Retail News|May 2016|www.retailnews.ie|5
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isk for Retailers of activities they are engaged in.” Retailers can implement a number of strategies to prevent cybercrime. Organisations should restrict employees from downloading files that do not come from a trusted source, implement strong password policies, and ensure software is up to date. “We see a lot of un-patched systems, which have been there for a long time, in retail organisations,” said Singla. “They might have Windows 2003 servers or Windows XP running their network, which is a very easy entry for hackers. Also, some companies have invested in anti-virus systems that they haven't properly configured.” Some businesses hire cyber security managers to oversee online safety. Rashleigh and Singla recommend they report to management rather than the IT department. “Retailers need to understand this is not an IT issue, it is a business and management issue,” said Rashleigh. “You can put all the technology in place that you like, but if your staff aren't aware of the risk, then you're going to carry on having problems. In a lot of breaches we deal with, the weakest link is staff. We're seeing organisations investing in technology, but a lot of them are spending time and effort educating employees.” Third party companies, however, can also make retailers vulnerable, as was the case with LoyaltyBuild. In 2013, for example, 40m people's debit and credit card data were exposed in a hack on American retail store, Target. The data breach, it transpired, came through a refrigeration firm that supplied products to the retailer. Cyber experts recommend that retailers disclose data breaches as soon as they happen. An organisation should have an incidence response system in the event of a cyber attack, then talk to Data Protection Commissioner. “Then
you have to inform your clients whose data has been stolen,” said Singla. “Some organisations are scared to inform customers they have been hacked, but it can stop other companies from being hacked. If a retail company is hacked and doesn't inform anyone, another retailer might be attacked with the same kind of malware.” Data breaches are not only costly, they also cause reputational damage. Some retailers are now making online security as important a priority as health and safety, according to Rashleigh: “Frankly, they both have the same effects in terms of losing customers and damaging the brand. They can both also lead to the same type of litigation. We're seeing a trend where people are suing companies for loss of data.” The only solution is to introduce the best online security systems, introduce cyber audits, and ensure that employees are aware of the risks, concluded Burke: “It can be an expensive process, but that initial capital investment is important to ensure your systems are as strong as they can be, and you have the right amount of information to hand when you need it.”
RGDATA Calls For National Town Management Strategy RGDATA Director General, Tara Buckley, has called for the development of a National Town Centre Management Strategy that would include mandatory Town Centre Health Checks. “We all know that a lot of our 'ugly planning' has been driven by people who are not professional planners,” Buckley told the Irish Planning Institute Conference. “Local Authorities have a central responsibility to drive new initiatives to regenerate towns. A key step to assist them is the adoption of a National Strategy on Town Centre Management. To do this properly, we must start with Town Centre Health Checks. RGDATA and the Heritage Council have devised a draft Town Centre Health Check pilot strategy to assist in the development of Town Plans.” Town centre revival will not happen if we do not develop policies that encourage people to live in town centres, she continued, arguing that new urban regeneration tax schemes will be required to kick-start investment in some towns and villages. “Out-of-town and edge of town retail development act as a counter-attraction to town centres and suck trade from town centre businesses. If these are the models of retailing that Irish people want to support, then they must be aware of the collective societal price in terms of desolate towns and villages,” Buckley warned. Meanwhile, RGDATA President, Colin Fee, who operates convenience and forecourt stores in Dundalk and Drogheda,
recently highlight the significant contribution made by community retailers to Irish towns and villages at a special event in Brussels on ‘The social impact of independent retailers in the local community, which took place recently at the European Parliament in Brussels, hosted by MEP Arne Gericke and Independent Retail Europe. The RGDATA presentation highlighted the ‘Local Heroes II’ research commissioned by RGDATA Director RGDATA and compiled by General, Tara Buckley. economist Jim Power. More recently, RGDATA has written to both the Advertising Standards Authority for Ireland and the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission about Lidl’s ‘Full Shop’ campaign, which it describes as “erroneous and misleading”. RGDATA go on to claim that the Lidl campaign is in violation of the Consumer Protection Act and also beaches the ASAI Code of Practice. RGDATA has called on the ASAI and CCPC to investigate the matter and then to have the campaign withdrawn and sanctions imposed.