Retail

Security challenges

Retail is one of the most attacked industries in North America. Is your network ready?

Every transaction, every customer record, and every connected device in your store is a target. These are the threats putting retail businesses at risk right now.

Evaluate your provider

Ransomware exposure

Ransomware is hitting retail harder than ever before

Retail stores rely on POS systems, inventory platforms, and payment networks. Retail cannot afford these systems going offline. Attackers know this. Ransomware now appears in nearly half of all confirmed retail breaches, and ransom demands are climbing fast.

44% of all confirmed breaches in 2025 involved ransomware,

up from 32% the year prior. The median retail ransom demand doubled year over year to $2 million. (Verizon 2025 Data Breach Investigations Report, Sophos State of Ransomware in Retail 2025)

PCI-DSS compliance

Every retailer that takes card payments must meet PCI-DSS, regardless of size

PCI-DSS applies to every business that processes card payments, from a single-store independent to a national chain. Most small and mid-size retailers assume compliance is managed by their payment processor. It is not. The obligation sits with you.

PCI-DSS non-compliance fines run from $5,000 to $100,000 per month,

escalating the longer the gap remains open. Losing card processing rights is also on the table. (PCI Security Standards Council, 2025)

Third-party risk

Your suppliers and vendors are an open door into your network

Retail supply chains run on third-party integrations: payment processors, inventory systems, logistics platforms, and EPOS vendors. Each one is a potential entry point. Most retailers have no visibility into which third parties have access and when.

97% of top US retailers experienced a third-party data breach

in the past year. Third-party involvement in retail breaches reached 52.4% in 2024. (Electroiq 2025, SentinelOne 2025)

Credential theft

Stolen staff credentials are the most common way attackers get in

High staff turnover, shared login credentials, and unsecured Wi-Fi across retail locations create constant exposure. Attackers do not need to break in when they can simply log in using stolen or reused passwords from a former employee.

55% of retail breaches involved compromised employee credentials

in 2025. 22% of all breaches started with credential abuse. (Heimdal Security 2025, Verizon 2025 DBIR)

Connected device risk

POS terminals, cameras, and IoT devices expand your attack surface every year

Smart cameras, digital signage, inventory scanners, and POS terminals all connect to the same network as your payment systems. Most run outdated firmware. A compromised device at one store can be a gateway into every other location you operate.

40% of retail businesses feel least prepared for attacks on connected devices,

more than any other sector. 40% of attacks in retail targeted point of sale systems. (SentinelOne 2025, Heimdal Security 2025)

Fully managed security service provider

One provider managing your entire retail network and security across one location or many.

MCK delivers two services that work together: a managed network that keeps your stores, POS systems, and payment infrastructure connected and reliable, and a managed security layer that monitors, detects, and responds to threats around the clock. PCI-DSS alignment is built into how MCK configures and monitors your environment from day one, so compliance is not something you chase separately.

What we manage

Network and security services, fully managed for retail.

MCK takes on the day-to-day management of your retail network and security operations. Your store teams keep selling. We handle everything underneath.

Managed Networks

Reliable, monitored network infrastructure for retail stores and multi-site chains of any size. Built for the connectivity demands of POS systems, payment terminals, inventory platforms, and in-store Wi-Fi.

Core network services

Managed WAN

Managed LAN

Managed Switches

Managed Access Points (Wi-Fi)

Secure Gateway Services

LTE / 5G Gateways

Advanced network SERVICEs

SD-WAN

ZTNA

DLP

SASE

Managed Security

Around-the-clock threat detection, monitoring, and response across your entire retail environment. PCI-DSS aligned controls, customer data protection, and security coverage across every store on your network.

Core security services

Managed SOC

Managed SIEM

MDR

EDR / XDR

Cloud Security Monitoring

Advanced security features

ITDR

PAM

Firewall Management

Compliance Monitoring

Not sure if your current setup covers your retail network and PCI-DSS obligations?

MCK's security review looks at your network coverage, security monitoring, and compliance posture across your retail locations. One store or several, it is a straight assessment of where you stand. No commitment.

Book a security review

The technology behind MCK

Built on two platforms that handle the complexity your retail team should not have to.

Fortinet Security Fabric

MCK deploys and manages the Fortinet Security Fabric across your retail environment. The same firewall, SD-WAN, and endpoint protection platform used by major retailers and payment processors worldwide, fully managed so your store teams and back-office staff do not need to touch it.

