5 Ways To Protect Your Tourism Business From Cybersecurity Threats

Tourism is a fast-growing industry that has transformed the way we explore the world.

With the advent of digital technology, the travel and tourism sector has experienced significant growth and innovation.

However, this rapid expansion also means that it has become a prime target for cybercriminals.

The industry is entrusted with vast amounts of sensitive client data, making it crucial to protect against cybersecurity threats.

In this article, we will explore the common cybersecurity threats faced by the tourism and travel industry and provide five essential strategies to safeguard your business and customers.

The cybersecurity threat to the tourism industry is growing.

In recent years, the tourism sector has witnessed a surge in cybersecurity threats that have the potential to inflict significant damage, both financially and reputationally.

According to the Trustwave 2020 Global Security Report, the travel and tourism sector ranks third in terms of cybersecurity incidents. As these attacks continue to evolve in complexity and frequency, the risks and consequences of ignoring cybersecurity are also increasing.

The vast network of interconnected systems and the involvement of numerous individuals in the chain make the industry susceptible to human errors that can unfortunately compromise customer data.

Understanding the threats that tourism businesses face is the first step towards implementing effective security measures.

What are the common cybersecurity threats to the tourism industry?

Here are some of the most common cybersecurity threats the tourism and travel industry is at risk of:

• Malware and Ransomware

Malware, short for “malicious software,” encompasses viruses, spyware and trojan horses.

It infiltrates hotel and office networks and computers to delete files, steal information or install unwanted software. Malware can infect systems when users unknowingly install software, visit compromised websites or click on malicious email attachments or links.

• Phishing Attacks

Phishing is a social engineering attack that tricks victims into revealing sensitive information or installing malware by masquerading as a trusted entity. It remains the most common type of cyberattack, affecting around 92% of Australian organisations.

• Wi-Fi Network Hacks

Modern hotels and travel accommodations often offer fast Wi-Fi networks for their guests. However, hackers may attempt to exploit these networks by installing rogue access points or creating fraudulent copies of legitimate Wi-Fi access points.

• POS attacks and DDoS attacks

Among the common cybersecurity threats in the tourism industry are Point of Sale (POS) attacks that target payment terminals and Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) which compromise the integrity of systems and sensitive data.

How can you protect your tourism business from cybersecurity threats?

Now that we’ve highlighted the common threats, let’s explore five key strategies to protect your tourism business and your customers’ data:

1. Educate your team about cybersecurity.

Your employees can be your strongest defence or a potential weak link. Since cybersecurity is everyone’s responsibility, you can do the following to equip your team:

• Provide comprehensive guidelines on recognising threats, practising safe online behaviour and promptly reporting any suspicious activities.
• Conduct cybersecurity awareness training about the value of cybersecurity and its impacts on the business and the customers.
• Simulate phishing exercises to reinforce cybersecurity lessons and enhance email security.

Contact our team at Centrix if you would like us to come in and train your team on cybersecurity awareness.

2. Prevent malware infections.

Ensure that your devices across your offices, hotels and airports have up-to-date antivirus software installed and that they regularly conduct vulnerability scanning.

For added protection, you can encourage staff to use stronger passwords, enable multi-factor authentication & SSO and avoid connecting to unknown public Wi-Fi networks when working on the business, since these are often prime targets for hackers.

3. Practise data encryption and secure payment processing.

Lock away payment terminals when not in use and regularly inspect them for tampering. For public or guest-use devices, implement solutions to erase personal data after each use.

You can also consider watermarking your data to detect third-party breaches more rapidly.

• Regularly back up all data and have an Incident Response Plan.

While you can protect your business from threats, it still helps to be prepared in the event of an attack to minimise financial and reputational damage to your tourism business, especially since you’re dealing with people.

A detailed Incident Response Plan can empower your team to effectively detect, respond to and recover from cybersecurity attacks and data breaches.

• Collaborate with IT and cybersecurity specialists.

The specialised nature of cybersecurity threats calls for specialised IT and cybersecurity support for every organisation. This could mean onboarding an in-house IT team to protect your business from attacks or outsourcing your cybersecurity functions to a Managed IT Service provider.

Either way, you need cybersecurity experts to provide insights, conduct assessments and help you stay updated on evolving threats and best practices.

To protect your tourism business and your customers from cybersecurity threats, it’s essential to understand the common risks and implement robust cybersecurity measures.

Let Centrix support your tourism business’ IT and cybersecurity needs

Our team at Centrix is always ready – we help small tourism businesses up to large travel agencies succeed by managing, supporting and protecting critical IT infrastructure.

Backed by our extensive knowledge and expertise, Centrix is here to support your organisation with comprehensive IT Connectivity and Collaboration Service Packages, Cloud IT, Cybersecurity Protection, Managed IT Services and other IT Solutions.

So, are you ready to thrive in today’s digital landscape?

To learn more about our Managed IT services, book an IT Health Check or contact us today.