program, which will continue to roll out throughout the year, comprises a series of six we -
binars along with downloadable guides and e-learning modules.
The resources are offered for free to achieve maximum impact, said Rui Rodrigues, the RCC’s executive advisor for loss prevention and risk management.
The issue of cybercrime has become more acute for retailers, he said, as threats continue to ramp up. The pandemic also saw retailers become more reliant on online storefronts when in-store shopping was curtailed or temporarily restricted.
“Over the last few years, we’ve heard more and more from retail organizations about cyber,” said Rodrigues. “You can’t escape it.”
The CyberSecure initiative is “really focused on ways we could educate, provide awareness and share best practices,” added Rodrigues, “and doing it through various mediums.”
At press time, five of the six planned webinars are readily available on the RCC Retail CyberSecure resource website, focused on awareness training and current cyberthreats.
Webinars on threat action plans, defensive procedures, ransomware training and brute force attacks will follow in the coming months.
BATTLE ON TWO FRONTS
In some ways, loss prevention specialists are waging a battle on two fronts: the threat of shoplifting in brick-and-mortar retail locations and the ever-present spectre of cybercrime in the digital realm.
In both cases, education and awareness are key, said Rodrigues, along with collaboration with government and likeminded organizations to get the word out.
Rodrigues and the RCC recently provided their support to a Toronto Crime Stoppers ca mpaign which raises awareness of the growing impact of organized retail crime. | CS
Rui Rodrigues, Retail Council of Canada
LEARNING THE LANGUAGE OF FRAUD
Online fraudsters are constantly improving, making innovation and preparation a necessity for risk professionals
By Maryam Saeed
There is a quote, usually attributed to Albert Einstein, that says “in the midst of every crisis, lies great opportunity.”
O ver the past few years, as consumer adoption of remote work, digital payments and online shopping tools grew, fraudsters innovated, developing targeted social engineering practices to entice consumers to click on offers that are just too good to
be true. This evolving threat landscape has created a perfect storm for fraud that continues to test the limits of existing antifraud measures in all jurisdictions.
Visa understands this, which is why over the past five years, we invested more than $10 billion in technology to reduce fraud and increase network security and hired over a thousand new specialists to protect our network from technology threats of all kinds. In the past 12 months, these efforts proactively blocked over $7.2 billion in
fraudulent payments across 122 million transactions.
W hile Visa has had some success in blocking fraudulent payments, the extent of the problem remains shockingly high. Statistics compiled by Visa’s global antifraud centre for the year ending Dec. 31, 2022, paint another picture:
• Total reports of fraud: 90,137 (down from 107,381 in 2021)
• Total victims of fraud: 56,352 (down from 68,087 in 2021)
• Total lost to fraud: US$530M (up from US$384M in 2021)
The total number of fraud reports did decrease slightly, but the total financial loss due to fraud grew by over 25 per cent — a wake-up call to show the situation is far from dwindling.
Visa’s recent fraud report, “The language of fraud,” highlights how criminals craft messages designed take advantage of consumer willingness to trust too-goodto-be-true texts and emails.
Working with researchers in the U.K., Visa commissioned a linguistic analysis that revealed how language is used by fraudsters in short messages.
The study found that the most enticing clickbait messages capitalize on consumer excitement, and fraudulently tout “winning,” “free giveaway” or “act now.” Among Canadians, the study revealed that 59 per cent of Canadian consumers admit to typically responding to any type of scam phrases. Among the most common, positive news phrases (44 per cent), urgent phrases (38 per cent), and action required phrases (27 per cent) are among the top used to ensnare Canadians.
The numbers show that even the most tech-savvy consumers can be vulnerable to scams. While nearly half of the population are confident they can recognize a scam, 73 per cent are likely to miss the requisite red flags in digital communications; and over one-third (35 per cent) of Canadians admit to having fallen for a scam on one or more occasions.
It is unlikely that we will ever be able to stay one step ahead of the fraudsters, but we all have roles to play in trying to stay competitive with them. For Visa, that means investing in new tools and improving security measures, for example by expanding the use of artificial intelligence (AI).
