Plug the holes in your data security

As data has become a critical asset and contributor to the success of restaurant businesses, so has its security. Unfortunately, having so many more digital assets to protect means there are exponentially more opportunities for threat actors to breach your systems and seize data. The consequences of data breaches are significant: Research from IBM found that in 2020, the estimated cost of a data breach in the global hospitality sector was $1.72 million. Just one year later, it climbed to $3.03 million. But fortunately, a growing assortment of tech tools are making it possible for restaurant operators to ramp up their security and be alerted in the moment if and when problems occur. For example, a recent report from Foodservice Consultants Society International recommends restaurant groups use integrated access control systems to restrict unauthorized access to sensitive information and areas of the operation, as well as monitor any unauthorized access attempts in real time. Further, mobile security management tools including remote monitoring can keep watch over system security around the clock, regardless of the restaurant’s location, and alert designated people to potential threats so they can mitigate them when time is critical. If you’re still at the stage of trying to assess your operation to determine what data you should protect and how – or even if you just want to make sure you’re not overlooking vulnerabilities, the National Restaurant Association offers a digital security guide that helps operators identify risks, protect against them, detect and respond to threats, and then recover from them with minimal disruption