Data security has become a critical concern for hoteliers. Recent high-profile breaches have highlighted the importance of this issue within the hospitality industry. These incidents have impacted various aspects of hotel operations, with malware and other cyber threats compromising customer credit card information over extended periods.

In the past, security concerns were often limited to simple oversights, such as failing to change a backup tape. Today, hoteliers are held to much higher standards regarding the protection of customer data. This heightened accountability is a significant reason why many hotel owners and operators are transitioning from traditional, on-premise property management systems to cloud-based Property Management Systems (PMS).

Why Data Security Matters

  1. Protecting Guest Trust: Guests trust hotels with their personal and financial information. A data breach can severely damage this trust and harm the hotel’s reputation.
  2. Legal and Financial Repercussions: Data breaches can lead to significant legal and financial consequences, including fines and lawsuits.
  3. Competitive Advantage: Hotels that prioritize data security can differentiate themselves from competitors and attract more guests who value their privacy and security.

Tips for Enhancing Data Security in Hotels

  1. Regularly Update Software: Ensure all software is regularly updated to protect against the latest security threats.
  2. Implement Strong Password Policies: Use strong, unique passwords for all systems and require regular password changes.
  3. Educate Staff: Train employees on data security best practices and the importance of protecting guest information.
  4. Limit Access: Restrict access to sensitive data to only those employees who need it to perform their job duties.
  5. Conduct Regular Audits: Perform regular security audits to identify and address potential vulnerabilities.

Why Invest in a Cloud-Based System?

  1. Hotels are a Major Target: Lodging is a significant target for criminals looking to steal data. Many premise-based systems may not have adequate security measures in place, making them vulnerable to cyber-attacks.
  2. Professional Data Security Management: Data security is not your primary job. Let professionals handle it. When data security is managed in-house with a premise-based server, it can be challenging to guard the data full-time. SkyTouch Technology monitors systems constantly for security and stability, so property-level staff don’t have to.
  3. Beyond PCI Compliance: PCI compliance is about protecting the credit card issuer, not necessarily the data stored on hotel servers. A cloud-based PMS, like SkyTouch Hotel OS®, helps secure ID data, eliminating the need to store sensitive information onsite.
  4. Immediate Incident Response: In the unlikely event of a security incident, a third-party cloud PMS provider can quickly access records to determine when and where the breach occurred.

How SkyTouch Keeps Guest Data Secure

SkyTouch Hotel OS® employs several advanced security measures to ensure guest data remains protected:

  • 24/7/365 Monitoring: SkyTouch continuously monitors its systems to detect and respond to any potential security threats in real-time.
  • PCI Compliance: SkyTouch Hotel OS® is fully PCI compliant, ensuring that all credit card transactions are secure and meet industry standards.
  • Point-to-Point Encryption (P2PE): This technology encrypts credit card data from the point of entry, making it unreadable to unauthorized users.
  • Tokenization: Sensitive data is replaced with unique identification symbols (tokens) that retain essential information without compromising security.
  • Regular Security Audits: SkyTouch conducts regular security audits to identify and address any vulnerabilities in the system.

By investing in a cloud-based PMS like SkyTouch Hotel OS®, hoteliers can significantly enhance the security of their guest data, ensuring peace of mind for both them and their guests.