One key feature of AI systems is the ability to scale and deal with exponentially increasing complexity. As AI is designed around mimicking the human ability to interpret data by learning from experience, it is fundamentally more capable than any rules-based system.
The total number of fraud reports did decrease slightly, but the total financial loss due to fraud grew by over 25 per cent — a wake-up call to show the situation is far from dwindling.
Scale is the critical element. While humans and manual reviews are limited by available time, AI capabilities are only limited by the computational power assigned to the task. With the advent of cloud computing, this computational power is barely restricted.
AI-enabled fraud detection and prevention systems are becoming more prevalent. Rules-based systems are no longer capable of keeping pace with the rising tide of fraud. Vendors must differentiate their solutions as AI becomes increasingly common.
Financial institutions should deploy and encourage the use of existing and better anti-fraud tools, including multi-factor authentication and account-based alerts; and improved fraud strategies that factor in systematic criminal behaviour.
A s digital transformations continue within organizations, and customer experience expectations continue to climb, focusing on risk management will not only help mitigate threats but build customer loyalty and improve business processes.
How do you start the process? B usinesses need to identify and prioritize key digital transformation initiatives and the necessary risk management capabilities for each one. What changes are most important to your company? What extra risks are you assuming by not addressing them?
You cannot eliminate risk, but you can prepare for it through careful planning
with manageable phases to ensure you can apply the proper protections at each step.
• Recognize that risk is constantly changing in response to market dynamics, so risk management cannot be static. Companies should not only manage present risks but also plan for potential risks on the horizon. Leverage data from risk management systems to inform and improve ongoing business and technology decisions.
• Bring risk functions to the technology and business decision-making tables. Risk management is more than a suite of technologies, it is a strategy to protect your greatest assets. Investing in technology can help automate and streamline risk and compliance, but it will not compensate for a lack of process. Start with a risk management strategy that aligns with strategic business goals, then select technologies to enable them.
Protection is Visa’s top priority. Our comprehensive approach to security relies on multiple layers of technology, analytics and security practices to help safeguard consumers, protect the payments system and reduce fraud.
Check-in regularly with anti-fraud professionals for the latest developments and how to respond to them. | CS
Maryam Saeed is the head of risk for Visa Canada (www.visa.ca).
Preventing Theft and Violence in the Retail Environment
As the economic climate evolves, the retail sector faces unique challenges that directly impact the safety and security of staff and customers. The surge in prices and economic uncertainties has given rise to an alarming increase in theft and violence cases. Retailers are grappling with the need to strike a balance between maintaining a welcoming shopping experience and ensuring a secure environment. In response, GardaWorld, a global champion in security services, integrated risk management and cash solutions, offers different approaches to address this complex issue.
Preventing violence through physical security measures
Implementing strong physical security measures is a fundamental aspect of ensuring the protection of retail establishments. Trained security personnel, such as security guards and mobile patrols, play a pivotal role in preventing violence and ensuring a sense of safety for both employees and customers. These professionals serve as a visible deterrent, effectively deterring potential troublemakers and creating an environment where unlawful activities are less likely to occur.
Security guards stationed at entrances and throughout the store provide an immediate response to any disturbances, deescalating confrontations and ensuring swift action in case of emergencies. Their presence not only reassures customers but also empowers employees to focus on their tasks without the constant worry of security threats.
Preventing internal and external theft with loss prevention services
To combat the surge in theft incidents, many retailers are turning to specialized loss prevention services. These services employ a multifaceted approach to identify and mitigate theft risks. Loss prevention experts carry out a security audit to evaluate the business processes and existing security measures to develop strategies and implement effective measures.
The deployment of retail investigators is also effective for blending in with the crowd of shoppers, discreetly monitoring suspicious activities, and apprehending potential thieves. Furthermore, the use of modern surveillance techniques helps in the identification and tracking of stolen merchandise.
Preventing violence and theft with advanced technology
Technology has emerged as a powerful ally in the battle against violence and theft in retail environments. Cuttingedge, intelligent security systems provide an additional layer of protection by enhancing situational awareness and rapid response capabilities.
