The digital world has grown into an expansive universe that helps businesses thrive and reach customers quickly and effectively. Despite this exponential increase in productivity, there are those who seek to harm others on the web. Hackers are out for a quick buck to exploit people's personal information. To avoid these problems for your business and your customers, here are a few smart ways to secure your point-of-sale system.
Cybersecurity Measures
When you want to secure a point-of-sale system, you must begin with the system itself. No software that connects with the web is safe from attack. While you may believe your business is too small for a hacker to go after, think again. No one can anticipate a hacker's targets, and malware can quickly download to your computer if you accidentally click a link to a shady website.
Malware Protection Software
Antivirus software is one of the easiest and most applicable methods for securing your digital work. Malware is the harmful software that hackers use to infiltrate your system. If you use effective and well-regarded antivirus software, you won't have to worry about malware. Depending on your operating system, you may need to download the malware and have it run in the background to protect your business and customer data.
If you download malware protection software to your system, you will need to check in on a few things. First is the coverage the software provides and how it alerts you to the presence of a threat. You will also need to watch for software updates and product changes, so you always have the best protection for the newest risks. The other thing you'll want to watch out for is the payment frequency. Does the third-party software require monthly payments, or can you pay in annual installments? The last thing you want is to forget about next month's payment and lose the protection you so greatly rely on.
End-to-End Encryption
Encryption is a way to turn data, like budgets and emails, into randomized information that outsiders cannot read. In general terms, end-to-end encryption is a communication system where only users who directly interface can access messages and information. You will need encrypted information in a business setting to keep your records secure from prying eyes.
Suppose you run a point-of-sale system that collects and uses customer credit card information at purchase. You need credit card information to receive payment for your products and services, but you cannot bypass the need to use that specific information digitally. So, you can use end-to-end encryption that will protect customers' credit card information the moment the system receives it and when it sends the data to the server. This means you and your customers' data will never be vulnerable.
Passwords and Protections
A POS system for restaurant, retail, and hotel operations requires unique access for every individual in the organization. Entry-level employees and managers alike must use the same system to complete their daily tasks. However, a low-level staff member shouldn't have the ability to edit company records or financial books. Instead of using separate tools for each person in the operation, you can select protections and admissions for each person in the system. This way, managers can enter a password or swipe their password card to access certain functions that remain separate from other employees and anyone else accessing the system.
You have sensitive information about your business that could ruin your enterprise if it fell into the wrong hands. While most employees are upstanding people you hired to get the job done, there are those with sinister intentions and no accountability. Are you worried about what your employees might do when no one is looking? If so, you should check out our retail accounting software at Business Software Solutions that tracks all password uses and employee logins, so you know who is doing what, and when. You can also reconcile the cash in the drawers with the number your system reports that you should have at the end of the day.
Physical Security Options
While you primarily use POS systems in digital spaces, this software runs on unique hardware. Safeguarding against digital threats is one thing; protecting against physical ones is quite another. Depending on your business's size, scale, and location, you may need more or less of these security measures. However, they are vital to have in place before something bad happens.
Use CCTV Security Cameras
When you have valuable equipment in your store, you do not want people tampering with it or stealing it. That is why security cameras are a great deterrent and backup option to keep visitors accountable. These cameras run twenty-four-seven to capture every moment at every angle. If you install this tool, be sure to find CCTV cameras.
CCTV stands for closed-circuit television, which means that the video stream from the cameras is only accessible to a handful of monitors within your designated system. A single set of wires transmits the signal to your monitors and a single set of storage devices that hold all the recordings. Since there is no interaction with the internet, no one can access this video feed unless they are on-site. While people can still tamper with your equipment, it is impossible to do so remotely.
Locks and Keys
Locks and keys are old yet reliable methods for protecting valuables. You can secure your POS system by looping metal wire rope through an external part of your hardware and connecting it to an immovable object on the other end. For example, you can connect your POS touchscreen monitor or cash drawer to the checkout counter, making it an anchored piece of your building. You can add a lock to the open end of the wire rope and keep the keys safe on your person.
If you keep these smart ways to secure your point-of-sale system in mind, you can fortify your business physically and digitally. It would be best to prepare and implement your plans now before something unfortunate occurs. If you have any questions about point-of-sale systems or would like to know more about the security measures we offer, reach out to us at Business Software Solutions today.
