UPDATE: Crystal D has posted on its Facebook page that it’s unable to ship orders on March 11 due to a network issue. However, employees are reaching out to customers with in-house orders. A temporary email address has been created to answer any questions: CrystaldFan@gmail.com
Crystal D (PPAI 112326, Gold) – the No. 88 supplier in the PPAI 100 – has reported experiencing a cyberattack on Friday, March 7.
Communication between the St. Paul, Minnesota-based company, which specializes in crystal awards and gifts, and its customers has been unavailable since approximately 7 a.m. CT.
- The company’s phone lines and email accounts remain inaccessible.
Orders scheduled to ship today will be rescheduled, and the revised dates will be determined soon.
The company is working diligently to find and understand the point of entry and is mitigating any further issues, according to Bridget Dahlgren, sales and marketing manager at Crystal D.
“At this time, the company has found no instances of any customer information being compromised,” Dahlgren says. “Please watch for additional information to come. We’re committed to keeping customers and partners updated with the best, most updated information available.”
Increased Scrutiny
As the threat from cyberattacks evolves, the importance of customer data security is vital for all B2B businesses, including those in promotional products. Large end-buyer prospects in particular are sensitive to the need for data security, distributors say.
RELATED: Cybersecurity: Big Business’s No. 1 Vendor Priority
As with other digital transformation initiatives, it’s recommended that security receive close executive supervision. On average, promo’s largest companies are more focused on cybersecurity.
- At distributors with revenue north of $250 million, PPAI research from 2023 showed that 56% of companies had senior executives review security vulnerability reports at least weekly (The State Of Innovation 2023: Distributor Benchmarking).
- Among $250 million and larger suppliers, 40% have senior executives reviewing security vulnerability at least weekly (The State Of Innovation 2023: Supplier Benchmarking).