Video surveillance systems equipped with high-definition cameras and remote monitoring allow for immediate intervention in case of unusual or suspicious activities. Intrusion detection devices, electronic access control, fire alarm systems and more form part of a comprehensive security technology solution to protect your retail business, employees and customers.
“As well as depriving merchants of their goods and profits, violence and theft in shops also undermine customers’ sense of trust and security.”
Marc-Andre Plaisance, Director, Loss Prevention at GardaWorld
By continually adapting and investing in preventive measures, retailers can maintain a balance between commerce and security, ensuring a safer and more profitable environment.
Retail Security Solutions
GardaWorld helps protect your retail business against theft and violence.
Security guards
Mobile patrols
Loss prevention services
Investigation services
Security audits
Security systems
For more information, visit us: garda.com/retail
FEATURED PRODUCT
Simplicity Redefined
Simplex® and E-Plex® Locks
IDN-Canada is proud to partner with best-in-class brands, Simplex, Eplex, and PowerPlex by dormakaba are no exception. As the demand for security continues to grow, IDN-Canada is pleased to showcase these and other dormakaba solutions to meet the needs of your facilities.
Discover the industry-leading security and convenience of dormakaba locking solutions. dormakaba’s Simplex and E-Plex locks are designed to fit perfectly into your space. Explore the preferred choice for security with our tailored solutions, whether it’s the simplicity of mechanical locks, the advanced self-powered features of electronic locks, or the flexibility of wireless access control.
Simplex Lock Series: Access Made Simple
Simplex mechanical pushbutton locks allow you to manage access with a single universal pin code, making it ideal for various commercial and industrial uses. Access is streamlined, while security is optimized with exceptional reliability without relying on power sources. Simplex locks are rugged and rigorously tested for harsh Canadian climates, providing reliable outdoor security. Simplex offers a user-friendly access control solution that combines efficiency with robust security, a testament to dormakaba’s expertise.
E-Plex Lock Series: Proven Reliability, Efficiency, and Flexibility
E-Plex standalone locks deliver enhanced security and streamlined operations, offering multi-level user access, audit trail, and remote programming. These locks provide cost-effective electronic solutions suited for high-security environments while ensuring modern ease of use.
Within the E-Plex lock series, PowerPlex standalone electronic locks introduce a redefinition of security with their self-powered feature, effectively eliminating the necessity for batteries and complex wiring. These locks generate power through the turn of the lever. This environmentally conscious approach aligns seamlessly with LEEDcertified buildings’ sustainability efforts. Notably, these locks require no handle pumping to activate, and their built-in supercapacitors maintain a full charge for up to 10 weeks of inactivity. From small to mid-sized facilities, remote locations, and retail “Employees Only” areas, the PowerPlex series showcases adaptability and reliability in various scenarios.
Many E-Plex series locks do not require software. However, dormakaba’s free e-plex software download can increase system control and expand the user’s lock management options. E-Plex® offers electronic access control, multiple user codes, efficient battery power, and key bypass.
E-Plex also offers networked electronic lock options, including the E-Plex 7900 wireless lock, which seamlessly integrates into many access control systems, including Keyscan Aurora software, providing additional functionality and streamlining entry point management. This cost-effective solution provides additional functionality that includes real-time monitoring, wireless door sensing, and real-time emergency lockdown capabilities.
IDN-Canada’s dedication to providing top-tier security solutions is reflected in their partnership with best-in-class brands like dormakaba. The versatility and innovation of dormakaba’s Simplex and E-Plex lock series are designed to seamlessly integrate into your space, offering tailored solutions to meet your specific security needs. Whether you require the simplicity of mechanical locks, the advanced self-powered features of electronic locks, or the flexibility of wireless access control, dormakaba has you covered. With a commitment to reliability, efficiency, and flexibility, dormakaba’s locking solutions ensure that your facilities remain secure, efficient, and adaptable in a rapidly evolving security landscape.
With IDN-Canada, you can select the top brands, backed by the service you’d expect, and the products you need.
Medeco® XT
The EASY Way to Upgrade Your Mechanical Keys to Bring Added Security and Simplicity to your Retail Business!
