How to decrease the risk of your restaurant being hacked

Restaurants also have an online presence, their brand, data and content are also vulnerable on the internet if they are not protected

The National Restaurant Association of America (NRA) released a new guide to help small restaurant operations prevent customer and business data from being stolen. It’s an update to the NRA’s introductory-level security manual from two years ago, Cybersecurity 101.

As well as recounting how four successful restorers painfully learned of his vulnerability to hackers, Cybersecurity 201 offers specific recommendations for outwitting thieves. Here are six tips for rethinking how a restaurant should protect itself.

Although they are recommended for a market with US legislation, they are measures that we can apply in Spain, adapting government agencies for ours.

1. Understand the basic functions of a security plan.

Any defense plan has to start with the fundamentals, advises the NRA. He cites five basic concepts: identify, protect, detect, respond and recover.

He explains them this way:

1. Identify what data a hacker might be targeting.
2. See what security measures are available that can be tailored to your business.
3. Have mechanisms to alert you of a breach.
4. Determine what responses could lessen the harm of a violation.
5. Get an idea of ​​how to recover as quickly as possible.

2. Understand that you cannot eliminate risk

According to the US government, there is no secure mechanism, and the goal is to manage risk, but not without being fooled into thinking that their security efforts are foolproof, the NRA explains:

“Your goal is to achieve the optimal level of security that makes sense for your restaurant.”

Consult with security experts to implement different protocols and routines that ensure the data in your business, always in accordance with your budget, the information that you store in the local computing devices or in the cloud, and the law required by the Government of Spain. in this matter.

3. Prepare for continuous assessment.

Your overall strategy should include a mechanism to make sure you update it. “Assessing your risk and working to reduce it is an ongoing process,” says the NRA.

Constantly train your staff, and always implement security measures in your computer systems by making frequent evaluations of them.

It includes antivirus, security breaches, operating system updates, etc.

4. Understand that cybersecurity evolves.

Safeguarding restaurant data is a process, not a one-time plan, advises the American association.

Data thieves are constantly looking for ways to bypass security measures. You have to be just as diligent to frustrate them and turn the protection process into something routine, like closing the premises or turning off the lights daily.

In the previous point we talked about continuous improvement, here we talk about understanding that security is a daily process, being the only way to take the appropriate measures.

5. Stay updated on legislation and security measures

The US Department of Homeland Security says security is a living process and will continue to be updated and improved as industry provides feedback on implementation.

Keeping up with recommendations means keeping up with the criminals or staying one step ahead.

Make use of blogs, Google alerts or an expert so that you always implement the appropriate measures, recommendations and laws for your restaurant.