Protect Customers and Your Business with Point of Sale Security

Companies of all sizes can experience a security breach. In fact, hackers may target small businesses since they may not employ the latest security measures. One point of entry for hackers is your point of sale (POS) system.

A data breach can cost your business money and could cause you to lose customers for fear of further hacking. Target’s sales dropped by 46 percent after their security breach in 2013. Don’t let it happen to you. Here are some precautions you can take to help you secure your POS system:

Keep it Current

Many security breaches occur with retailers who have outdated terminals and software. If you’re still using the swipe-only terminals, it’s time to update to the EMV chip-enabled ones. Not only are they more secure, they protect you from monetary damages you might have to pay if you have the older terminals. Also, make sure your operating system is current. Systems that run on Windows XP have been shown to be more vulnerable than newer operating systems.

Dedicated POS System

Your POS system should be reserved for one thing and one thing only – processing payments. If you or employees use the system to surf the Internet or check email, you can make yourself vulnerable to malware that can infect your system. When it comes to your payment system, assume every website is a threat.

Choose a Strong Password

It sounds crazy, but some merchants keep the default password that came with their system. That needs to be changed right away. Security experts recommend using large and small cap letters, numbers, and symbols for the password. In fact, they discourage you from using dictionary words in the password. Sure, it will be harder to remember, but it will make your POS system more secure.

Stay Compliant

The Payment Card Industry (PCI) Security Standards sets forth proper procedures to help maintain a secure POS system. It involves 12 steps to take to be PCI compliant to safeguard your system. The good news is that I already employ PCI-compliant standards in my POS systems, so it takes a lot of the burden off of you to maintain your system’s integrity.

For a complete rundown on the PCI Security Standards, you can check them out at www.pcisecuritystandards.org. Or, feel free to call me at 877-379-9748, and I’ll be happy to walk you through the standards.