Whether it's protecting sensitive data, securing facilities, or safeguarding valuable assets, businesses and organizations rely on advanced access control systems to keep unauthorized individuals at bay. This article explores the key features and benefits of Medeco XT, shedding light on why its functionality and easy retrofit make it purpose-built for the retail environment.
Medeco XT is an advanced electronic access control system designed to provide unparalleled security and key management. Developed by Medeco, a renowned leader in high-security locks and locking systems, the XT system combines state-of-the-art technology with a proven track record of reliability.
Why Common Retail Challenges are Best Managed with Medeco XT:
1. Simplify User Access: Turnover and lost keys are a common problem in retail. XT solves this with a user-friendly platform to add and delete user access.
2. Protecting your Products and Materials: Is an important part of managing your retail environment. Medeco XT can quickly provide you insight into who is accessing your different spaces with audit trail accountability.
3. Future-Proof your Retail Growth: Your XT system can grow to meet your unique needs. Easily expand to new locations, protect more products, and add more users.
4. Ease of Use: Despite its advanced features, Medeco XT is designed with user-friendliness in mind. Administrators can quickly adapt to the system, and day-to-day operations are straightforward for keyholders.
5. Moving from Mechanical to Electronic Access: Ease of retrofit, simple installation and functionality that meets any budget. Need more? Medeco has a continuum of solutions to support access control from simple needs to sophisticated scheduling, audit and high security capabilities. Contact us to learn more.
Medeco XT represents a curated solution for the retail environment that combines simple and effective access control and key management capabilities. Its electronic cylinders, secure electronic keys, comprehensive audit trail, and remote management features make it a top choice for those seeking a reliable and robust solution to protect their premises and assets. As the world continues to evolve in the digital age, Medeco XT stands as a beacon of security, helping businesses and organizations adapt to the ever-growing challenges of access control in the modern era.
Medeco XT’s Benefits to You
1. Eliminate Costly Rekeying: The XT system eliminates the expense of physically rekeying locks and replacing keys. All rekeying is done electronically through the programming of the keys.
2. Providing Accountability to Sensitive Information: Audit records can identify which employees have accessed sensitive information, such as employee documents, healthcare records or student transcripts. Both cylinder and key retain records of when all accesses occur.
3. Grant After-Hours and Temporary Access: Electronic scheduling gives you the flexibility to control access around the clock, including providing temporary access.
4. Control Inventory Loss: With audit records in both the lock and the key, you can easily identify which employees have accessed storage areas for greater inventory control.
5. Achieving Physical Security Regulatory Compliance: XT offers an easy-to-deploy access control solution to address physical security compliance requirements in many industries. Ideal for providing access control in remote locations that utilize padlocks as part of the overall infrastructure.
6. Manage Employee Turnover: Electronic rekeying and remote-access programming lets you respond immediately to personnel changes, even if keys are not returned.
7. Simplify Key Control: Simplify key control by assigning employees a single Intelligent Key that gives them access to all the locks they need to open.
8. Respond to Missing Keys: With electronic scheduling and rekeying, you can respond immediately when keys go missing.
9. Prevent Copied Keys: XT Intelligent Keys cannot be copied unlike traditional mechanical keys.
10. No software to maintain: With the cloud-hosted XT solution, Medeco takes care of the heavy lifting so you can concentrate on growing your business.
Your KEY to Access Control at a Fraction of the Cost
Audit Accountability:
Records every access attempt in both the lock and the key.
Uses Existing Hardware: No hardware required for Plug-and-Play installation.
Respond to Missing Keys: Digitally remove lost keys immediately.
Electronic Scheduling: Flexibility to control employee access 24/7.
Medeco Data Dashboard: Provides insight into system setup and audit events.
Data Analytics: See access trends and irregularities at a glance.
Empowering Small Businesses with Secure Surveillance Solutions
In today’s dynamic landscape, ensuring the safety of businesses, especially small and medium-sized enterprises (SMBs), has reached paramount importance. The surge in data creation and increasing demand for video analytics accentuates the need for robust security solutions tailored to SMBs’ unique challenges. Network Video Recorder (NVR) appliances have emerged as a transformative technology, offering straightforward, scalable, and cost-effective security solutions that perfectly align with the modern SMB landscape.
