How Restaurants Can Stay Ahead of Cyber Threats

For restaurants, the digital age brings not only opportunity but also exposure to cyber threats that can disrupt operations, compromise sensitive data and damage customer trust.

Being prepared for the worst is one of the simplest ways to protect your business. A few smart moves today could save your restaurant thousands tomorrow and protect the reputation you’ve worked hard to build. Talk to your local insurance agent about cyber coverage and start putting these tips into action.

Secure Your Systems

A restaurant’s most important system is the point-of-sale system and often the main target for hackers. Ensuring your restaurant uses Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS)-compliant systems will help protect your system and customers’ card data. PCI DSS is a set of security standards designed to ensure that all companies that accept, process, store or transmit credit card information maintain a secure environment.   

Implement Separate Networks

Separating your Wi-Fi networks is a simple but crucial step. Always have a dedicated, password-protected network for your business operations and a completely separate one for guests. Never use the guest network to process payments or access sensitive data. This keeps customer and business information safe from anyone who might be on your public network.  

Education

According to Infosecurity Magazine, 95 percent of data breaches in 2024 were tied to human error. Educating and training your employees on common scams and phishing tactics might save your business down the road. Integrate regular employee cybersecurity training in your workplace.  

Regularly Update Xoftware

Software updates, whether on a platform or computer, often contain critical security patches. By updating platforms as soon as possible, you remove potential vulnerabilities that cyber criminals could exploit. 

Update Your Insurance Policy

A standard business insurance policy typically does not include coverage for cyberattacks. Yet, 43% of all cyberattacks in 2023 targeted small businesses (Accenture), making them a prime target for hackers who expect less resistance and fewer security protocols from smaller businesses.

Cyber insurance additions equip businesses with tools to respond to a wide range of incidents, including:

• Data breaches involving personally identifiable or sensitive information
• Cyber extortion and ransomware
• Misdirected payment fraud and telecommunications fraud
• Third-party liability for privacy incidents, network security breaches, and electronic media risks

Depending on your provider, cyber insurance can also provide complimentary access to a risk management portal with employee training modules, website scanning and cybersecurity templates. And if a cyber claim occurs, you’ll have support from knowledgeable cyber claims and customer service specialists to assist when recovering from an event.