The recent revelation that Marks & Spencer—one of Britain’s most iconic retailers—suffered a cyberattack that could cost it up to £300 million in annual operating profit is a reminder that no amount of cybersecurity spending can fully inoculate a company from human error. The attack, reportedly traced to a third-party vendor and facilitated by social engineering, underscores a hard truth: cybersecurity is necessary, but not sufficient.

Despite boosting its cyber investment by 75% and quadrupling its team over the past two years, M&S was not spared. Nor were other well-known retailers like Harrods and the Co-op grocery group. These incidents reflect a deeper problem in the digital defense playbook—one that requires a broader, integrated approach to risk.