The holiday season brings both festive cheer and intense pressure for eCommerce retailers. With the majority of annual sales made during the holidays, it’s the make-or-break period for IT teams tasked with keeping websites up, data secure, and critical systems running smoothly.
So, how do they manage it all? According to Mark Evans, CCI’s Director of Sales - Vertical Markets, leading eCommerce retailers and enterprises face a shared set of seasonal challenges: handling traffic surges, securing sensitive data, and ensuring reliable operations.
“Many customers are prioritizing reliable connections and advanced technologies,” said Evans, noting that even a few minutes of system downtime could cost businesses thousands—or even millions—of dollars in lost revenue.
While every business has unique needs, Evans observes that they all share a common goal: investing in better connectivity, advanced cybersecurity, and high-performance networks to help them navigate the holiday hustle.
Handling Spikes in eCommerce Traffic
From Black Friday to last-minute Christmas shopping, online businesses need to be ready for spikes in traffic, says Evans. Scalability is critical, he explains, not only for eCommerce platforms but also for the backend systems that support activities like order and payment processing, inventory management, and real-time order tracking.
“Scalable connections are more stable,” Evans notes, pointing to faster load times, fewer abandoned carts, and real-time inventory updates as some of the benefits retailers gain by upgrading their infrastructure.
To ensure this stability, eCommerce retailers rely on solutions designed to work in tandem, offering both scalability and redundancy during peak times. For example, Dedicated Internet Access keeps websites and applications running smoothly, while SD-WAN dynamically prioritizes bandwidth for critical workloads. In addition, CCI’s Cloud Peer Connect offers another layer of scalability by providing direct, secure links to cloud providers like AWS and Microsoft Azure. These solutions work together to create a resilient infrastructure that minimizes slowdowns.
“When you look at reliability, carrier diversity is one of the simplest ways to build in redundancy,” Evans explains. “As a wireline carrier, CCI partners with various providers to ensure connectivity, even if a disruption occurs. Having a diverse carrier back-end means that point of sale will still be processed, and that website order will still be completed.”
Securing Sensitive Data
The holiday rush doesn’t just drive sales—it also heightens risks. With millions of payments being processed and a surge in online traffic, businesses become prime targets for cyberattacks like phishing attempts and Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks.
“Cybersecurity isn’t just a checkbox,” Evans emphasizes. “It’s vital for business resilience.”
To help retailers meet these challenges, CCI recommends a multi-layered defense strategy. “With the right tools in place, IT teams can confidently manage the demands of the holidays, knowing their critical systems and customer data are secure,” Evans explains.
One key element of this approach is leveraging industry-leading security platforms like Palo Alto Networks—a Gartner Magic Quadrant provider widely regarded as the gold standard. “Palo Alto provides secure connections for distributed teams sharing access to systems and data around the world,” Evans said, emphasizing its importance for businesses handling sensitive information across multiple locations.
Additionally, businesses are investing in tools that enable real-time threat detection and automated responses, allowing them to protect sensitive data without overwhelming IT teams. “Being proactive is essential,” says Evans, adding that CCI’s Cloud Secure delivers this level of protection and more. “That’s why so many companies are investing in comprehensive security solutions like robust firewalls and advanced monitoring.”
Partnering for Holiday Success
The holiday hustle doesn’t have to be overwhelming—but success starts with preparation and aligning with the right partners, says Evans.
“Now is the time to plan,” he emphasizes. “Take the lessons and opportunities for improvement from this season and use them to lay the groundwork for next year.” Evans highlights that many of CCI’s retail customers view the company as more than just a vendor. “We act as an advanced technology partner—rowing in the same boat in the same direction as our customers, providing insights, and enabling their success,” he explains. “By assessing their unique needs and creating strategies that align with their goals, CCI helps businesses navigate those all-too-common challenges that many retailers share.”
From managing traffic surges to securing critical data and empowering teams, eCommerce retailers rely on CCI to help them thrive during the most wonderful—and busiest—time of year.
Get ahead of the holiday hustle and ensure your business stays secure, scalable, and successful during peak season and beyond. Explore Our Solutions Today.