GITNUXREPORT 2025

Retail Cybersecurity Statistics

Retail facing rising cyberattacks with costly, preventable breaches and insufficient defenses.

Jannik Linder

Co-Founder of Gitnux, specialized in content and tech since 2016.

First published: April 29, 2025

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Statistic 1

43% of retail organizations experienced a cybersecurity breach in the past year

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60% of retail companies have experienced a Cyberattack that disrupted their operations

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20% of retail breaches involved third-party vendors

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76% of retail organizations have at least one cloud-based application, increasing cybersecurity risks

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67% of retail cybersecurity breaches are caused by phishing attacks

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56% of retail cybersecurity incidents involved malware or viruses

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In 2023, retail cyberattacks increased by 33% compared to the previous year

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The average time to identify a breach in retail is 232 days

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70% of retail executives express concern about the impact of cyber threats on customer trust

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45% of retail organizations had a data breach involving payment data in 2022

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82% of recent retail cyberattacks involved some form of social engineering

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52% of retail companies have experienced a cyberattack targeting their POS systems

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Retailers with strong cybersecurity protocols experience 45% fewer data breaches

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29% of retail cybersecurity incidents are caused by insider threats

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The retail sector's breach response time averages 134 days

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67% of retail businesses do not encrypt customer data at rest, increasing vulnerabilities

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48% of retail organizations experienced a supply chain cyberattack in 2023

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The average downtime caused by retail cyberattacks is 9.2 hours

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35% of retail brands experienced at least one security breach involving mobile apps in 2022

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54% of retail cybersecurity breaches involve compromised credentials

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81% of retail cybersecurity incidents are preventable with proper training and protocols

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Retail phishing attack success rates have doubled from 10% to 20% over the past three years

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78% of retail cybersecurity breaches involve unpatched software vulnerabilities

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65% of retail organizations do not have a formal incident response plan, increasing risk of prolonged breaches

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55% of retail cybersecurity breaches involve compromised third-party vendor credentials

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70% of retail cyberattack attempts are detected only after damage has been done

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The number of retail data breaches involving payment card information increased by 40% in 2023

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45% of retailers have experienced a ransomware attack that encrypted their data

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29% of retail customer data breaches involve IoT device vulnerabilities

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47% of retail organizations have experienced a breach due to phishing in the last 12 months

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64% of retail cybersecurity incidents involved exploiting insecure APIs

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53% of retail enterprises believe that Ransomware will be their biggest cyber threat in 2024

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28% of retailers have experienced a major cyberattack that caused significant financial loss in the past year

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Only 39% of retail companies conduct regular cybersecurity training for employees

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68% of retailers reported that their cybersecurity defenses are insufficient against current threats

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38% of retailers do not have a dedicated cybersecurity team

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The retail industry is projected to spend over $1 billion on cybersecurity in 2024

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Only 23% of retail cybersecurity budgets are allocated to threat detection and response

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Only 42% of retail firms conduct comprehensive risk assessments annually

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Retail industry leads in PCI DSS compliance, with 78% of retailers meeting standards

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The retail sector’s investment in cybersecurity insurance increased by 25% in 2023

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42% of retail organizations plan to increase cybersecurity budgets by over 15% in 2024

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Retail organizations using multi-factor authentication experienced 25% fewer breaches

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88% of retail cybersecurity professionals believe their defenses are inadequately prepared for emerging threats

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62% of retail companies are planning to invest more in AI-driven cybersecurity solutions in 2024

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Retail companies that implement regular vulnerability scanning see 35% fewer successful cyberattacks

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39% of retail organizations have adopted zero trust security models as of 2023

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41% of retail CIOs prioritize cybersecurity investments over other IT initiatives

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The use of AI in retail cybersecurity increased by 30% in the past year

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Data breaches in retail result in an average cost of $3.79 million

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Retail sales fraud accounts for approximately 1.5% of total retail sales, with cyber fraud being a significant contributor

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The cost of a cyberattack for small retail businesses averages $200,000

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The average breach cost per retail record is $180

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The average cost per retail cyber incident involving payment fraud is $250,000

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Retail sector accounts for 16% of all cyberattacks globally

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Ransomware attacks in the retail sector increased by 150% in 2022

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63% of cyberattacks on retail companies exploited vulnerabilities due to outdated software

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60% of retail cyberattacks target the e-commerce platforms

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54% of retail breaches are caused by vulnerabilities in point-of-sale systems

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Sources

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Key Highlights

43% of retail organizations experienced a cybersecurity breach in the past year
Retail sector accounts for 16% of all cyberattacks globally
Data breaches in retail result in an average cost of $3.79 million
60% of retail companies have experienced a Cyberattack that disrupted their operations
20% of retail breaches involved third-party vendors
Only 39% of retail companies conduct regular cybersecurity training for employees
76% of retail organizations have at least one cloud-based application, increasing cybersecurity risks
Ransomware attacks in the retail sector increased by 150% in 2022
67% of retail cybersecurity breaches are caused by phishing attacks
56% of retail cybersecurity incidents involved malware or viruses
In 2023, retail cyberattacks increased by 33% compared to the previous year
68% of retailers reported that their cybersecurity defenses are insufficient against current threats
The average time to identify a breach in retail is 232 days

With retail sector cyberattacks skyrocketing by 33% in 2023 and with nearly half of organizations experiencing breaches involving payment data or third-party vendors, it’s clear that robust cybersecurity measures are no longer optional but essential to protect customer trust and preserve revenue.

