New KnowBe4 Report Reveals Stolen Credentials Emerge as Top Concern in Global Retail Sector. The average cost of a retail data breach reached $3.48 million in 2024, an 18% increase from 2023. Employee susceptibility to phishing attacks dropped from 42.4% to just 5.2% in large retail organizations, while small and medium-sized retailers saw similar improvements after one year of continuous training. The research shows an alarming increase in cyberattacks in the retail sector, with attack frequency rising by 56% in 2023 compared to the previous year. This puts retail in the top five industries targeted by cybercriminals. The report demonstrates the significant impact of security awareness training on reducing human risk in retail organizations. It also demonstrates that human risk management must be a core component of any retail organization’s security strategy. To download the full KnowBe 4 Global Retail Report 2025, click here. For confidential support call the Samaritans on 08457 90 90 90, visit a local Samaritans branch or see www.samaritans.org. For support in the U.S., call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255.