CORTAI AI platform

CORTAI is an independent AI platform that powers the detection and response capability inside MCK's security services. It correlates signals across your retail network, POS systems, and endpoints to surface real threats fast, cutting the time between detection and containment.

Three multi-colored stripes of different lengths and colors.

Why MCK

Your security partner for single or multi-site retail businesses.

MCK is built by people who have managed networks and security for retail businesses of all sizes, each with their own compliance obligations. That experience shapes how we design, monitor, and support every engagement.

Single and multi-site retail coverage without the complexity

Managing network and security across single or multiple retail locations, back offices, and remote staff is where most providers fall short. MCK is built for this: one managed service, one support team, consistent monitoring across every store you operate.

Single point of contact for all sites. No per-location vendor juggling.

Local oversight across the USA and Canada

MCK operates across the USA and Canada with locally based teams overseeing your account. Monitoring, detection, and initial response are handled by CORTAI's AI-driven platform, with MCK's team managing escalation, communication, and anything that requires a direct decision or human intervention. You always have a local point of contact who knows your setup.

USA and Canada based oversight. AI-driven monitoring with human escalation.

PCI-DSS alignment built into the service from day one

PCI-DSS requirements are factored into every retail network MCK deploys and manages. Network segmentation, access controls, and audit logging are part of the standard service, not a separate engagement or an add-on invoice.

PCI-DSS aligned network and security configuration as standard.

Monitoring that does not wait for a ticket

MCK's SOC watches your retail environment day and night. Threats and network issues are identified and acted on before they affect your store operations or payment systems. Your staff should not have to log a ticket for something to get fixed.

Proactive monitoring across network and security. 24/7 SOC coverage.

Frequently asked questions

Questions from retail businesses evaluating MCK.

Answers to what comes up most often when single-store independents and multi-location retail chains are working through their decision.

Can you manage multiple store locations under one contract?

Yes. MCK manages network and security across all your retail locations under a single managed service agreement. Every store is monitored from the same NOC and SOC, reported on in the same dashboard, and supported by the same team. You do not manage separate vendor relationships per location. Onboarding is staged store by store so your trading operations are not affected all at once.

How does MCK help with PCI-DSS compliance across our retail locations?

MCK configures and monitors your retail network in line with PCI-DSS technical requirements from day one. Network segmentation between payment systems and general store traffic, access controls, firewall management, and audit logging are all built into the standard managed service. MCK does not replace your payment processor's compliance obligations, but the network and security layer MCK manages is configured to support your PCI-DSS posture at every location. We can walk you through exactly what is in scope during your security review.

What does onboarding look like? Will it disrupt our store operations?

MCK's onboarding is designed around retail trading hours. We start with a network discovery and assessment across your sites, then stage the transition location by location. Hardware changes and configuration work are scheduled outside of peak trading periods. Your POS systems, payment terminals, and inventory platforms remain accessible throughout. Any planned maintenance window is agreed in advance with your team. Most retail clients are fully transitioned within four to six weeks depending on the number of sites.

How do you handle the security risk that comes from high staff turnover in retail?

High staff turnover is one of the most common security gaps in retail. MCK addresses this through identity and access controls that are actively monitored rather than set and forgotten. Access rights are tied to roles, not individuals, and MCK's security layer flags unusual credential activity in real time. Two of the advanced security capabilities within MCK's managed service, Identity Threat Detection and Response (ITDR) and Privileged Access Management (PAM), are built specifically to catch the kind of credential misuse that comes from shared logins, former staff access, and unsecured store devices. Both are included in the managed service, not charged as extras.

What happens when a threat is detected across our retail network?

When a confirmed threat is identified, the response starts immediately without waiting for you to raise a ticket. Detection is handled by CORTAI's AI-driven platform, which correlates signals across your retail network, endpoints, and connected systems to surface threats in real time. Once confirmed, containment begins at the network or endpoint level, affected systems are isolated if needed, and your designated contact is notified with a clear summary of what was found and what action was taken. For lower-severity alerts, the issue is investigated and resolved in the background and included in your next report. High-severity incidents get a direct call from MCK's team. Your store operations and payment systems are the priority throughout.

Managed Security Service Provider: Retail

Retail networks that keep transactions running, customer data protected, and card payments compliant.