The restaurant industry has also been impacted by cyberattacks, and this affects service as well as the personal information of employees and patrons. The good news is that data breaches can be prevented by improving cybersecurity measures, and restaurants should be proactive in taking measures against cyberattacks.
1- Train Your Employees
When many people think about cyber threats, they only think about outsiders. However, your own employees can put your cybersecurity at risk. That is why you have to watch your employees carefully. Make sure that everyone who works for your company receives a background check. You should also make sure that they receive proper cybersecurity training.
2- Watch Out for Phishing Scams
Phishing is the act of sending out fraudulent emails with the purpose of obtaining the recipient personal’s information. While most phishing scams come via email, they can also be done over the phone. Educate your employees about phishing. Tell them to avoid clicking on links in suspicious emails. You should also tell them to block suspicious emails.
A simple way to prevent phone phishing scams is to screen all calls. Make sure that you block unwanted calls.
3- Encrypt Your Website
Many customers pay for their food. They should not have to worry about whether someone is going to steal their debit or credit card information. One of the best ways that you can protect customer’s sensitive information is to make sure that everything is encrypted. An IT professional service can help you encrypt your website.
4- Invest in Antivirus Software
An antivirus is one of the best things that you can use to keep the computers in your restaurant secure. There are many viruses that can easily steal personal information. An antivirus will regularly scan your computer for threats and can remove them. They can also prevent your computer from developing viruses.
5- Use a Firewall
A firewall can prevent unauthorized people from accessing the computer. A firewall constantly monitors traffic and can shield your computer from malicious traffic. However, it is important to make sure that your firewall is updated on a regular basis.
6- Protect Your Wi-Fi
Customers love restaurants with Wi-Fi because it allows them to conveniently access the internet. However, your Wi-Fi can become a target to potential thieves and hackers. There are several steps that you can take to protect your restaurant while providing your customers with free Wi-Fi.
Make sure that you change the default password that is used for your network. You should also encourage customers to use a virtual private network, or VPN when connecting with your Wi-Fi. Make sure that the only people who can use your Wi-FI are those who are inside of your restaurant.
Hackers and cyber criminals do not have to put your personal information at risk. You can take steps to protect your restaurant by training your employees and watching out for phishing scams. It is also important to invest in the proper software such as firewall and antivirus protection. Encryption is something that will protect your website. Additionally, you should protect your Wi-Fi.
