In today’s digital-first retail world, even a brief system outage can result in massive financial losses, frustrated customers, and lasting brand damage. While many retailers rely heavily on cloud-based systems, recent incidents—like those at Marks & Spencer—highlight the dangers of overdependence. In 2023, M&S suffered an outage due to a third-party failure, halting online sales and loyalty programs. Then in 2025, a major ransomware attack crippled both digital and in-store operations, costing the company £300 million in lost profit and wiping over £1 billion in market value. These events underscore the critical need for offline resilience as part of any modern retail strategy.
To counter these risks, offline storage solutions from companies like iStorage Kanguru offer secure, hardware encrypted localized and offline data storage that ensures retailers maintain access to vital data during disruptions. From FIPS 140-3 and FIPS 140-2 certified flash drives to high-capacity secure hard drives, these tools help businesses continue processing transactions and serving customers when online systems fail. In an age of rising cyber threats and technical dependencies, offline storage isn’t just a backup—it’s a strategic necessity for protecting revenue, preserving customer trust, and ensuring operational continuity.