Hotels are often targeted by hackers who aim to access sensitive data and systems. This can have serious repercussions, such as disrupted guest experiences and financial losses.
Security breaches in the hospitality industry are becoming more frequent. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to protect your hotel from cyber threats.
Why is hospitality prone to cybersecurity threats?
Hotel businesses handle a great deal of sensitive personal information, making them prime targets for cybercriminals. Furthermore, hotel businesses rely heavily on technology which creates additional entry points for criminals.
Furthermore, hospitality organizations often employ personnel with poor security awareness. This is particularly prevalent when hotels hire temporary workers during the pandemic.
Hospitality organizations can reduce this risk by training their personnel and using a secure network for data access.
Additionally, hotels should always keep their systems up to date in order to guard against malicious software and viruses that could wreak havoc on their computers.
Another effective method for protecting against cyber attacks is encryption sensitive data. Doing this reduces the possibility of hackers accessing it and sharing it with an unauthorized party.
Hotels should ensure they have a reliable server and CDN in order to avoid DDoS attacks, which could disrupt their website and result in decreased revenues.
What is cyber security in the hospitality industry?
The hospitality sector is particularly vulnerable to cyber attacks due to the volume of sensitive information it collects, such as credit card data and guest records. Hotels must invest heavily in cybersecurity in order to safeguard their data and keep guests secure.
Hotels utilize computers to automate many hotel processes, such as payments, accounting, bookings and key-card access to rooms. While these systems simplify operations and make guests' stays easier, they also leave hotels vulnerable to digital threats by granting hackers access to guest data.
Hospitality companies must be wary of malicious actors stealing customer and employee personal information to sell on the dark web for profit. Doing so could damage your brand reputation, business operations and profitability.
In January, an elegant Austrian hotel suffered a ransomware attack that locked 180 guests out of their rooms until the hotel managers paid the ransom.
Another potential threat is an "evil twin" Wi-Fi access point (AP), which is a counterfeit copy of a legitimate network access point (AP). When employees and guests connect to this fake AP instead of their legitimate one, hackers have the opportunity to hijack their devices and steal personal data.
Preventing hotel cyber security attacks requires using a robust solution like Ekran System, which offers two-factor authentication to detect unauthorized logins and minimize the risk of credential stuffing attacks.
How to Prevent a Cyber Attack?
Cyber attacks in the hotel industry can have devastating financial and brand consequences. Hackers may steal credit card information, personal details and booking data from guests, disrupting business operations in a major way.
Hotels utilize computers to process a high volume of credit card payments, make guest bookings and manage key-card access to rooms. Furthermore, they depend on automation systems for running various facilities like heating/air conditioning units, sprinklers, CCTV cameras and other equipment.
Cyber attacks can become devastating for hotel industry systems if not adequately protected. The best way to safeguard against such events is by creating a robust digital infrastructure and taking proactive measures for protection.
Hospitality businesses must stay abreast of the most recent cybersecurity threats and respond swiftly to any reports of suspicious activity by employees. They can employ various techniques for spotting security breaches, such as configuring real-time alerts or installing software that automates threat detection and response.
Another effective method of avoiding a cyber attack is by restricting who has access to your database. Too many users can create an opening in your network and allow attackers to obtain sensitive data without raising alarms in the hotel's security system.