Cyber security in retail – security as the basis for digital innovation

Transformation and digital innovations have become an integral part of today's retail sector. Whether networked POS systems, cloud-based platforms, digital price tags or AI-based solutions – new technologies increase efficiency and open up opportunities. But with every digital interface, the risk of cyber attacks also grows. In 2023, at least 50% of companies in Ireland, France, the Netherlands, the USA and Germany were victims of a cyber attack (Hiscox, cited by Statista, 2025).  

At EuroShop, it becomes clear how closely digitalisation and security are linked. Protecting sensitive customer data is particularly important in the retail sector, as phishing or manipulated payment systems not only cause financial damage – they also jeopardise customer trust. The need for a holistic cyber security strategy is growing: worldwide, spending on cyber security has increased to around 95 billion US dollars over the past eight years (Canalys, cited by Statista, 2025).  

Worms University of Applied Sciences is also focusing intensively on this topic. Since the 2025/2026 winter semester, Prof. Dr. Elisabeth Drayer has been strengthening the Department of Computer Science with a professorship in cyber security. In addition, the ‘Cyber Security’ group is conducting research into the IT security of local and distributed systems as well as organisational aspects of digital protection measures. In addition, the university is involved in hosting specialist events, such as this year's programme meeting of the Fraunhofer Academy's Cybersecurity Learning Lab.  

Worms University of Applied Sciences looks forward to welcoming you to EuroShop in Düsseldorf next year and discussing the future of cyber security in retail with you. You will find us in pavilion 4 at booth B12. 

If you have any questions or suggestions, please feel free to contact us at: projekteimhm@hs-worms.de  

 

References: 

Canalys. (9 June, 2025). Forecasted global spending on cybersecurity from 2017 to 2025 (in billions of US dollars) [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved on 24 October 2025, from https://de.statista.com/statistik/daten/studie/1192445/umfrage/ausgaben-fuer-cybersicherheit-weltweit/   

Hiscox. (10 October, 2023). Percentage of companies that have experienced a cyber attack in the last 12 months in selected countries in 2023 [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved on 24 October 2025, from  https://de.statista.com/statistik/daten/studie/1230157/umfrage/unternehmen-die-in-den-letzten-12-monaten-eine-cyber-attacke-erlebt-haben/  

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