Ransomware and Cyber Resilience for Retailers Today: Recent Lessons and How to Stay Ahead Going Forward
Introduction: A new era of cyber resilience
“My heart sunk.” That’s how Target’s former CEO described the moment he learned that attackers had stolen the financial data of 40 million customers all the way back in 2013. It was a defining moment that spotlighted the urgent need for cyber resilience for retailers—a need that’s only intensified over the past decade.
Since then, ransomware has evolved from rare to routine. In just Q4 of 2024, ransomware incidents surged by 46%, and specialty retailers were squarely in the crosshairs.
But here’s the good news: you’re not walking into this unaware. The lessons of 2024—and the tools available in 2025—give you a powerful edge to protect what you’ve built.
In this blog, we break down what happened in 2024, why retail is such a prime target, and how today’s most prepared retailers are staying resilient in the face of relentless cyberthreats.
The ransomware landscape: What 2024 taught us
In 2024, ransomware groups became faster, more coordinated, and increasingly precise. Their tactics moved away from splashy headlines and toward silent, strategic disruption—disrupting retailers through point-of-sale systems, inventory platforms, and supply chain tools.
As you might expect, public disclosures remained rare. Many breaches were quietly resolved or paid off, without attracting media attention. But that doesn’t mean the threat diminished. The 46% spike in ransomware activity in Q4 alone tells a different story.
Consider the 2022 Hive ransomware attack on Intersport in France. It forced cashiers to revert to manual checkouts after loyalty and gift card systems were knocked offline during peak holiday shopping hours. Financial losses went unreported, but the operational disruption was immense. In 2024, these types of attacks only grew—quieter, faster, and more frequent.
One pattern stood out: attackers targeted known vulnerabilities in widely used platforms like Cleo Integration Cloud. Unpatched third-party systems and exposed edge devices opened the door, proving that vendor ecosystems can be just as vulnerable as internal infrastructure.
These aren’t just IT problems—they’re full-blown operational crises.
The good news? Retailers with mature detection and response strategies consistently limited the impact.
With around-the-clock monitoring, real-time threat intelligence, and proactive containment, these organizations stopped ransomware threats before they could escalate. The PDI Security Operations Center, for example, monitors for emerging zero-day exploits—like those found in Cleo systems—helping protect customer environments from critical disruptions.
Why retail is a target—and what that means for you
Retailers reside at a valuable intersection: high transaction volume, sensitive customer data, and often, legacy infrastructure that hasn’t evolved with modern threats.
- Ransomware groups like Clop and LockBit are drawn to industries where billions of dollars flow through digital systems each year—making retail a prime target.
• IoT-driven inventory platforms, e-commerce ecosystems, and vendor portals streamline operations but also expand your attack surface.
As renowned security technologist Bruce Schneier puts it, “If it’s smart, it’s vulnerable.” That’s especially true in today’s hyperconnected retail environments, where nearly every digital interaction presents an entry point for attackers.
Vulnerability doesn’t have to mean inevitable catastrophe. That’s where a strong risk management approach makes all the difference. The most resilient retailers are shifting from reactive measures to proactive strategies—focused on reducing risk, limiting impact, and accelerating recovery. Instead of asking if a breach will happen, they’re asking how quickly they can detect it, contain it, and continue serving customers without disruption.
From 2024 lessons to 2025 actions
The lessons from 2024 are clear: attackers exploited known vulnerabilities, infiltrated third-party platforms, and moved with speed and precision. Retailers that relied on reactive measures often faced significant disruption—while those with proactive visibility and response strategies were able to limit the damage.
So, what does resilience look like in 2025?
It goes beyond software. True resilience means layering your defenses, tightening patch cycles, reducing human risk, and acting on real-time threat intelligence.
Keep reading to learn how to turn these insights into actions.
Your 2025 ransomware readiness playbook
A modern ransomware strategy is not just about defense—it is about Managing Risk at every layer. The recommendations below are grounded in what works: helping retailers reduce the likelihood of attacks, accelerate detection, and minimize business impact.
Here are five steps you can take to strengthen your cyber resilience:
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Implement layered detection and response
Modern ransomware moves fast—detection must move faster.
- Deploy Managed Detection and Response (MDR) and Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) to flag threats before they spread.
- Ensure your team—or your provider—offers real-time threat hunting, not just reactive alerts.
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Treat patching like revenue protection
Unpatched systems are a major attack vector.
- Establish a rigorous patch cadence and track completion across all assets.
- Prioritize high-risk vulnerabilities in firewalls, VPNs, and widely used tools like Cleo and Hikvision.
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Build backup strategies with purpose
Backups only help if they work under pressure.
- Store daily backups in immutable formats.
- Run regular restore tests to ensure reliability.
- Maintain offline copies that cannot be accessed or encrypted by attackers.
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Equip your people to be defenders
Technology helps, but people are still your first line of defense. According to the US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), “more than 90% of successful cyber attacks start with a phishing email.” This is an issue of human error.
- Foster a security-first culture through continuous training and awareness campaigns.
- Run regular phishing simulations and teach employees to recognize social engineering tactics.
- PDI’s Security Awareness Training as a Service gives retail teams practical tools to identify and report threats—lowering your organization’s overall risk exposure.
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Partner with experts who see what’s coming next
Cybersecurity is complex—but you don’t have to face it alone.
- Leverage expert partners like PDI, whose Security Operations Center (SOC) protects over $1 trillion in transactions annually and processes more than 1 trillion logs per quarter.
- Subscribe to our newsletter to stay ahead of emerging threats and explore proactive defenses tailored to retail.
Conclusion: Increase strength through readiness
“In retail, everyone is a target.” That insight from cybersecurity strategist Wendy Nather is more relevant than ever—but being a target doesn’t mean being unprepared.
You’ve built a business your customers trust. Protecting that trust means elevating cybersecurity from a cost center to a core pillar of your customer experience.
Make 2025 the year you lead with resilience rather than reacting to risk.
