Marks & Spencer Hit by Cyber-Attack: Retailer Unable to Take on New Workers
A cyber-attack that hit Marks & Spencer’s IT systems over a week ago has left the retailer unable to take on new workers, as the company continues to suffer disruption to its operations. According to reports, M&S has pulled all online job postings from its website as tech experts work to resolve problems on its platforms. A message on the company’s jobs website reads: "Sorry you can’t search or apply for roles right now, we’re working hard to be back online as soon as possible."
The development was confirmed by The Guardian, which reported that M&S had no jobs listed across its UK business on Thursday, despite having over 200 job openings the previous week. The company employs approximately 65,000 people in its London head office and stores. The news comes as M&S continues to deal with the aftermath of a major ransomware attack that affected its IT systems.
The attack, which M&S first reported over Easter weekend, resulted in the company stopping click-and-collect orders and affecting contactless payments. While contactless payments have since restarted, the company’s online ordering system remains offline, and the availability of some products in its stores has been impacted. According to The Guardian, M&S took some of its systems offline in response to the "cyber incident".
The Metropolitan police confirmed on Wednesday that it was investigating a cyber-attack on M&S. The incident has also raised concerns about the security of other retailers’ systems, with rival retailer Co-op shutting off parts of its IT systems after an attempted hack. Co-op reported that some of its back office and call centre services had been affected, but that all stores, including its grocery and funeral outlets, were trading as usual.
As the investigation into the cyber-attack continues, M&S staff are being ordered to keep cameras on and verify identities on all remote work meetings, according to a report by the BBC. The incident highlights the growing threat of cyber-attacks to businesses, and the need for companies to prioritize their online security.
M&S has a significant presence in the UK retail market, with a large workforce and extensive operations. The company’s inability to take on new workers will likely have a significant impact on its business, particularly at a time when many retailers are looking to bolster their staff ahead of the summer season. As The Guardian notes, the incident serves as a reminder of the importance of robust online security measures in protecting businesses from the increasing threat of cyber-attacks.
In response to the incident, M&S has confirmed that it is working hard to resolve the problems caused by the cyber-attack and to restore its online systems as soon as possible. The company has not provided further details on the nature of the attack or the expected timeline for a resolution. However, according to sources, M&S is working closely with cybersecurity experts to investigate the incident and to prevent similar attacks in the future.
The incident serves as a timely reminder of the need for businesses to prioritize their online security and to be prepared for the potential consequences of a cyber-attack. As the investigation into the M&S incident continues, The Guardian will provide updates on the developing story.
(Source: The Guardian)
