A ransomware attack has significantly disrupted operations at Starbucks, compelling the global coffee retailer to revert to manual methods for employee scheduling and payroll management. This incident is part of a broader wave of cyberattacks affecting companies around the world, particularly as the holiday season approaches.
The attack, which targeted Blue Yonder—an industry leader in supply chain management software—occurred on November 21. According to reports, the breach affected the private cloud infrastructure provided to several clients, including Starbucks, but did not compromise Blue Yonder’s public cloud services. Blue Yonder serves a vast clientele, including numerous Fortune 500 companies, and manages systems critical for the supply chains of leading consumer goods manufacturers and major retailers.
The consequences of this cyber incident have been pronounced, particularly for Starbucks, where backend systems crucial for employee payroll and scheduling were incapacitated. Consequently, store managers have had to resort to traditional methods of tracking employee hours and payments. The ramifications extend beyond Starbucks, with other prominent retailers like Morrisons and Sainsbury’s facing disruptions to their warehouse management systems and implementing backup protocols in an effort to manage the fallout.
Blue Yonder, which was acquired by Panasonic in September 2021, has mobilized efforts to address the attack, enlisting the assistance of the cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike for support in recovery. The company has also initiated defensive strategies to prevent similar breaches in the future, although a timeline for full restoration of services has not been clearly established. In an official statement, Blue Yonder confirmed that they are diligently working on the issue but provided no updates regarding the expected timeline for resolution.
New Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol is taking immediate steps to remedy the situation, ensuring that employees are compensated accurately for their work despite the challenges posed by the ransomware attack. The company has advised staff to manage their payroll manually during the outage while actively working to minimize further disruptions.
This incident is part of a worrying trend of cybersecurity challenges faced by major food service companies. Other establishments, including well-known entities like McDonald’s and Panera, have encountered technical difficulties related to cyber threats, with Panera potentially facing a class-action lawsuit stemming from its earlier incidents.
Timing plays a critical role in these attacks, with studies indicating that nearly 86% of ransomware instances occur during holidays and weekends. Cybercriminals are reported to have made approximately $1.1 billion in ransom payments last year alone. Security experts emphasize the importance of preparedness, noting that organizations must develop tested incident response plans, backup procedures, and recovery strategies to mitigate damage and ensure business continuity following such attacks.
Based on the MITRE ATT&CK framework, potential tactics employed in this attack may include initial access strategies to infiltrate systems, along with methods for persistence to maintain access after initial compromise. The need for effective recovery measures and resilience in cybersecurity protocols has never been more essential for businesses operating in today’s increasingly digital landscape.
