Cybersecurity and Black Friday: The Ultimate Retail High

Introduction 

It’s likely no coincidence that Cyber Security Awareness Month is just before Black Friday and the run-up to Christmas. In fact, Cyber Security Awareness Month has grown in popularity since 2004 with the encouragement of the public to protect themselves and reduce online risks. During this same period of growing cyber awareness, online retailers, as well as the volume of globally connected devices and applications, drastically increased. By the end of 2024, it is predicted that the number of connected devices will grow by a further 13%, to a total of 18.8 billion devices, and 51% of enterprise IoT adopters plan to increase IoT budgets. 

This article explores the critical ways retailers can easily protect corporate and customer data using an effective Enterprise Mobility Management (EMM) solution for all devices in their fleet and all integrated technology partnerships. 

E-Protection: How Retailers Can Protect Themselves, Staff and Customers 

Scheduled Software Updates 

Remove the pressure of remembering when and what to update. An EMM solution does all the hard work for you. As mundane as software updates seem, they are imperative to ensure attackers cannot take advantage of possible known vulnerabilities in software. Updates help keep devices safe and enable support to quickly identify issues. All in all, they are a critical part of device lifecycle management.  

For labeling workflows, BarTender adds a critical layer of security and reliability with its 99.9% uptime and consistent security updates. These proactive measures ensure that retailers' labeling operations run smoothly and securely, reducing downtime and helping retailers keep essential tasks on track – even during the busiest seasons. 

From printers and scanners to retail kiosks and tablets – whether in-store, in the warehouse, or even in logistics truck cabins – all mobile devices need robust protection. 

Device Identification and Monitoring 

Monitoring device abnormalities during peak seasons can become challenging due to increased device activity on networks. Moreover, application downloads, internet access to forbidden websites, or camera usage in prohibited areas can lead to compliance and security issues for organisations, which can seem like an ever-growing problem as the volume of devices - and their complexity - expands globally. When unusual activity is identified on networks, oftentimes the damage is already done before IT can do anything. 

“It is critical to ensure full visibility of connected devices, approved users and user profiles and all access rights across the network. Without monitoring for these threats, devices and networks are left exposed and time is ticking. This puts attackers at an advantage over organisations until they spot the vulnerability – and then the organisation also needs to fix the problem. All in all it is easier to prevent in the first place,” said Colby Cavanaugh, SVP of Marketing at BarTender. 

Remote Support 

Remote support is quickly becoming a leading requirement of mobile management systems, as workforces are geographically dispersed across multiple time zones and speak various languages. Equally, the range and volume of devices that need managing makes the whole support and maintenance model more complex.  

“There needs to be a single pane of glass for viewing all devices and users more easily – and quickly – to identify and manage device issues. This is not only to reduce downtime but also so that learnings and updates can be rolled out at a scale if needed to avoid repeat issues coming into the same team. This also applies to applications. Enabling a full device ‘take over’ to remove language barriers not only saves time but also ensures productivity levels are maintained and business operations can keep moving. Our enhanced video calling functionality also ensures swift issue resolution no matter if it is a smartphone, scanner or printer,” said Shash Anand, SVP of Product Strategy at SOTI. 

User Profiling 

Having devices that can be set up and standardised quickly and easily means new employees hired for the holiday rush will be up and running in minutes, boosting company productivity straight away.   

“User profiles and access rights with BarTender and SOTI can be set up quickly and easily and ensure access to applications, servers and all permissions and restrictions are standardized for those user groups. For us it gives our customers and ourselves peace of mind that printers are loaded with all the up to date information to keep the supply chain moving at such a critical time of year.” Colby Cavanaugh, SVP of Marketing at BarTender. 

Managing label templates during the holiday season can be a challenge, especially in retail environments where changes in inventory, compliance requirements, or even product information can shift rapidly. Using flexible templates allows retailers to adjust label designs easily, so they can handle a variety of label types without having to manage hundreds of individual templates. 

“This flexibility means that a single template can adapt based on product data, adjusting what’s displayed – like text or barcodes – according to specific conditions. This approach not only reduces the workload on IT teams but also keeps labels accurate and consistent across products. Furthermore, it enables third-party providers to use standardized labels, ensuring that incoming goods arrive correctly labeled, even during peak seasons. Any last-minute updates, whether regulatory or operational, can also be rolled out quickly and uniformly, keeping operations compliant and efficient.” Colby Cavanaugh, SVP of Marketing at BarTender. 

Conclusion 

With Christmas shopping now in full swing, ensuring cybersecurity across the spectrum of devices – everything from kiosks to printers – is more critical now than ever before for retailers. With its dependable software updates, strong device monitoring methods, remote support and dynamic labeling options, partners and retailers can work their way through the busy season in a safe manner. An EMM solution from SOTI, combined with BarTender’s suite of solutions forms the backbone of retail, keep the shelves stocked, data safe and customers happy. 

After all, the only thing that retailers should be trying to keep pace with during the holiday season is demand – not their devices.