Cybersecurity Incidents and Breach Statistics

43% of retail organizations experienced a cybersecurity breach in the past year
60% of retail companies have experienced a Cyberattack that disrupted their operations
20% of retail breaches involved third-party vendors
76% of retail organizations have at least one cloud-based application, increasing cybersecurity risks
67% of retail cybersecurity breaches are caused by phishing attacks
56% of retail cybersecurity incidents involved malware or viruses
In 2023, retail cyberattacks increased by 33% compared to the previous year
The average time to identify a breach in retail is 232 days
70% of retail executives express concern about the impact of cyber threats on customer trust
45% of retail organizations had a data breach involving payment data in 2022
82% of recent retail cyberattacks involved some form of social engineering
52% of retail companies have experienced a cyberattack targeting their POS systems
Retailers with strong cybersecurity protocols experience 45% fewer data breaches
29% of retail cybersecurity incidents are caused by insider threats
The retail sector's breach response time averages 134 days
67% of retail businesses do not encrypt customer data at rest, increasing vulnerabilities
48% of retail organizations experienced a supply chain cyberattack in 2023
The average downtime caused by retail cyberattacks is 9.2 hours
35% of retail brands experienced at least one security breach involving mobile apps in 2022
54% of retail cybersecurity breaches involve compromised credentials
81% of retail cybersecurity incidents are preventable with proper training and protocols
Retail phishing attack success rates have doubled from 10% to 20% over the past three years
78% of retail cybersecurity breaches involve unpatched software vulnerabilities
65% of retail organizations do not have a formal incident response plan, increasing risk of prolonged breaches
55% of retail cybersecurity breaches involve compromised third-party vendor credentials
70% of retail cyberattack attempts are detected only after damage has been done
The number of retail data breaches involving payment card information increased by 40% in 2023
45% of retailers have experienced a ransomware attack that encrypted their data
29% of retail customer data breaches involve IoT device vulnerabilities
47% of retail organizations have experienced a breach due to phishing in the last 12 months
64% of retail cybersecurity incidents involved exploiting insecure APIs
53% of retail enterprises believe that Ransomware will be their biggest cyber threat in 2024
28% of retailers have experienced a major cyberattack that caused significant financial loss in the past year

Cybersecurity Incidents and Breach Statistics Interpretation

With cyber threats intensifying in retail—spanning phishing doubles, unpatched vulnerabilities, and third-party breaches—it's clear that without robust security measures and vigilant training, retailers risk not only costly breaches but also damaging erosion of customer trust amid the relentless pace of digital transformation.

Cybersecurity Measures, Protocols, and Investment Trends

Only 39% of retail companies conduct regular cybersecurity training for employees
68% of retailers reported that their cybersecurity defenses are insufficient against current threats
38% of retailers do not have a dedicated cybersecurity team
The retail industry is projected to spend over $1 billion on cybersecurity in 2024
Only 23% of retail cybersecurity budgets are allocated to threat detection and response
Only 42% of retail firms conduct comprehensive risk assessments annually
Retail industry leads in PCI DSS compliance, with 78% of retailers meeting standards
The retail sector’s investment in cybersecurity insurance increased by 25% in 2023
42% of retail organizations plan to increase cybersecurity budgets by over 15% in 2024
Retail organizations using multi-factor authentication experienced 25% fewer breaches
88% of retail cybersecurity professionals believe their defenses are inadequately prepared for emerging threats
62% of retail companies are planning to invest more in AI-driven cybersecurity solutions in 2024
Retail companies that implement regular vulnerability scanning see 35% fewer successful cyberattacks
39% of retail organizations have adopted zero trust security models as of 2023
41% of retail CIOs prioritize cybersecurity investments over other IT initiatives

Cybersecurity Measures, Protocols, and Investment Trends Interpretation

Despite retail industry's hefty $1 billion cybersecurity spend in 2024 and leading PCI DSS compliance, a troubling disconnect persists—with only 39% providing regular employee training, 38% lacking dedicated teams, and over 88% of cybersecurity professionals feeling unprepared for emerging threats—highlighting that even with substantial investment, the retail sector remains dangerously vulnerable without strategic, comprehensive cybersecurity practices.

Emerging Technologies and Strategic Responses

The use of AI in retail cybersecurity increased by 30% in the past year

Emerging Technologies and Strategic Responses Interpretation

With AI stepping up its game by 30% in retail cybersecurity this year, it's clear that retailers are arming themselves with high-tech shields to outsmart cyber villains and protect consumer trust.

Financial Impact and Costs of Cyberattacks

Data breaches in retail result in an average cost of $3.79 million
Retail sales fraud accounts for approximately 1.5% of total retail sales, with cyber fraud being a significant contributor
The cost of a cyberattack for small retail businesses averages $200,000
The average breach cost per retail record is $180
The average cost per retail cyber incident involving payment fraud is $250,000

Financial Impact and Costs of Cyberattacks Interpretation

With retail data breaches costing millions and cyber fraud constituting a notable portion of sales—highlighting that for small businesses, a single cyberattack can wipe out years of profits—it's clear that in the retail sector, cybersecurity isn't just a tech issue, but a critical financial imperative.

Industry-Specific Cyber Threats and Vulnerabilities

Retail sector accounts for 16% of all cyberattacks globally
Ransomware attacks in the retail sector increased by 150% in 2022
63% of cyberattacks on retail companies exploited vulnerabilities due to outdated software
60% of retail cyberattacks target the e-commerce platforms
54% of retail breaches are caused by vulnerabilities in point-of-sale systems

Industry-Specific Cyber Threats and Vulnerabilities Interpretation

While retail may be cashing in on consumer wallets, its cybersecurity defenses are still cashing out—suffering from outdated software and targeted attacks that make the sector a prime target for cybercriminals, especially on e-commerce and point-of-sale systems.