The Impact of NVR Appliances in SMB Security
NVR systems have redefined security by providing a versatile and budget-friendly option for SMBs aiming to fortify their protection measures. From single-location retailers to multisite operations, NVR appliances offer access to advanced security features, user-friendly equipment, and streamlined installations that resonate with operational demands.
Addressing SMB Security Challenges
SMBs operate within a distinctive security realm, marked by limited resources, smaller teams, and reduced technical expertise compared to larger enterprises. Yet, the implications of security breaches can disproportionately impact these businesses. Incidents like theft and shoplifting surged during the pandemic, affecting nearly 54% of SMB owners in 2022. The repercussions extend beyond immediate financial losses, potentially leading to insurance issues, reputational damage, and even business closure.
Furthermore, SMBs must navigate the swiftly evolving realm of cybersecurity, where new technologies like the Internet of Things (IoT) and security patches constantly emerge. SMBs, often lacking substantial IT resources, must adapt swiftly to these challenges to avoid falling victim to cyber threats or losing their competitive edge.
Critical Considerations for SMB Video Security
Implementing video security tailored to SMBs involves addressing several crucial factors:
• Affordability and Quality Balance: SMBs often operate on tight budgets, necessitating cost-effective security systems that don’t compromise on quality. NVR appliances offer affordable
equipment, maintenance, tech support, and installation while delivering high ROI and modern analytics capabilities.
• Ease of Use: SMBs usually lack extensive IT teams to manage complex security systems. NVR solutions present user-friendly interfaces for recording, storage, playback, and deployment, enabling efficient security management even for non-technical personnel.
• Scalability: Rapid SMB growth demands scalable security solutions that can accommodate new components like cameras or storage without prohibitive costs or complex installations.
• Cybersecurity: Dismissing cybersecurity concerns due to the misconception of being ‘too small to be targeted’ exposes SMBs to considerable risk. NVR appliances with robust encryption and security features protect against cyber threats.
The Power of NVR Appliances
NVR appliances represent a pivotal solution for SMB security. Leveraging digital internet protocol (IP) cameras, NVR systems record and store video footage in the cloud or on local storage devices. The simplicity of NVR appliances’ design allows for versatile deployment, customization, and scalability, making them an ideal fit for various SMB applications.
Empowering SMB Security
As the business landscape continues to evolve, SMBs must prioritize security to safeguard their assets, employees, and reputation. NVR appliances represent a pivotal technology that aligns seamlessly with the unique challenges faced by SMBs. BCD’s NVR solutions epitomize the blend of cuttingedge technology and superior customer service, positioning them as the preferred choice for various SMBs. These offerings guarantee optimal ROI and simplify security management complexities. By embracing these purpose-built solutions, businesses can elevate their security infrastructure, minimize risk, and capitalize on new opportunities while keeping up with the rapid pace of technological advancements. As a trusted partner in this journey, BCD empowers SMBs with the tools they need to secure their future.
The security industry’s most trusted source for IP video data infrastructure solutions
THE BCD DIFFERENCE
Guaranteed calculations and performance
Certified & validated VMS performance Warranties that lower total cost of ownership
Pre- and post-sales technical support
Averaging 3 days to ship globally
Secure build cycle
Electronic Access Control Essential Part of Retail’s Digital Transformation
By John Wright, Retail & Fitness Industry Business Leader SALTO Systems North America
The march towards digital transformation in retail environments is growing. Today’s market demands a shift from conventional practices to the embrace of more sophisticated solutions. Central to this evolution is the implementation of cloud-based solutions. One of the easier-implemented use cases is access control systems, offering novel ways of improving operational efficiency and enhancing the user experience.
Cloud-based access control systems offer various financial benefits that can significantly enhance ROI. These systems bypass traditional lock and key systems’ expensive hardware, installation, and maintenance. They also provide a wealth of data analytics and reporting capabilities that can be harnessed to identify operational inefficiencies and implement strategic improvements, contributing directly to a healthier bottom line.
