M&S Cyber Attack: Is Your Website Secure Enough?

In today’s digital-first world, your website isn’t just a marketing tool — it’s your shopfront, customer service desk, and transaction hub all rolled into one. When it's not secure, your entire business is at risk.

Just ask Marks & Spencer.

The UK retail giant recently disclosed it expects to take a £300 million hit to profits following a devastating cyber-attack that took its online systems offline, disrupted deliveries, and exposed personal customer data. Despite recording a 22% rise in pre-tax profits just before the incident, the breach has left a significant dent in its operations and reputation.

“We have tackled this head-on with incredible spirit,” said M&S CEO Stuart Machin, “but this has been a bump in the road.”

The attack, which took place over the Easter weekend, forced M&S to halt website orders, affected deliveries through partners like Ocado, and compromised sensitive customer information — including names, addresses, dates of birth, and order histories. The company expects disruptions to continue through June and into July.

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If this can happen to M&S — a business with significant resources, robust infrastructure, and a strong financial position — it raises a pressing question for all businesses:

Is your website secure enough?

What Businesses Can Learn from M&S

1. Website Security is Business-Critical
   Cybersecurity isn’t just an IT concern — it’s a bottom-line issue. M&S expects to lose £300 million, despite having insurance in place.

2. Customer Trust is Fragile
   Once customer data is compromised, rebuilding trust is slow and costly. Prevention is always better than cure.

3. Downtime = Lost Revenue
   Disruptions in online ordering and delivery systems cost far more than just tech fixes — they damage sales, partnerships, and reputation.

Why We Build Websites on Umbraco CMS

At Virtualnet, we help businesses avoid these kinds of risks by building secure, scalable websites using Umbraco, a .NET-based content management system backed by Microsoft’s trusted security infrastructure.

Here’s why our clients choose Umbraco:

✅ Built on Microsoft’s .NET Framework
Robust and regularly updated for enterprise-grade security.

✅ Ongoing Support & Maintenance
We don’t “launch and leave.” Our team provides updates, patches, and proactive monitoring.

✅ Secure Cloud Hosting with Azure
Seamless, scalable, and secure hosting for businesses that prioritize uptime and protection.

✅ Customised Without Compromise
Get a website tailored to your needs without opening security gaps.

Make Website Security Your Competitive Advantage

At a time when businesses are judged not just by what they sell but how well they protect their customers, secure websites aren’t optional — they’re essential.

The M&S cyber-attack is a warning shot.

If your website isn’t built on a secure platform and maintained by a team focused on long-term protection, you’re leaving your business vulnerable — and the cost could be substantial.

🔒 Let’s Talk About Securing Your Website
We’re here to help you build a secure, high-performing website with Umbraco, backed by the strength of Microsoft and a team that prioritises your protection.

Get in touch today — before a cyber-attack forces your hand.