MajorsJan 09, 2026
Kendra Scott Taps Activewear Exec as CEO Chris Blakeslee has experience at Athleta and Alo Yoga. Kendra Scott will remain on board as executive chair and chief visionary officer.
SurveysAug 02, 2018
Report: US Retailers Are Top Targets for Data Breaches
According to the 2018 Thales Data Threat Report, U.S. retailers experienced twice as many IT security breaches than other retailers worldwide last year.
New York—A new report says that retailers in the United States are experiencing the most IT security breaches worldwide.
The retail edition of the 2018 Thales Data Threat Report based its findings on input from 100 senior retail IT security managers in the U.S. and 96 IT security managers from retailers in other countries to establish the state of IT security today.
It found that despite an increase in IT security spending—84 percent of U.S. retailers polled plan on upping their budgets this year, compared to 77 percent last year and 67 percent of international retailers this year—cyber-attackers are by and large staying one step ahead of companies.
Fifty percent of U.S. retailers surveyed said they experienced IT security breaches last year alone, compared to 19 percent in the 2017 report. Only 27 percent of global retailers, meanwhile, said they experienced a breach last year.
RELATED CONTENT: Saks, Lord & Taylor the Latest Hit by HackersSeventy-five percent of the respondents in the U.S. said they’ve experienced at least one breach, while 60 percent of global retailers said the same.
The retail industry, which is becoming increasingly digital, is a target for cyber attackers due to its high volume of credit card transactions. In fact, Thales says that overall, it’s the second most breached industry in the United States behind the federal government.
The results of the Thales study on IT security in retail mirror what the Jewelers Security Alliance found in its 2017 crime report. The JSA saw such a large uptick in cybercrime last year that for the first time ever, it broke the losses out separately.
The average dollar loss from cybercrime in the jewelry industry was $1.2 million last year, with JSA President John J. Kennedy calling it a “dangerous and growing crime trend.”
A Bad Investment
Despite the uptick in IT security budgets, the Thales report concluded that retailers are putting their money in places that even they recognize to be ineffective. what they themselves deem the most ineffective places.
Of available tools to battle security breaches, 91 percent of U.S. retailers said analysis and correlation tools are the most effective and 90 percent said data-in-motion— providing security for an e-mail in transit while it’s being sent, for example—is the second most effective weapon.
However, they indicated that their highest spending increases would go to endpoint/mobile defenses (77 percent), even though
they ranked this as the least effective security method. Only 57 percent of retailers plan to increase the budget for data-at rest (stored data) defense, and only 62 percent for data-in-motion defenses, despite these being more effective.
Where the Money Should Go
Thales asserts that tools like discovery/classification and encryption or tokenization are key to protecting against IT security breaches today.
Only 26 percent of U.S. retailers polled said they are implementing encryption in the cloud, compared with 30 percent of global retailers.
Fifty-two percent of U.S. respondents cited a lack of perceived need as the top reason for not devoting more resources to tools like encryption and tokenization, while 47 percent also cited impact on business performance and 46 percent were put off by its complexity.
In a past interview with National Jeweler, Kennedy offered a list of cybersecurity recommendations for jewelers specifically, some of which might involve hiring an IT firm.
They include: proper firewalls, up-to-date anti-virus software, the avoidance of “risky” internet sites and the training of staff on the types of mistakes that often let in hackers.
Staff need to be told, or reminded, not to open or click into unknown or suspicious emails, and to look carefully at emails from known parties for misspellings and other anomalies as emails addressed can be spoofed.
Thales said that retailers should “re-prioritize” their IT security toolsets, focusing on ones that offer service-based deployments, platforms and automation to reduce complexity while adding protection.
It also recommended that retailers go beyond national and international compliance measures and employ security tools like encryption and tokenization. Encryption needs to be applied to all platforms, not just desktop and laptop computers.
Specifically, Thales recommends encrypting the cloud, big data, data located within containers and IoT (interconnected devices with IP addresses).
It’s likely that compliance guidelines will one day mandate these practices, the report said, so retailers can benefit from getting a head start on them, hopefully avoiding data breaches in the process.
RELATED CONTENT: JSA: Smash-and-Grab Robberies, Cybercrime Up in 2017“Traditional endpoint and network security are no longer sufficient, particularly for heavy adopters of public cloud resources such as the U.S. retail sector,” the report said, especially with the expanding use of external cloud services like SaaS (software as a service), PaaS (platform as a service) and IaaS (infrastructure as a service).
Where the Money Should Go
Thales asserts that tools like discovery/classification and encryption or tokenization are key to protecting against IT security breaches today.
Only 26 percent of U.S. retailers polled said they are implementing encryption in the cloud, compared with 30 percent of global retailers.
Fifty-two percent of U.S. respondents cited a lack of perceived need as the top reason for not devoting more resources to tools like encryption and tokenization, while 47 percent also cited impact on business performance and 46 percent were put off by its complexity.
In a past interview with National Jeweler, Kennedy offered a list of cybersecurity recommendations for jewelers specifically, some of which might involve hiring an IT firm.
They include: proper firewalls, up-to-date anti-virus software, the avoidance of “risky” internet sites and the training of staff on the types of mistakes that often let in hackers.
Staff need to be told, or reminded, not to open or click into unknown or suspicious emails, and to look carefully at emails from known parties for misspellings and other anomalies as emails addressed can be spoofed.
Thales said that retailers should “re-prioritize” their IT security toolsets, focusing on ones that offer service-based deployments, platforms and automation to reduce complexity while adding protection.
