Let’s start with the cliché that too often proves true: "Put essential cybersecurity measures in place before the moment arrives when prevention is no longer possible."
Askul, a major Japanese e-commerce and logistics company, has finally restarted part of its online services after a ransomware attack shut them down for 45 days. During this time, the company could not process normal orders or ship products to customers. Can you imagine your company not earning revenue for more than six weeks because of one cyber incident?
The attack did more than disrupt operations — it also led to a data breach. Customer names and contact information were exposed, and some of the leaked data even appeared online. Askul had to fall back to a temporary, very limited ordering system using fax, offering only 37 basic items. What would your organization do if it suddenly had to return to pen-and-paper processes just to keep business moving?
As of early December (2025), Askul restored its Warehouse Management System with stronger security controls and reopened online ordering for corporate clients. However, deliveries are still slower than before, and its consumer-facing services are not yet operational. The company also delayed its financial reporting as it tries to understand the full impact of the disruption. Would your business survive a similar delay in sales, logistics, and reporting?
This incident shows how a single ransomware attack can have long-lasting effects, not only on technology but on revenue, trust, and daily operations. It’s a reminder that cybersecurity is not just an IT problem — it is a business survival problem. If this happened to you tomorrow, would your company be ready?
Headlines:
"On October 19 (2025), the company found itself infected by ransomware and the next day advised it couldn’t accept orders or ship products. On October 22 (2025) the company said its Warehouse Management System was the problem, which meant it had to suspend its logistics services.
On October 30th (2025), the company revealed the attack led to a major data breach, with customers’ names and contact details leaked..."
"The incident is broadly comparable to the ransomware attack on British retailer Marks & Spencer, which cost it £136 million ($177.2 million) to clean up and saw profits slump.
Askul will have a similar bill to pay, and it may well be larger because the company’s initial outage ran for a few days more than Marks & Spencer’s, and full recovery also looks like it will take longer."
No comments:
Post a Comment