By: Brett Stoddard, Chief Operating Officer of One Step Tech

Your retail business may invest in cybersecurity, but even with an internal security team, are you truly protected?

One of the most overlooked yet crucial aspects of maintaining robust security is bringing in external third-party experts to assess your defenses.

The notion of “don’t proofread your own work” rings true for cybersecurity—when security incidents can cost you dearly, relying solely on internal assessments isn’t enough. This is where third-party testing becomes essential.

The Importance of Third-Party Testing in Retail
Retail businesses work with numerous external partners—suppliers, logistics providers, payment processors, and marketing platforms—all of which may have access to your systems or data. However, even if these third parties aren’t the focus, your internal team may not catch every vulnerability in your environment. Blind spots are inevitable, especially when teams are too close to the systems they manage.

Third-party testing provides a proactive approach to uncovering vulnerabilities before cyber criminals can exploit them. Regularly conducting vulnerability scans, penetration testing, and risk assessments—even on your own systems—ensures that you’re not leaving any areas exposed.

Real-World Example: The Cost of Overlooking External Testing
In the retail sector, the rise of third-party attacks and supply chain vulnerabilities is alarming. According to the 2023 State of Supply Chain Defense, the average number of supply chain breaches increased by 26% from 2022 to 2023, underscoring the escalating risk in this domain.

Such breaches can lead to substantial financial losses, reputational harm, and compliance issues for businesses.

To mitigate these risks, incorporating regular third-party testing into your cybersecurity strategy is crucial. This proactive approach helps identify and address potential vulnerabilities before they can be exploited, ensuring your business remains resilient against evolving cyber threats.

The Benefits of Third-Party Testing for Retailers
By regularly conducting third-party vulnerability scans and penetration tests, your retail business gains:

• Enhanced Data Protection: Ensures that your customers’ sensitive payment information and personal data are secure across all systems, reducing the likelihood of a costly breach.
• Compliance Assurance: Regular testing helps your business stay compliant with industry standards, such as PCI DSS, reducing your risk of fines or legal penalties.
• Risk Reduction: By identifying vulnerabilities before cyber criminals do, you drastically reduce your risk of becoming the next retail data breach headline.
• Strengthened Security Culture: Collaborating with outside experts to improve your security posture not only reduces risks but fosters a culture of accountability and proactive defense throughout your organization.

Why Vulnerability Scans, Penetration Testing, and Risk Assessments Matter
When it comes to testing your security, external assessments are crucial. Cyber criminals are becoming more sophisticated, exploiting weaknesses, whether in your internal systems or through partners. An objective, third-party perspective is essential to catching vulnerabilities that might otherwise be missed.

• Vulnerability Scans: These systematic assessments identify known security flaws in your IT systems, such as outdated software, weak credentials, or exposed networks. A vulnerability scan acts as an early warning system, helping you find and address potential weaknesses before they become bigger problems.
• Penetration Testing: Going a step beyond scans, penetration testing simulates real-world cyber attacks to see how well your defenses hold up under pressure. A third-party expert attempts to breach your systems, uncovering security holes that your internal team may not see. This method uncovers hidden vulnerabilities and tests your response to an active attack scenario.
• Cybersecurity and Physical Security Risk Assessments: While vulnerability scans and penetration testing focus on the technical side, broader risk assessments take a deeper look at your overall security posture. This includes evaluating cybersecurity infrastructure such as firewalls, encryption, and employee training. It also involves examining physical security measures like access controls, surveillance systems, and secure areas within your store or warehouse locations. Third-party experts bring an unbiased perspective to both types of assessments, identifying gaps that internal teams may overlook.

By combining these tools, you gain a comprehensive view of both digital and physical risks. This allows you to make informed decisions on how to protect your business from multiple angles, ensuring that both cybersecurity and physical security vulnerabilities are addressed.

Why You Need an External Third-Party for Security Testing
Even if your business has a capable security team, it’s important to recognize the benefits of bringing in outside experts:

• Unbiased Assessments: Internal teams familiar with your systems and processes may miss subtle vulnerabilities or assume certain safeguards are working effectively. A third-party tester brings a fresh, objective perspective and has no vested interest in your existing setup, ensuring that issues are identified based on facts, not assumptions.
• Advanced Techniques: External cybersecurity firms often specialize in vulnerability scans and penetration testing, meaning they’re equipped with the latest tools and techniques. This level of expertise allows them to stay ahead of emerging threats and advanced hacking techniques, offering a higher level of scrutiny than many internal teams can manage.
• No Complacency: Security isn’t a one-and-done effort. Over time, even the best security teams may become complacent, assuming everything is under control. External third-party testing introduces an element of accountability, ensuring that your defenses are regularly challenged and evolving to keep up with the latest threats.

How to Incorporate Third-Party Testing into Your Cybersecurity Program

1. Identify Key Areas: Even though third-party partners are important to assess, your internal systems should not be overlooked. Make sure to include all critical areas of your retail operation, from payment systems to physical security measures, in the testing process.
2. Conduct Vulnerability Scans: Automated vulnerability scans are a crucial first step. These scans look for common security issues—misconfigured settings, outdated patches, or open ports that cyber criminals could exploit. Regularly schedule these scans to catch vulnerabilities early.
3. Run Penetration Tests: Go beyond automated scans with penetration testing. This process allows an ethical hacker to actively try to exploit weaknesses in your system, giving you valuable insight into how a real-world attack could play out. Pen tests uncover deeper vulnerabilities and test your response capabilities.
4. Evaluate and Prioritize Risks: After testing, evaluate the results and create a priority list. Whether the vulnerabilities exist in your own systems or in a partner’s, addressing high-risk issues first helps you mitigate the most serious threats before they are exploited.
5. Develop Mitigation Plans: Cybersecurity is a shared responsibility. After completing tests, work with your internal teams and partners to develop mitigation plans. These plans should include deadlines for patching vulnerabilities and upgrading defenses.
6. Implement Continuous Monitoring: Testing should never be a one-time event. Security threats evolve quickly, so continuous monitoring through regular scans and periodic penetration tests ensures that your defenses stay up-to-date.

At One Step Secure IT we specialize in providing comprehensive third-party testing services, tailored to meet the needs of the retail industry. Our offerings include:

• Vulnerability Scans: Detect potential weaknesses in your networks and systems.
• Penetration Testing: Simulate real-world attacks to uncover hidden vulnerabilities.
• Security Assessments: Conduct thorough evaluations of your overall security posture, both digital and physical.
• Custom Risk Reports: Receive detailed reports with actionable recommendations on how to mitigate your most pressing security risks.

In today’s retail environment, relying solely on internal assessments is risky. Incorporating third-party testing into your cybersecurity strategy gives your business the peace of mind it needs to focus on growth, customer trust, and protecting your valuable assets.

Contact One Step Secure IT for more information about getting a third-party risk assessment.