Retailers face a wide range of constantly evolving threats, risks, and challenges. This summer the National Retail Federation (NRF) is convening more than 250 retail brands with industry experts in loss prevention, asset protection, digital fraud, and cyber risk to collaborate on solutions to these critical issues.
NRF PROTECT 2023, June 5-7 at the Gaylord Texan Resort in Grapevine, Texas, will feature new strategies and invaluable insights to protect against organized retail crime, e-commerce fraud, data breaches, and more.
“It is a priority for NRF to bring together those responsible for the protection of their retail organizations. NRF PROTECT provides that venue to engage, benchmark, and learn how best to combat today’s pressing issues, and prepare for future risks and threats,” said NRF Vice President of Asset Protection and Retail Operations David Johnston. “At NRF PROTECT, our member-led sessions will provide insights and actionable takeaways for organizations.”
Here are previews of just a few of the insightful sessions at NRF PROTECT:
1. As deputy director for the US Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, Nitin Natarajan is an expert on a variety of national security topics and has more than 30 years of experience in both the public and private sector.
In his “mobilizing a collective defense“Â discussion, Natarajan will explain how to bolster physical critical infrastructure and reduce risk across cybersecurity networks. He will outline ways to build a more secure and resilient technology retail ecosystem through real-time collaboration, improved visibility, and data sharing.
2. Part of the allure for criminals involved in retail theft is the ease with which they can take something—and one approach to preventing theft is to use technology to render a stolen item useless.
In the “Collaboration & Innovation: Lowe’s battles theft and fraud with tech“ keynote session, executives from the home improvement retailer will discuss how a collaboration between asset protection and Lowe’s IT Innovation Lab resulted in new AP technologies including Project Unlock. From the initial idea and brainstorming to experimentation and implementation, the two teams will share solutions on how they keep team members safe and protect products against loss.
3. Organized retail crime is a huge problem for retailers of all sizes. But what if you don’t have a dedicated team focused on stopping this type of criminal activity?
Field asset protection leaders from Victoria’s Secret & Co. will outline how to maximize existing resources and training to battle ORC-related incidents while balancing and remaining focused on daily loss prevention and shrink needs. Learn how to coordinate investigations, manage internal and external relationships, and make an impact on ORC and shrink in the “Combating ORC without a dedicated team” session.
4. What technologies will be most important for executives to consider as they plan for the future?
Coresight Research Founder and CEO Deborah Weinswig will pose the question, “Is the future of security locked in technology?“Â to a panel of experts from American Eagle Outfitters Inc., Target, and Ulta Beauty, who will share their asset protection, cyber, and digital perspectives on future retail trends that give them pause, plus offer strategies to solve the toughest challenges before they even occur.
5. Our industry continues to face crisis after crisis, with impacts domestically and globally. The pace and scope of these challenges require a new perspective of how security leaders evaluate and respond to all types of emergencies.
Juliette Kayyem, a professor at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government, and Jonathan Wackrow of global CEO advisory firm Teneo, will have a discussion around “moving forward in a world where crisis never sleeps.“
This session will discuss how today’s domestic and global challenges affect the physical and cybersecurity professional, with a deep dive into how to incorporate crisis preparedness and response into corporate strategy, and how issue-agnostic frameworks can help leaders evaluate and respond to all types of emergencies.
In addition to more than two dozen sessions on current and anticipated retail security issues, NRF PROTECT will also feature an Expo where attendees can test drive the latest products, meet solution providers, and explore the NRF Fusion Center. The Fusion Center gives retailers the opportunity to connect directly with local, state, and federal law enforcement professionals, and experience informative demonstrations from the US Postal Inspection Service and US Customs and Border Protection K9s.
“We are excited to welcome everyone to NRF PROTECT. Our content is unparalleled, focused on bringing attendees ideas and actions they can take back and implement at their organizations,” Johnston said. “This is the only conference with asset protection, cyber risk, and digital fraud professionals all under one roof. I hope you will join us at NRF PROTECT.”
Get access to everything NRF PROTECT has to offer. Register by May 24.