How Retailers Can Ring Up a Secure Black Friday

Since 1975, Black Friday has represented a make-or-break day for retailers. Last year, the average shopper spent $313 on Black Friday deals, though the “shopping holiday” now can last weeks. And while much of Black Friday commerce has moved online, millions of customers still stream into brick-and-mortar retail stores to find bargains. This means retailers must manage increased transaction volume while protecting sensitive customer data. 

With attackers viewing Black Friday chaos as an opportunity, it’s vital for retailers to secure their Point of Sale (POS) systems, which can be uniquely attractive targets because of the sensitive credit card information shared during transactions. 

To help safeguard these systems, security professionals recommend retailers deploy a type of security protection known as application control. Application control differs from typical security protection, which uses a common “negative security” model to prevent untrusted software from running on devices. As vital as these protections are, reactive security tools often are not effective on POS systems. Instead, application control employs a “positive security” model that allows only pre-approved, trusted applications to run on POS devices. It proactively blocks by default any unknown or unapproved application. 

Here’s how application control can help retailers keep Black Friday out of the red.

POS devices face unique risks

Because they are public-facing devices that process sensitive customer data and credit card information, POS systems are a favorite target for cybercriminals. A breach could lead to financial loss, reputational damage, and even legal repercussions for the affected organizations.

Some common threats to POS devices include:

● Malware Attacks: Malware can infiltrate POS systems to steal payment card data.

● Unauthorized Applications: Installing unapproved software can create vulnerabilities for attackers to exploit.

● Insider Threats: Employees with access to the system may inadvertently or maliciously compromise security.

Though these threats exist year-round, POS systems become even more attractive to attackers looking to exploit vulnerabilities around chaotic transaction volumes during Black Friday.

How application control protects retailers

Application control stands out as a powerful solution to these challenges. Here are the key ways your business can benefit:

1. Application allowlisting 

Unlike traditional denylist-based solutions, application control ensures that only explicitly approved applications are allowed to run on your POS devices. This eliminates the risk of malware or unauthorized software compromising your systems.

2. Real-time visibility and control

Leading application control solutions, like Carbon Black App Control, provide real-time monitoring of your POS environment. For these public-facing devices, blocking the introduction of unauthorized software from an unapproved source such as a USB is key. The device control feature on Carbon Black App Control prevents this from happening. If an unapproved application attempts to execute, it is immediately blocked and you are alerted. This instant response ensures that threats are neutralized before they can cause harm.

3. Tamper-resistant protection

During the chaos of Black Friday, it’s not just cybercriminals you need to worry about—employee error or tampering can also jeopardize security. Solutions like Carbon Black App Control protect against unauthorized changes to system configurations, ensuring your POS devices remain secure.

4. PCI DSS compliance

Meeting compliance requirements like PCI DSS is non-negotiable for businesses handling payment card information. App Control helps maintain compliance by preventing unauthorized applications and providing detailed logging and reporting for audits.

5. Lightweight and reliable

Retail environments can be fast-paced and demanding, particularly during peak shopping periods. Look for a solution that is lightweight and designed to have minimal impact on system performance, ensuring your POS devices run smoothly even during the busiest times.

Case study: Every day is Carbon Black Friday

Consider a mid-sized retailer preparing for Black Friday. Previously, they relied on traditional antivirus software, which occasionally allowed unauthorized applications to execute, causing disruptions. After implementing Carbon Black App Control, they experienced immediate improvements:

● All malware attempts were blocked before execution.

● Employees were unable to accidentally or intentionally install unapproved software.

● The IT team gained peace of mind with real-time alerts and easy-to-use dashboards.

The result? A secure, seamless Carbon Black Black Friday experience for customers and employees alike.

Implementing Carbon Black App Control 

Carbon Black App Control–originally launched as Bit9–was the first to introduce a positive security solution and has the longest record of success in the market. Getting started with Carbon Black App Control is straightforward. Here’s a step-by-step guide to prepare your POS systems for Black Friday and beyond:

1. Assess your environment: Identify all POS devices and applications that need protection.
2. Set up application allowlisting: Define which applications are approved for use on your systems.
3. Monitor and test: Use App Control’s real-time monitoring to ensure everything is running smoothly before Black Friday.
4. Educate your team: Train staff on security best practices to complement App Control’s features.
5. Stay updated: Regularly review your whitelist and security configurations to adapt to new threats.

Peace of mind for Black Friday and beyond

Black Friday brings enough challenges without retailers having to worry about losing sensitive data to attacks on their POS systems. Carbon Black Application Control helps ensure your POS systems are secure, your customers’ data is protected, and your team is free to focus on what matters most—delivering an exceptional shopping experience.  Find out how to turn every day into Carbon Black Friday.