You don’t have to be a household name to be a target. In early 2025 alone, Harrods, M&S, Co-op, Adidas, and Magento-powered stores were targeted by cyberattacks, resulting in the shutdown of checkouts, locking of systems, and the leakage of customer data. Trust took a serious hit.

Whether you're a big-name retailer or a fast-growing brand, ecommerce security isn’t optional anymore. If customers can’t trust you with their info, they’ll shop elsewhere.

What’s Actually Happening: Real Threats, Real Damage

Cybercriminals aren’t just crashing websites; they’re going after the customer data behind them. And in 2025, they’ve been alarmingly successful.

Just this year:

• Harrods faced a targeted intrusion.

• M&S lost £300 million after a crippling attack.

• Magento stores saw 1,000 sites compromised via supply chain vulnerabilities.

• Adidas, Victoria’s Secret, The North Face, and Cartier all reported customer data breaches.

These aren’t isolated events; they’re part of a growing pattern.

Here’s how attackers are getting in:

• Direct cyberattacks that steal data or disrupt operations.

• Supply chain breaches that exploit third-party tools.

• Simple misconfigurations or missed updates open doors for data theft.

Why a Breach Hurts More Than Just Your Systems

Getting hacked isn’t just an IT issue; it’s a trust issue.

If your customers receive a breach notice from you, how likely are they to return to your business?

Here’s what’s really at risk:

• Customer loyalty – Trust lost is hard to rebuild.

• Brand reputation – A breach becomes headline news overnight.

• Financial penalties – GDPR fines can hit the millions.

• Business disruption – Just ask M&S; it took more than a reboot to recover.

Cyber Essentials: Certification That Shows You Care

Cyber Essentials Accreditation is a UK government-backed certification that covers the basics every business should have locked down, from secure configurations to access control and malware protection.

This isn’t a compliance form; it’s a signal to your customers that you take security seriously. It sharpens your processes, improves staff awareness, and hardens your defences across all core systems.

5 Things to Check Before the Weekend

If you’re not sure where to begin, here’s a quick security gut-check:

• Is your firewall configured and actively monitored?

• Do you control who has access to sensitive parts of your platform?

• Are all your updates and patches up to date?

• Is your antivirus or malware protection running and alerting properly?

• Are your e-commerce settings secure, especially your payment gateways?

Any one of these left unchecked could be a door left open.

Don’t Wait Until It’s a Cleanup Job

Cybersecurity used to be something companies dealt with only after a problem arose. That doesn’t work anymore. Today, attacks are automated, constant, and opportunistic. Hackers don’t need to know your name; they just need a way in.

Whether you're scaling fast or just starting out, your security setup deserves as much care as your storefront or checkout experience.

Need a place to start? Book a FREE Business Cyber Security Audit with MF Telecom Services, ideal even if it’s your first time addressing cyber risks.