How Hotel Sales Software Can Strengthen Your Online Security

With significant financial transactions and extensive databases of personal, sensitive data, hotels and hospitality venues are a treasure trove for valuable customer information. Consequently, it comes as no surprise that the hospitality industry is one of the top sectors most susceptible to credit card breaches.

Trustwave SpiderLabs' study of global data breaches revealed that hospitality industries are particularly vulnerable to attack. In 218 investigations spanning 24 countries, 38% were in hotels – and almost all involved stolen credit card information. While hotels and hospitality venues must implement robust cybersecurity practices to ensure data remains secure and protected from malicious attacks or unauthorised access, it’s not always easy to know where to start. Keeping up to date with the latest types of attacks is also challenging, as cybersecurity threats become increasingly sophisticated.

Keep reading to find out how hotels can implement cybersecurity practices to help protect against malicious attacks and safeguard sensitive customer information with effective hotel sales software.

Data Security in Hotels and Hospitality Venues

The Ponemon Institute's study on data breaches in the hotel industry found that the average time it takes for a hotel to detect a breach is 200 days. This means that, on average, a hotel may not know it has suffered a breach for nearly seven months. This prolonged detection time can significantly damage a hotel's reputation and financial losses.

The same study found that the average time to contain a breach in the hotel industry is 70 days. This means that, on average, it takes a hotel 70 days from the time it detects a breach to stop it from spreading. This is an important metric, as the longer a breach persists, the more damage it can do to hotels and their customers. Strong hotel sales software can assist in managing and mitigating these risks.

The study highlights the importance of having strong cybersecurity practices in place and conducting regular security audits. This helps detect and respond to data breaches as quickly as possible, minimising the impact and protecting both the hotel and its customers.

Most Common Cyberattacks for Hotels and Hospitality Venues

Most Effective Venue Cybersecurity Practices to Implement

Verification & Review Processes

Security breaches at point-of-sale systems continue to increase dramatically, with 91% of security compromises being attributed mostly to Card Not Present (CNP) fraud. To protect against CNP crime, hotels can stick to a few consistent practices, including:

• Adequate Verification

Fraudsters may contact hotels wanting immediate verification and confirmation of accommodation. Hoteliers need to take time and adequately verify identification, including credit card, passport, and other relevant documentation.

• Reviewing First-Time Purchases

Large, first-time transactions can sometimes be a sign of fraudulent activity. If hoteliers have suspicions about a transaction, it is encouraged to make contact to verify legitimacy and confirm identification. 

•  Being Aware of Inconsistencies

When a guest’s billing and shipping addresses don’t match, it can be a red flag. This is especially true in the travel industry, where contactless transactions are on the rise. Hotel sales software can help manage these verification processes more efficiently.

Protect Your Venue and Your Guests 

By implementing these cybersecurity practices, your venue can ensure it’s doing everything it can to protect against online threats. 

These efforts not only protect customers' data but also provide a sense of safety and security that will make any hotel or hospitality venue an attractive option in the eyes of potential visitors.