Security breaches and cyber-attacks are a critical point of concern to restaurant owners and executives. It should not surprise you that restaurants are now a target of cyberattacks because nowadays, almost every sector is vulnerable. Restaurant’s security should, therefore, be taken with the seriousness it deserves; if not, then brace yourself for some devastating data breaches.
Zero Trust is a cybersecurity framework that challenges the traditional notion of trust within a network. In the realm of cybersecurity, the what is zero trust question signifies a departure from the once widely accepted approach of assuming trust within the internal network and focusing on defending the perimeter alone. Instead, Zero Trust advocates for a model where no entity, whether inside or outside the network, is inherently trusted. It mandates strict verification and validation of all individuals and devices attempting to access the network, regardless of their location. This proactive security strategy aims to enhance data protection, reduce the attack surface, and fortify the organization’s resilience against evolving cyber threats.
Restaurants are speedily integrating innovative technology to improve their customer experience, maximize sales margins, and improve their operational efficiency. Today, point-of-sale technologies, cloud storage systems, and restaurant websites are so popular. All these technology trends in the restaurant industry do not come without harm.
Increased use of technology, plus the fact that restaurants process millions of credit card transactions and handle sensitive user data every year, puts them right at the jaws of cyber vulnerabilities. The recent surge in cyber breaches targeting restaurants that have left many restaurants hacked is enough reason to call restaurant owners and managers to action. The cost of a data breach is something you are not ready to hear.
Restaurant owners ought to install the necessary security measures and develop safety strategies to become resilient to hackers’ attempts.
This article explains nine tips to secure restaurants.
- Pay Attention to Security Threats Related to Your Wireless network.
Nefarious cyber intruders can use the devices connected to your wireless network to collect sensitive user data and spread malware to your system. As a restaurant owner, you must take preventive measures in the configuration.
Cyber attackers are taking advantage of wireless connections because they provide easy access to end-users, which opens the surface for attacks. Unlike a wired network requiring a cyber attacker to access the network physically, a wireless network only requires the cyber attacker to be close to the network.
Most restaurant managers are less cautious and ignorant that their wireless networks are a target for hackers. The first step towards having a secure network is knowing the types of security threats that could hit your restaurant. They include:
- Distributed Denial of Service attacks
- Evil twin attacks
- Freeloading
- Shoulder surfing
- Piggybacking
- Wireless sniffing
- Unauthorized computer access
It would be best if you took the time to go through each of these threats. You will then be in an excellent position to employ proper security measures and build a robust security wall to protect your wireless network.
To be on the safe side, you should implore all your employees and clients to use secure passwords, restrict access from unauthorized users, use a Virtual Private Network, install a firewall and install security patches regularly.
- Caution Employees About Phishing Emails
Phishing attacks are becoming prevalent, and restaurants have become a threat. In 2017, Proofpoint researchers discovered a Jscript backdoor referred to as Bateleur. The backdoor was being distributed to restaurants based in the United States by a group of hackers called the Carbanak.
The hackers were using an email sent by Gmail or Outlook.com that carried the message “find the Check as discussed.” The message was attached to a word document that also carried a macro. On its execution, the Macro would run Bateleur that would leave restaurants with almost irreparable cyber damages.
Hackers have changed tact and are constantly using emails to spread malware and viruses. Their primary target is employees. They use unsuspecting and incautious employees as a link to conduct malware attacks. Restaurant employees should be cautioned against clicking on links and learn how to identify phishing mails.
- Scrutinize Your Third-Party Vendors
Most restaurants now rely on third-party vendors to improve their sales revenue, reduce unnecessary expenses, improve workflow, and gain a competitive edge. For instance, restaurants have partnered with online ordering apps, employee payment systems, and loyalty programs to fulfil various tasks.
As technology advances, so does the third-party related data breaches and cyber-attacks. Your vendor could as well be the greatest enemy to your restaurant. Before finally deciding which vendor to choose, it is prudent that you thoroughly do your homework to ensure that the vendor is PCI-compliant and has adequate cybersecurity measures to prevent any form of cyber threats.
Vendors that collect and store sensitive employee and customer data should have secure storage mechanisms. By ensuring that your vendor is trustworthy, you will not spend your time worrying about security issues.
