3 strategies to protect your data after Black Friday

The post-Black Friday period is often treated as a rest phase for retail, but it is precisely when cyber risks increase. According to the Consumer Pulse report, 73% of consumers state they fear digital fraud during year-end shopping, and the country recorded a 7.7% growth in suspected digital fraud between Black Friday Thursday and Cyber Monday, compared to the rest of 2024. 

These numbers show that post-campaign monitoring is as important as security strategies during the sales peak. For José Miguel, presales manager at Unentel, it is not enough to breathe a sigh of relief after the sales peak, as that is exactly when the most silent attacks begin. “We see many cases where retailers end the day celebrating the results, and minutes later, internal systems are already being scanned by intruders,” he states.

To transform this risk window into a strategic advantage, three fundamental practices are recommended:

1. Maintain continuous monitoring, even after the peak

During Black Friday, teams are usually on maximum alert, but when sales volume drops, the same does not happen with the level of attention. It is at this moment that hackers exploit forgotten accesses, temporary passwords, and logged-in environments. A 24-hour active monitoring system ensures no suspicious activity goes unnoticed.

2. Review logs and identify out-of-pattern behavior

The high volume of transactions makes analyzing suspicious events difficult during the peak. In the post-Black Friday period, it is time to review logs in detail and identify anomalous patterns, such as off-hours access, authentications from different locations, or improper data transfers.

3. Terminate temporary accesses and review integrations

Seasonal campaigns create a series of credentials and integrations with partners, marketplaces, and external APIs. Leaving these accesses active after the event is a common mistake that increases the risk of intrusion. An immediate audit after the campaign ends is essential to mitigate vulnerabilities.

“Treating the post-campaign period as a time to relax is a mistake. Digital security must keep pace with the business, even on days when sales decline,” concludes José.