Why Restaurants Must Evaluate IT Risks

With wages and food costs accounting for close to 70 percent of operational expenses, most restaurateurs are constantly looking for ways to reduce costs and increase profits. One critical area that’s often overlooked is reducing IT risk. Risk-informed decision making (RIDM) is an appropriate approach for restaurant businesses to take in regards to most angles of operations. However, many companies don’t embrace this school of thought when it comes to reviewing and formulating IT policy and planning expenditures.

First and foremost, failing to achieve or maintain PCI compliance will result in serious fines for any establishment. From back office and POS systems to wireless connections for guests, there are a variety of areas where sensitive data could potentially be compromised. Without effective policies and technology in place, PCI compliance and proprietary information are endangered. When processing information and transactions some data may be stored long-term, so maintaining…