- Conform to Password Best Practices
A password is the first line of defence that protects your restaurant systems and network from unauthorized access. It is vital to ensure that you have strong and unique passwords capable of withstanding any form of attack. Following the best password practices is essential in protecting your system and all its data.
To begin with, a good password should be long enough. An ideal password length is eight to ten characters. A short password is easy to guess, while a long password is easy to forget. Secondly, the complexity of the password also matters. A good password should be a combination of numbers, letters, and special characters. Mixing these characters makes a password strong.
The uniqueness of a password also matters. The password that restaurant employees and customers use should be unique and not used somewhere else. Using a single password repeatedly puts you in a vulnerable spot. All a hacker will need to do is to identify the login credentials for a single account, and he will be able to access all your networks, including your restaurant’s network.
Finally, mind how you store the password. Writing the password on a piece of paper or keeping it in a word document is a practice that should never be encouraged. Similarly, you should avoid allowing your web browsers to store the passwords. Anybody who finds his way through the browser can easily access your restaurant network.
- Background Check Employees
One of the biggest cyber threats facing restaurants today is the insider threat. As a restaurant manager or owner, you should know that your employees could be your biggest threat. In the United States, most restaurants allow their employees to take customers’ credit cards and process transactions behind the scenes. Employees with ill-motives can quickly take a picture of the credit card details and use them for malicious reasons.
Most restaurant owners tend to have faith in their intuition. They believe that they can trust their employees to have the restaurant’s best interests at heart. On most occasions, this turns out not to be the case. Malicious employees can intentionally steal user data, or negligent employees might unintentionally expose the data to cyber threats.
To be on the safe side, you should do a background check on the employees and hire those who are competent and fit to run your restaurant. Additionally, you should constantly educate them on the dangers of cyber-attacks and warn them against any malicious intentions.
- Invest in End-To-end Encryption
Here is a piece of advice, if you are running a restaurant and you do not have a website, why not start thinking in that direction? You stand to gain more than you can imagine. For those that do have the websites, the question is, how secure is the website?
The recent surge in data breaches and Man in the Middle (MiTM) attacks has made website visitors alert. Today, no one wants to visit an insecure website. To establish whether a website is legit, web visitors usually check the address of the website. HTTPS website with a padlock symbol is a clear indicator that the website is safe.
If you have a restaurant website, then the first step you should take is to ensure that it has an SSL certificate. The certificates encrypt the communication between the servers and the users’ browsers to ensure that no unauthorized party can read it. CheapSSLShop.com is the best place to buy SSL certificates at lowest prices with great customer support.
SSL certificates are an excellent partner to any website. You need the certificate for security purposes and higher rankings in search engine results pages and for earning trust and boosting your reputation.
- Affix a Unique Identifier to Each Server
Your Point-of-Sale system ought to be configured in such a manner that each server signs in with a unique identifier. This will help you track transactional patterns and detect potential threats if your clients complain of fraudulent credit card use after visiting your restaurant. You can go through the data to check if there are workers that pop up more frequently in the credit cards that have been breached.
- Use Firewall to Separate Devices
Of the many security tools and measures you need, installing a firewall should always be a priority.
Installing a firewall on your restaurant network will help to keep malware infections from spreading through your system. The firewall will filter incoming traffic to ensure that no threat enters your system.
If you want to keep your restaurant safe, you should consider installing a firewall.
- Make Sure Your Equipment Is Secure
The Internet of Things (IoT) is connecting the restaurant kitchen. It is a natural evolution, and all restaurants embracing it stand to benefit greatly. The smart kitchen food safety monitoring systems, commercial refrigerators, smart ovens, and display systems are a big plus to the restaurant industry.
However, like any other device, they are susceptible to data breaches, and proper measures should be employed to protect them.
Conclusion
Dining out has changed, and unlike the traditional way where customers had to order their meals at restaurants physically, all one needs to do today is press a button to order or pay. As much as this is a great technology that should be employed and appreciated by most restaurants and customers, it has also presented several challenges.
Cyber-attacks targeting restaurants are now common. Utilizing technology in restaurants while remaining safe from data breaches is achievable. This article has explained nine elements that can help you achieve that.
Caroline is doing her graduation in IT from the University of South California but keens to work as a freelance blogger. She loves to write on the latest information about IoT, technology, and business. She has innovative ideas and shares her experience with her readers.