In the realm of employee management, cloud-based access controls are transformative. With a centralized dashboard, managers can monitor and adjust access permissions in real time. This flexibility simplifies administrative tasks such as granting temporary access or revoking permissions, eliminating the risk of unauthorized access. Employees can move freely within the authorized premises by negating the need for physical keys, fostering productivity and operational efficiency.
For outside vendor management, these systems offer a security blanket. Vendors, suppliers, or contractors can be given temporary access rights, reducing the security risks tied to lost or duplicated keys. This functionality, coupled with the system’s ability to maintain a record of every entry and exit, establishes a clear audit trail, ensuring accountability and minimizing potential disputes.
The system is inherently capable of enhancing loss prevention and asset protection. By maintaining a comprehensive and tamper-proof audit trail of access across various points, these systems enable precise tracking of entries and exits. This
feature is invaluable in investigating incidents, identifying patterns, and mitigating risks. Additionally, granular access control provides an added layer of security by ensuring that employees or vendors only have access to areas necessary for their roles. This drastically reduces the likelihood of internal theft or unauthorized access, a key element in effective loss prevention.
A real-time alerts feature can notify management of unusual access patterns or attempted breaches, enabling swift action and reducing potential damage. In essence, the technology is a preventive measure, deterring potential perpetrators and ensuring assets remain secure.
Transitioning to cloud-based access control systems in retail presents vast potential. These systems are redefining operational efficiency from cost savings and streamlined management to enhanced loss prevention. As the digital age continues to unfold, adopting cloud-based access control systems will be critical for retail businesses aiming to fortify their operations, safeguard their assets, and maximize ROI.
Hanwha Vision: Creating Safer, and Smarter, Retail Environments
Intelligent video solutions with easy set-up and streamlined operations offer new ways for retailers to cost-effectively protect employees, customers, and profits
Whether customers visit a store in-person or online, delivering a positive shopping experience is the key factor in determining not only if they make a purchase or not, but if they return to a store over the long term.
It’s all about providing the best possible environment for customers and employees – from maximizing merchandise placement to ensuring minimal wait times at the checkout lines to providing a safe and welcoming environment. That means the right security and surveillance solutions.
Video surveillance technology has changed dramatically over the last few years with recent breakthroughs in digital imaging surveillance technology including Artificial Intelligence (AI), and multi-channel, multi-directional camera models. Retailers are increasingly relying on these intelligent video surveillance solutions to enhance every aspect of their operations, increase efficiency, protect employees, engage customers, and remain profitable.
Having “eyes-on” visibility and situational awareness through advanced video surveillance solutions is more important than ever, helping stores save money, manage assets, reduce risk, and deter crime.
One of the biggest threats to retailers across the country is losing inventory from theft, fraud, or error. The retail industry loses billions of dollars annually to inventory loss, with analysts estimating the annual number to be around $100 billion. This has pushed many smart retailers to make strategic investments in intelligent video surveillance solutions.
AI technology has added the power to easily do people-counting, body temperature detection, object detection, license plate recognition, behavioral observations, and more. These new video solutions are addressing the industry’s need for scalable and costeffective surveillance solutions that can help organizations monitor their stores and detect suspicious activity to prevent theft.
Retail success is based on getting shoppers into the store, keeping them there and making the most out of their visit, ultimately leading to a purchase. Operators can use intelligent video surveillance to enhance customer service by comparing traffic patterns against staffing levels, monitor customer service issues, improve employee time management, and analyze customer traffic patterns to ensure merchandise is visible and properly displayed.
Multi-directional camera technology can monitor and record several key retail areas with unique fields of view for each, complemented by onboard queue management analytics customized to alert managers and staff to long lines. Cameras equipped with industry-leading low-light performance and wide dynamic range capabilities can monitor and record large areas. Durable vandalresistant dome and bullet-style cameras can be equipped with loitering detection analytics, and license plate recognition technology tracks and logs vehicles entering and exiting retail premises.
Retailers today are challenged to do more with less, and they require more effective loss prevention and asset protection solutions. Intelligent video surveillance options that combine image quality, performance, and analytics are the right mix for meeting retailers’ needs for safety, security and shrink management while delivering new insights into every aspect of a retail operation.
