What’s behind the rise in cyberattacks on UK retailers?
Is a once-a-year audit really enough to protect your business?
In this article, you’ll learn what’s changed in the cyber risk landscape and what retail business owners must do to stay protected.
You’ll hear insights from Garry Brown, Managing Director of Bondgate IT and advisor to the North East Business Resilience Centre (NEBRC), as recently featured in Business Quarter.
What’s Driving the Surge in Cyberattacks?
Retailers are now among the most targeted industries when it comes to ransomware, phishing, and supply chain compromise. These attacks aren’t just annoying—they’re business-ending events for those unprepared.
That’s why Business Quarter turned to Garry Brown, Managing Director at Bondgate IT, to explain what’s happening and how business leaders can respond before they become the next headline.
A once-a-year audit or compliance checklist doesn’t reflect the real-time nature of today’s threats. The biggest takeaway from these attacks is that businesses need a mindset where everything is verified constantly, not assumed secure because a vendor passed an assessment months ago.
Your Technology Stack Isn’t Enough Without the Right Mindset
Many business owners rely too heavily on tools or outsourced providers, thinking that’s enough. But Garry emphasizes that leadership mindset is the true differentiator between businesses that get hit and those that recover quickly—or avoid disaster entirely.
Organisations need to have a solid incident response plan. That means training staff regularly, testing recovery processes, and having clear communication protocols in place, both internally and externally.
If your team hasn’t practiced how to respond to a ransomware attack or data breach, your business is vulnerable. Protecting your systems starts with protecting your people.
Culture Is Your First Line of Cyber Defence
For years, Bondgate IT has promoted a defence-in-depth approach: layered protection, real-time detection, and tight access controls. But Garry is quick to clarify: tools don’t stop attacks. Teams do.
Cybersecurity is now a business culture issue. The most resilient businesses:
- Train staff routinely on cyber hygiene
- Build recovery plans that are actually tested
- Ensure leadership is directly involved in the response strategy
- Foster a culture where nothing is trusted by default, everything is verified
Why the Media Turn to Garry Brown for Answers
When Business Quarter wanted real insight, they didn’t go to a vendor—they went to someone with real-world experience guiding businesses through crises. Garry Brown has advised hundreds of business owners in the North East and beyond on how to build cybersecurity into the DNA of their companies.
His message is clear: security isn’t a box to check. It’s a mindset to lead.
What Business Owners Should Do Next
At the end of the day, we’ve all seen the rising risk of cyberattacks in retail. This is especially true if your business relies on digital payment systems, online orders, or customer data. Now that you’ve heard from Bondgate IT’s Garry Brown on how these threats are evolving, your next step is to strengthen your response plan, review training, and ensure your team is prepared.
This article was brought to you by Bondgate IT, a team committed to helping businesses like yours stay secure and resilient in the face of modern cyber threats.
👉 Read the full article: Decoding the Cyberattack Surge on UK Retailers