Hibbett taps Cequence tech for API security and bot management across in-store and online operations

Athletic inspired fashion retailer, Hibbett, has selected the Cequence Unified API Protection (UAP) platform.

Doing so has significantly enhanced its automated threat detection capabilities and enabled comprehensive inventory management, compliance, and API protection across all online and in-store brands.

Like many retailers, Hibbett operates in a hybrid IT environment, juggling both on-premises and cloud-based systems for its retail and online operations. After critical SaaS migration to Oracle Cloud and Azure Active Directory, the company prioritised robust API security.

This migration triggered a surge in API usage, highlighting the need for greater visibility to mitigate data loss, theft, fraud, and potential business disruptions. Maintaining business continuity was paramount.

Hibbett sought a security solution that could quickly discover and protect all internal and external APIs and enable the creation of custom policies for mitigating and blocking bot attacks without disrupting revenue streams or existing business partnerships.

This led it to Cequence’s UAP platform.

“Cequence has allowed us to transform our IT from being a cost centre, to a strategic arm of the organisation that is contributing to our bottom line,” says Lee Morris, Senior Director of Security and Infrastructure Architecture at Hibbett.

“With the Unified API Protection platform we are now creating efficiencies in the processes that we couldn’t provide with the infrastructure and the systems we had in place. The Cequence UAP platform is one of the key technologies that is enabling our IT security team to become a much larger contributor to our company’s success.”

“APIs are the lifeblood of modern retail and e-commerce. Every action you take online, from adding an item to your cart to swiping your card at checkout, relies on APIs to seamlessly transmit data in the background. These interactions wouldn't be possible without robust and secure API security,” says Ameya Talwalkar, CEO at Cequence.

“Securing APIs is critical, but cookie cutter solutions fail. Hibbett needed a customisable approach to fit their unique needs, and that's what we delivered.”

2024 RTIH INNOVATION AWARDS

APIs are a key focus area for the sixth edition of the RTIH Innovation Awards, which is now open for entries.

The awards, sponsored by CADS, 3D Cloud, Retail Technology Show 2025, and Business France, celebrate global tech innovation in a fast moving omnichannel world.

It’s free to enter and you can do so across multiple categories.

Key 2024 dates

Friday, 25th October: Award entry deadline 

Tuesday, 29th October: 2024 shortlist revealed

30th October-6th November: Judging days

Thursday, 21st November: Winners announced at the 2024 RTIH Innovation Awards ceremony, to be held at RIBA’s 66 Portland Place HQ in Central London.