Mentoring the Next Generation of Leaders
Profiles in Leadership: Mustapha Kebbeh, CISO, Brinks

Mitigating Supply Chain Risk; Mentoring the Next Generation of Leaders

Ransomware and nation-state threats are daunting. But the threat that concerns Mustapha Kebbeh the most is supply chain risk. The Brinks CISO discusses how he has tackled this, as well as the challenges of tool complexity and peer collaboration.

In an interview with Information Security Media Group as part of the CyberEdBoard's ongoing Profiles in Leadership series, Kebbeh discusses:

● The unique challenge of supply chain risk;
● Strategies for teaming up with business-side peers;
● The rewards of mentoring and having been mentored.

As CISO for a global enterprise, Kebbeh heads vision and strategy for all IT cybersecurity, enterprise risk management, and IT enterprise architecture affecting 75,000 employees around the world. His goal is to protect information data and technologies from actual and potential threats, both internal and external to the organization. govinfosecurity.com

PCI Security Standards Council
Resource Guide: Defending Against Ransomware
Ransomware attacks have been front and center in the news recently due to high-profile breaches that have impacted businesses across the globe. These headline grabbing attacks have been part of a larger global increase in ransomware crime. With a dramatic increase in security challenges due to the disruptions caused in part by the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a significant increase in ransomware attacks.

In 2020 there was an estimated 150% increase in ransomware attacks and 2021 has seen this activity continue to trend standard. This surge in ransomware activity has left many businesses and governments around the world scrambling for answers as they struggle to stay a step ahead of organized cybercriminal gangs. These cyber threats are very real and require immediate action to better protect against these ongoing criminal activities. In this resource guide, PCI Security Standards Council shares key considerations and educational resources to help better understand and protect against ransomware attacks. blog.pcisecuritystandards.org

Shipping Delays, Fraud, Stolen Packages
Fears of shipping delays, fraud, stolen boxes mount for 80% of consumers

The majority of holiday shoppers are fearing shipping delays.

A survey from data firm Loqate has revealed how consumers are planning to shop for the upcoming holiday season. It also revealed what they're afraid of.

"In the age of digitization and ongoing global supply chain and shipping disruptions, this holiday season is shaping up to be the year that will make or break many retailers," said Matthew Furneaux, global commercial director at Loqate, which surveyed 1,000 American consumers. "At the same time, retailers have an enormous opportunity to build customer trust and loyalty by minimizing risks and delivering on rising expectations for shopping flexibility and delivery reliability."

Here are the survey's findings:

● Late deliveries are a concern for 87% of consumers, and 41% of shoppers are unlikely to purchase again from a retailer that delivered a late package.

● With the influx of holiday packages comes fraud concerns. Although many delivery companies utilize lockboxes and signature requirements to prevent theft, 80% of consumers are concerned about packages being stolen.

● Consumers are getting an early start. In attempts to avoid the shipping delays and sold-out items that are expected this year, 88% of U.S. consumers plan to start their holiday shopping well before December. In anticipation of high traffic, retailers should leverage customer data to send tailored, relevant promotions that reward loyal customers for shopping early.

● 34% of consumers plan to shop on brand websites, 18% on mobile sites and 20% on mobile apps. When it comes to communication, email is the preferred method for receiving order updates for 56% of consumers, with SMS as the second-most preferred.

● Shoppers expect flexibility across channels but plan to do less in-store shopping than last year. Baby Boomers are not ready to entirely give up their recently gained digital skills. Loving the convenience and ease that comes with e-commerce, 34% will be shopping strictly online this year, whereas only 17% intend to walk into a brick-and-mortar store.

Projections are looking good. Despite last year's economic challenges, retail sales during 2020's November-December holiday season grew 8.3%, beating out 2019's $789.4 billion earnings. Fifty-four percent of shoppers expect to spend the same amount of money as last year, and 24% expect to spend more. hometextilestoday.com

E-Commerce Spin-Offs
The E-commerce shopping spree
Retailers have gotten really good at selling stuff online. So much so, investors want them to separate from the business units that do just that.

Why it matters: Spinning off these crown jewels may jeopardize both the physical and e-commerce sides of the companies in the long run by breaking the benefits of hybrid operations, analysts say.

Driving the news: Saks Fifth Avenue's e-commerce unit is interviewing potential bankers for an IPO, WSJ reported.

Details: Saks, which was taken private early last year, split off its e-commerce division in March. The value of Saks.com at the time, when it also sold a minority stake to venture capital firm Insight Partners, was $2 billion.

Yes, but: Benefitting from a higher multiple on the e-commerce platform is a short-term benefit, says Zachary Warring at CFRA Research.

