Panera Bread hit by ransomware attack causing digital outage

TLDR:

• Panera Bread experienced a digital outage in March due to a ransomware attack.
• The attack encrypted many of Panera’s virtual machines, impacting digital channels, in-store kiosks, loyalty programs, and more.

Panera Bread faced a digital outage in March due to a ransomware attack that encrypted the company’s virtual machines, preventing access to data and applications. The attack resulted in a three-day outage that affected the fast-casual chain’s website, app, in-store kiosks, loyalty programs, catering, and gift card sales. Guests could still order at registers, but employees faced challenges in accessing schedules and loyalty accounts. Panera’s silence on the issue has raised speculation about the incident being a cyberattack. The company’s digital systems were restored by the following Tuesday, with loyalty members being offered a procedure to earn missed rewards points. This incident comes at a sensitive time for Panera as it was preparing for a menu overhaul and potential initial public offering. Ransomware attacks like these highlight the vulnerability of businesses that rely heavily on technology and digital data, with potential financial repercussions in recovery efforts. Companies can enhance their resiliency by monitoring critical systems and making their organizations challenging targets for hackers.