Cybersecurity in Hospitality Industry
19.08.2020
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With the invention and widespread use of new technologies, many processes related to the hospitality industry are reliant on the use of internet and electronic devices. Keep reading to learn how you can keep your business safe while keeping up with the technology.
As of today, we can book a hotel room, specify our needs regarding the stay (e.g. extra towels, room service, airport shuttle etc.) and even pay for it using only our smartphones. Moreover, the hotel owners can process our request, send us an e-voucher and confirmation, tell us about the details of our stay, inform us about the facility or keep up with their management processes using only their smartphones or computers. Isn’t it very convenient for both parties?
On the flip side of the coin comes vulnerabilities. Internet of things, implementation of electronic devices and similar conveniences also pose serious threats regarding the security of our sensitive information. That is why cyber security practices gain much more importance in the hospitality industry. In this article, we will discuss what kinds of threats await your organization and how you can ensure your protection. Keep reading to learn!
What is cyber security?
The term cyber security is used to refer to the methods and practices that aim to defend devices, networks, servers, electronic systems and all kinds of data from ill intended attacks.
In today’s business environment, information is the most important asset. That is why many hackers and attackers aim to steal your information and they might even shut you out of your devices and systems while doing so. Cyber security professionals aim to keep such malicious intended individuals away from your systems.
Cyber security practices often involve the use of a tool or software such as antivirus programs, firewalls, anti malware software and such. In accordance with the needs and vulnerabilities of your organization, various cyber security solutions can be employed and configured. You can opt for getting professional help and/or hiring a team of cyber security professionals for this task.
What kinds of threats target hospitality industry?
In the past years, we have witnessed many hotels being victims of cyber criminals. Such incidents lead serious data leakages and hurt the reputation of the organization. After all, we would never revisit a facility that failed to keep sensitive information (e.g. names, surnames, ID numbers, credit card information, addresses etc.) regarding its customers safe from hackers.
If you want to keep your organization safe from attacks and ensure the strength of your security posture, take a closer look at the various threats targeting the hospitality industry.
Customer Data/Identity Theft: When booking a hotel room, we share some of the most sensitive pieces information regarding us: Our name, address, payment information. That is why most hackers try to steal customer information from the hotels using malware, computer viruses and social engineering methods.
Phishing: The term phishing refers to the techniques used to deceive and convince professionals to leak information. The most popular phishing techniques include fake web pages, phone calls, text messages and e-mails.
Darkhotel hacking: This technique involves hacking the hotel WiFi and steal information from the visitors.
How to protect your organization
If you want to protect your organization from cyber threats, first you need to inform your employees. They must be able to distinguish a phishing call from a genuine one. Moreover, they must know that they shouldn’t visit shady websites or click on the suspicious links on business computers. In addition, they need to know when to alert your IT professionals regarding a suspicious incident.
Secondly, you must invest in some bullet-proof cyber security software including but not limited to antivirus, antimalware and firewalls. You must also hire a team of IT specialists to ensure that your organization is protected 24/7.
In addition, you can also consider incorporating top notch cybersecurity solutions like SIEM and SOAR. Feel free to contact us to learn more.
