Iconic Retailer Ann Summers Enhances Cybersecurity Posture with Edgio Partnership
CUSTOMER SNAPSHOT
Ann Summers is an iconic empire and multi-channel retailer with a mission to empower women – being there to support, inspire and liberate. This is something they have been proudly and relentlessly driving for over 50 years.
Trailblazing since 1972, no other brand has had more conversations with their customers about sex, empowering generations to push boundaries and drive change. In the 80’s they brought sex to the high street, creating female-orientated shopping environments which encouraged women to talk about sexual pleasure, and now boast 82 stores across the UK and Ireland.
Beyond its physical presence, Ann Summers has built a thriving online business through its legacy AnnSummers.com and newly launched Knickerbox.com websites, as well as through third-party partnerships with the likes of ASOS, Zalando and many others. Finally, it’s now infamous direct selling business and the home of the ‘Ann Summers party’, is an open place for people to talk freely about their sex lives and has provided financial independence to hundreds of thousands of people since its inception in 1981.
Ann Summers' Challenge
As cyber threats evolved, Ann Summers, like many high-profile brands, found itself increasingly vulnerable to sophisticated attacks. Despite having a strong suite of enterprise-level solutions, these were broad in scope and lacked the precision needed to address growing security risks. Jeannette Copeland, Technology Director at Ann Summers, recognized the need to further strengthen the company’s online defenses. Ann Summers faced challenges identifying malicious bots which have the potential to leave the company vulnerable to a range of cyber threats including credential stuffing, account takeovers, gift card fraud, web and API scraping, and fake account creation. Upgrading the incumbent security solution was going to prove costly so searching the market to compare alternative providers was a sensible option.
Right time, right place!
In search of a more sophisticated solution, Jeannette attended the Retail CIO Connect event, where Edgio’s security presentation caught her attention and immediately resonated. The presentation not only showcased Edgio’s impressive capabilities but also provided thought provoking insights on the surge of bot attacks in retail and their financial consequences. This sparked Jeannette’s interest, prompting a meeting with Edgio’s consultants during the event.
“I was genuinely impressed by Edgio’s consultative approach, taking their time to understand our business needs and challenges. It quickly became clear that Edgio could be a promising new partner, offering the right blend of expertise and tailored technology solutions.”
Jeannette Copeland, Technology Director, Ann Summers
Ann Summers' Solution
Following a successful proof of concept, Ann Summers made the decision to migrate to Edgio, resulting in significant cost savings and transformative cybersecurity solutions.
“The Edgio solution was exactly what we needed to fill the gap in our security posture. They succeeded in maximizing our solution bundle to align with our budget, keeping a strong focus on our commercial goals.”
Jeannette Copeland, Technology Director, Ann Summers
Edgio’s comprehensive cybersecurity suite shores up both AnnSummers.com and Knickerbox.com sites. The bot management solution leverages cutting-edge technologies like threat fingerprinting, browser source verification, and advanced machine learning to detect threats. DDoS mitigation (layers 3, 4, and 7), WAF and API Protection further strengthen Ann Summers overall security posture. The user-configurable platform provides a single-pane view for monitoring multiple web properties, allowing Ann Summers to block malicious actors while prioritizing legitimate customers.
“The contract included simplified pricing and a total cost of ownership (TCO) for at least three years, eliminating the need for further board approval for additional consumables.”
Jeannette Copeland, Technology Director, Ann Summers
With fast issue resolution, access to a dedicated security architect, and regular security posture reviews, the Ann Summers team greatly values the additional support that Edgio provides, freeing up more time to focus on strategic IT initiatives.
Looking Ahead
Ann Summers continues to trailblaze as a dynamic, forward-thinking brand, deeply connected to its customers’ evolving needs. Following the successful launch of the UK’s first lingerie-specific online site Knickerbox.com, retail sales have continued to surge above pre-pandemic levels. The company has its sights set firmly on growth, with plans to increase its retail footprint in key locations.
The platform is being fully leveraged and after discovering that Real User Monitoring (RUM) and A/B testing are included as standard in the Edgio package, the need for third party providers has been eliminated, saving further costs for the business.
Now that Ann Summers cyber security needs have been fully addressed, Edgio is well positioned to help the company further optimize online performance, bringing even more satisfaction to its customers.
“It feels like this is just the beginning of our partnership with Edgio. We rely on our trusted partners to become an extension of our team. Authenticity in these relationships is crucial, and we dedicate significant time to bringing our partners along the Ann Summers journey, ensuring we maximize the potential of every collaboration.”
Jeannette Copeland, Technology Director, Ann Summers
