Thesis Pitch: How ASOS Can Protect Consumer Data Amid Growing Online Security Challenges

Subject: MBA Research Proposal – Cybersecurity Challenges in E-commerce: How ASOS Can Protect Consumer Data Amid Growing Online Security Challenges

Dear Supervisor,

I hope you are doing well.

I would like to propose a research topic for my MBA thesis titled “Cybersecurity Challenges in E-commerce: How ASOS Can Protect Consumer Data Amid Growing Online Security Challenges.” Considering the increasing prevalence of cyberattacks as well as the growing digital footprint of e-commerce businesses in the United Kingdom, ensuring security of consumer data has become more critical than ever. The UK retail sector has experienced significant cybersecurity challenges in recent years. In 2023, fraudulent activities and cyberattacks resulted in losses totalling £11.3 billion for UK retailers. Specifically, luxury fashion retailers suffered average losses of £2.8 million, clothing, and accessory retailers £2.6 million, and health and beauty brands £1.1 million each. Moreover, during the 2024 Black Friday period, UK shoppers lost over £11.5 million to fraud, nearly £1 million more than the previous year. This research will therefore explore how ASOS, as a major player in the e-commerce industry, addresses these challenges and safeguards the personal data of its customers.

Rationale:

With the rapid expansion of online retail, e-commerce platforms face constant threats, ranging from data breaches to payment fraud. ASOS, as a prominent e-commerce platform, is not immune to these threats. The UK retail sector has faced an average of one cyberattack every eight days, highlighting the urgency for robust cybersecurity measures. Additionally, a survey revealed that 59% of UK online consumers would stop shopping at a retailer if it were a victim of a cyberattack, and 49% do not trust retailers to keep their personal details safe. ​

ASOS uses large volume of customer data in business planning and strategic management, thus, the company presents an ideal case study to explore how such e-commerce businesses can effectively tackle constantly changing cybersecurity issues. Ensuring data protection is not only essential for maintaining customer trust but also for complying with evolving regulations like the GDPR.

Objectives:

The research will identify the specific cybersecurity threats facing ASOS and evaluate the measures it currently employs to protect consumer data. It will also benchmark ASOS’s practices against industry standards and propose recommendations for enhancing their security posture to mitigate future risks.

Contribution to Knowledge:

This study will contribute to the ongoing discussion about cybersecurity in e-commerce by providing insights into the specific challenges and solutions applicable to large online retailers like ASOS. The findings will be valuable for e-commerce businesses looking to strengthen their cybersecurity frameworks and enhance consumer trust.

This research is particularly timely given the ever-growing online security challenges in today’s digital landscape. I look forward to receiving your feedback and approval to move forward with this topic.

Thank you for considering my proposal.

Best regards,

Peter XYZ
Course Name
Sunderland University