Marks and Spencer has temporarily suspended online orders via its website and app as it continues to address a “cyber incident” that occurred during the bank holiday weekend. Contactless payment services at stores throughout Ireland and the UK have also been disrupted by the attack.
The popular retailer issued an apology to customers, stating: “Our product range remains available to browse online. We are truly sorry for the inconvenience.” While customers can still view products, they cannot complete purchases through digital channels.
Details about the nature and extent of the cyber-security issue have not been disclosed by the company. On Tuesday, M&S announced it would take “some of our processes offline” as a protective measure for employees, partners, suppliers, and the business.
In an email to customers, CEO Stuart Machin explained: “I’m writing to let you know that over the last few days M&S has been managing a cyber incident. To protect you and the business, it was necessary to temporarily make some small changes to our store operations, and I am sincerely sorry if you experienced any inconvenience.”
The company has reassured customers that no action is required from them at this time and promised to provide updates if the situation changes. M&S has stated that their “cyber experts” are working diligently to restore online and app shopping functionality.
The news has had immediate financial implications, with M&S shares falling 4.8% following the announcement of the service suspension.