It also recommended that retailers go beyond national and international compliance measures and employ security tools like encryption and tokenization. Encryption needs to be applied to all platforms, not just desktop and laptop computers.
Specifically, Thales recommends encrypting the cloud, big data, data located within containers and IoT (interconnected devices with IP addresses).
It’s likely that compliance guidelines will one day mandate these practices, the report said, so retailers can benefit from getting a head start on them, hopefully avoiding data breaches in the process.
More on Surveys
The Latest
AuctionsJan 09, 2026
Christie’s Names New Global Managing Director for LuxuryKimberly Miller has been promoted to the role.
CollectionsJan 09, 2026
Piece of the Week: Lionheart’s ‘Serenity’ Opal CharmThe “Serenity” charm set with 13 opals is a modern amulet offering protection, guidance, and intention, the brand said.
Brought to you by
Impacting Tomorrow TodayHow Jewelers of America’s 20 Under 40 are leading to ensure a brighter future for the jewelry industry.
CollectionsJan 08, 2026
Pandora’s New ‘Bridgerton’ Jewels Celebrate Bees, Bows, and Blooms“Bridgerton” actresses Hannah Dodd and Claudia Jessie star in the brand’s “Rules to Love By” campaign.
Weekly QuizJan 08, 2026
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
Events & AwardsJan 08, 2026
Ana Khouri To Receive 2026 Gem Award for High Jewelry ExcellenceFounded by jeweler and sculptor Ana Khouri, the brand is “expanding the boundaries of what high jewelry can be.”
TrendsJan 08, 2026
Stuller’s Color of the Year Is a Stark Contrast to Pantone’s WhiteThe jewelry manufacturer and supplier is going with a fiery shade it says symbolizes power and transformation.
Brought to you by
Roseco Releases New Full-Line CatalogRoseco’s 704-page catalog showcases new lab-grown diamonds, findings, tools & more—available in print or interactive digital editions.
CollectionsJan 08, 2026
Gracie Abrams To Front New Chanel Jewelry CampaignThe singer-songwriter will make her debut as the French luxury brand’s new ambassador in a campaign for its “Coco Crush” jewelry line.
MajorsJan 08, 2026
Diamond Council of America Names New Board DirectorsThe nonprofit’s new president and CEO, Annie Doresca, also began her role this month.
ColumnistsJan 07, 2026
Peter Smith: Physical Retail—The Beginning or the End?As the shopping mall model evolves and online retail grows, Smith shares his predictions for the future of physical stores.
Events & AwardsJan 07, 2026
Melee Adds 13 New Designers to NYC ShowThe trade show is slated for Jan. 31-Feb. 2 at The Lighthouse in New York City's Chelsea neighborhood.
TrendsJan 07, 2026
Amanda’s Style File: Go for GarnetJanuary’s birthstone comes in a rainbow of colors, from the traditional red to orange, purple, and green.
SourcingJan 07, 2026
Diamonds Do Good Releases 2025 Impact ReportThe annual report highlights how it supported communities in areas where natural diamonds are mined, crafted, and sold.
CrimeJan 06, 2026
2 Jewelers Arrested After TraxNYC Diamond District BrawlFootage of a fight breaking out in the NYC Diamond District was viewed millions of times on Instagram and Facebook.
MajorsJan 06, 2026
Rio Grande Says These Are the Top Personalization Tools for 2026The supplier has a curated list of must-have tools for jewelers doing in-house custom work this year.
MajorsJan 06, 2026
Zales Tests Out A New LookThe Signet Jewelers-owned store, which turned 100 last year, calls its new concept stores “The Edit.”
MajorsJan 06, 2026
LeachGarner Appoints New Director of SalesLinda Coutu is rejoining the precious metals provider as its director of sales.
SourcingJan 06, 2026
AGA Announces 2026 BoardThe governing board welcomed two new members, Claire Scragg and Susan Eisen.
TrendsJan 05, 2026
Amanda’s Style File: New Year’s EditionSparkle with festive diamond jewelry as we celebrate the beginning of 2026.
IndependentsJan 05, 2026
Jeweler Ben Nighthorse Campbell Dies at 92The master jeweler, Olympian, former senator, and Korean War veteran founded the brand Nighthorse Jewelry.
TrendsJan 05, 2026
Pinterest 2026 Trend Report: Brooches, Bold Gold, Cool BlueIn its annual report, Pinterest noted an increase in searches for brooches, heirloom jewelry, and ‘80s luxury.
MajorsJan 02, 2026
Marc Metrick Out as CEO of Saks Global Executive Chairman Richard Baker will take over the role as rumors swirl that a bankruptcy filing is imminent for the troubled retailer.
Events & AwardsJan 02, 2026
Jan Mohr, Couture’s ‘North Star,’ Dies at 71Mohr had just retired in June after more than two decades as Couture’s retailer liaison.
SourcingJan 02, 2026
IDCA Elects New President, Board of DirectorsShekhar Shah of Real Gems Inc. will serve as president of the Indian Diamond & Colorstone Association in 2026.
CollectionsJan 02, 2026
Lalaounis’ 2026 Good Luck Charm Speaks to ResilienceThis year’s good luck charm features the mythical horse Pegasus, and is our first Piece of the Week of the new year.
EditorsDec 31, 2025
The Top 5 Stories of 2025Articles about crime, engagement rings, and a necklace worn in the World Series generated the most interest among readers.
