Security has always been  top of mind for most retailers. There are ways to deal with this and a Point of Sale (POS) System can help. An integrated POS system can store big amounts of data which is very valuable in this day and age. Not only do you gather info on clients, but also on your products. This does however mean that retailers need to consider the risks and therefor the level of protection when choosing their POS solutions.

Why retailers need a secure POS solution

POS security can be challenging due to the number of unknown threats as well as due to the sheer volume of valuable data it collects, so there are oftern threats associated and cybercriminals that can come in to the equation.. Retail and hospitality industries rely heavily on their POS systems so they are often at risk.. A breach in their POS security could result in damage to their company reputation as well as financial damage. Therefore, for both company and customer protection, they need to prioritise POS security.

POS security best practices

1. Update your POS system regularly. This will ensure that all security measures are updated and, therefore, always performing as efficiently as possible.
2. If purchasing a new POS solution, carefully evaluate the vendor’s POS systems to ensure they’re trustworthy and secure.
3. Perform regular vulnerability tests to identify any weaknesses. Then address those issues to ensure hackers do not target them.
4. Monitor POS system activities and data for any unusual activity or threats.
5. Run antivirus software continuously. Your POS system is not only under threat from cybercriminals but viruses as well. Antivirus software ensures that viruses will not compromise your POS solution.
6. Train employees about POS threats as well as to be vigilant and on the lookout for suspicious actions.
7. Keep devices that can access your POS system remotely to a minimum.
8. Do not use the default user name and password for your POS system. These default passwords are not secure and will likely result in your system being vulnerable.
9. Make use of application whitelisting. This only allows the necessary applications to run on the POS system. Apps that add risk to your systems, like web browsers and email, are blocked, therefore, preventing any viruses through those routes.
10. Use CCTV to monitor the physical security of your POS solution. This will consequently look out for any physical threats such as cybercriminals attaching card skimmers to your POS device to steal valuable data.

Capture all the relevant point-of-sale data with the fully integrated solution IQ POS with built-in flexibility for single or multi-site terminal capability.

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