What to watch: Whether Macy's follows in the footsteps of Saks. If so, look out for potential conflicts of interests, such as certain items sold only online, dismissing floor associates and thereby degrading experiences of customers and pushing more customers online, says Smith.

The bottom line: Operationally, the companies would be better off continuing to take a hybrid approach and staying together, says Warring. axios.com

Shopping online for the holidays? Expect some empty virtual shelves

In Case You Missed It:
America's Illegal Immigrant Problem - Impacting Retailers

15 Armed Robberies - 4 States - 1 Murder - Crew of 12 Illegal Honduran Immigrants
Court Case Concludes With Ring Leader Getting 460 Months & The Only One to Take it to Trial

DOJ: 'Federal Prosecution of La Placita Robbery Concludes with Final Sentencings'
Bowling Green, Kentucky- Two Honduran nationals, Jonny Alexander Reyes-Martinez and Jorge Santos Caballero-Melgar were sentenced on Monday in U.S. District Court in Bowling Green. Reyes was sentenced to 262 months in prison for his role in a conspiracy to commit a series of armed robberies throughout the southeast. Also sentenced on Monday was Jorge Santos Caballero-Melgar for his role as the organizer and leader of the group. Caballero was the only defendant to take his case to trial and was sentenced to 460 months in prison.

These sentencings culminated the prosecution of 12 persons who were charged with conspiring to commit a total of 15 armed robberies in Kentucky, Tennessee, Indiana, and North Carolina between December 2016 and September 2017. Most of the defendants resided in Nashville, Tennessee. All were present in the United States illegally. Sentences imposed in the case ranged from 48 months to 460 months.

The evidence at trial established that Caballero was the organizer and leader of the robbery conspiracy. Caballero was present for all but one of the 15 charged robberies directing the other co-conspirators from outside the store. Evidence at trial showed that Caballero identified the stores to be robbed; provided firearms to the others for use during each robbery; and drove co-conspirators to and from robbery locations. Cell phone tracking evidence presented at trial showed the movement of the co-conspirators from Nashville to various robbery locations and back. Surveillance video, together with phone records and testimony at trial, established that Caballero on at least one occasion ordered a victim to turn over the cash in the store to the robbers who were inside with her. After each robbery, Caballero met at another location with co-conspirators and divided the proceeds of the robbery. Caballero has illegally entered the United States and been removed five times. justice.gov

Reno, NV: Police Looking For Multiple Women Involved In $2 Million Robberies At Meadowood And Summit Sierra Malls
Reno Police are looking for three to four women involved in multiple robberies of local retail store at the Meadowood Mall and Summit Sierra Mall that occurred on three separate dates in September and October. Reno Police say that two of the four females have been identified and they have probable cause for the arrest of the two that have been identified. Police describe the robberies saying that the suspects enter stores with large shopping type bags, threaten the employees and steal items from the stores using the bags they brought to carry the stolen merchandise. To date, the suspects have stolen a combined total value of property over $2,000,000 from retail stores in Reno, Las Vegas and California. ktvn.com

Calabasas, CA: Authorities Searching For Suspect In Line Of Cosmetic Store Thefts
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department officials are seeking public help in identifying a suspect in a line of cosmetic store thefts in the Calabasas area. On separate occasions a man was seen stealing from at least two stores within the same timeframe. The man was seen entering a Sephora store, located at 4799 Commons Way on September 29, October 1 and October 2, filling his backpack with merchandise on each separate occasion, eventually leaving without paying for any of the items. On October 13, the man was again seen entering a different store, an Ulta Beauty, located at 23741 Calabasas Road. He again filled his backpack with items from around the store before fleeing the scene on a bicycle. losangeles.cbslocal.com

Canada: Toronto: Police bust 'organized hierarchy' of identity thieves in year-long probe
In a release, police say the group, which ranged from "low-level identity thieves to counterfeit identification makers and distributors" committed millions of dollars of theft and fraud. They were "purchasing identity information and producing identity documents and either opening bank accounts in financial institutions, or taking over bank accounts," explained Inspector Peter Callaghan. Callaghan said the group also stole and tampered with tens of thousands of gift cards. The investigation, dubbed Project Hydra, began in September 2020 and is ongoing. So far, police have arrested four people between the ages of 25 and 46. In total they face nearly 100 theft and fraud charges. Police allege over 37,000 stolen and tampered with gift cards have been recovered, as well as $70,000 in cash and a Porsche valued at $100,000. toronto.citynews.ca

Athens-Clarke County, GA Police seeking suspects in $50,000 Burglary of Boutique

Norridge, IL: Norridge and Harwood Heights Police: Two charged with theft of about $800 worth of Nicorette gum