Federated Co-op Ltd. (FCL), a prominent retailer operating across Western Canada, has disclosed that it is grappling with a significant cybersecurity incident affecting its customer-facing systems and cardlock fuel stations. The incident was first acknowledged by FCL in a Facebook post on Saturday, following initial reports on Thursday that indicated disruptions across its network. This prompted FCL to swiftly shut down compromised systems as a precautionary measure to contain the potential impact.
Despite the disruption, FCL has reassured customers that there is no current evidence to suggest that customer data has been compromised. However, the company remains vigilant, emphasizing that it is actively investigating the incident with the assistance of third-party cybersecurity experts. These experts have been brought in to assess the breach and reinforce the security measures necessary to safeguard FCL’s digital infrastructure and customer information.
In response to the incident, some services, including operations at certain cardlock fuel stations, have begun to resume. Nevertheless, FCL has not provided a definitive timeline for the full restoration of all services, leaving uncertainty among customers and stakeholders alike. The impact of the cyberattack has also extended to local Co-op affiliates in Saskatchewan, where similar IT outages have been reported, underscoring the widespread nature of the disruption across FCL’s operational footprint.
Amid these challenges, FCL continues to communicate updates to its customers and the public through various channels, aiming to manage expectations and mitigate further operational disruptions. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the vulnerability of modern enterprises to cybersecurity threats and underscores the importance of robust cybersecurity measures and rapid response protocols in safeguarding business operations and customer trust in an increasingly digital landscape.
