Our Comprehensive Guide to Point-of-Sale Security Checklist

“Quick summary” The point of sale (POS) system is undoubtedly the most significant information technology system. The POS system keeps track of transactions and transmits pertinent data to the accounting, fulfillment, and inventory management systems to simplify the payment gateway and provide better and quicker client checkout.

However, because POS systems save many sensitive consumer information, hackers attempt to steal that information by downloading malware or breaking into the systems through a remote network.

Robust security is needed to keep the communicated data to these many systems confidential, private, and controlled.

Because of this, the POS system's security is essential to safeguard your valuable business data. Keep reading to look for the comprehensive POS security checklist and best practices to protect your POS system!

What exactly is the security of a POS system?

POS security prevents unauthorized individuals from accessing electronic payment systems to steal sensitive data about paying customers, like credit card or debit card details. POS security is a must for building confidence with today's customers and seeks to provide a stable environment for clients to conduct their transactions.

Why is the security of a point of sale crucial? 

Understanding that there is a protection risk related to every restaurant POS device is crucial. Hackers utilize weak devices to look for data before commencing malicious activities on their POS systems.

The four main stages of a POS breach are infiltration, dissemination, exfiltration, and aggregation. In the first step, hackers repeatedly get access to the systems by taking the undue benefit of a system's weaknesses or utilizing ideal engineering strategies.

When a hacker gets access, they install the malware, which spreads until it has access to the system's data and can collect the needed information. The information is then transferred to a different place within the target's surroundings for consolidation before uploading it to a place outside the device where the hacker can reach it.

And this is how a hacker attempts to get your clients' information while damaging your company's reputation. You must adhere to the finest security measures to safeguard your restaurant POS system and consumers' information.

POS Security Checklist: Check out the full list. 

• Encrypt all POS information at the point of entry and only decode it after it has reached the payment processor.
• Activate application whitelisting, which permits only necessary components to execute on your restaurant POS system. Applications that typically pose a risk, such as web browsers and email clients, are restricted, preventing malware infestations through these routes.
• Keep retail POS systems up to date by applying software upgrades, which frequently include critical security fixes created in response to newly found vulnerabilities. The management of patches is essential for a secure system.
• Conduct regular vulnerability testing to find flaws. Implement measures, and deal with any vulnerabilities found. Monitor systems for harmful files with antivirus software.
• Appropriately segment the connections that POS systems use. Use complicated, strong passwords and two-factor verification for your POS system.
• To acquire customers' credit card details, hackers may try to attach card skimmers to a restaurant POS system when customers checkout using their cards. So, you need to consider all the security measures while choosing your POS system. 
• Do daily inspections. Regular facility inspections will enable you to find card readers and other unlawful equipment before hackers may utilize them.
• Examine the serial numbers on the terminal's back and the electrical device.
• Check the POS device's seal to check if it has been cut or if a false seal has been applied. If the gadget has seams or screw holes, this is a sign that it has been opened.
• Inspect the label for any indications that something has been added or removed. You can check for odd or unexpected connections on the equipment.
• In case of unexpected technical service calls, make it a requirement for all repair technicians to sign in, confirm their identity with a photo ID, and stay with staff when working on PIN pads.
• Check for any modifications to the cable that connects the terminal to the central unit and any extra wires that aren't components of the wiring. And be cautious if the POS device's sealing is compromised.
• To increase security, provide surveillance cameras a better sight of PIN pad terminals and POS equipment.
• To prevent unwanted access, lock the backup of retail POS systems. Requests for POS devices must be centrally verified and, therefore, only come from the authorized provider.
• Contact the appropriate department immediately if proof of device substitution or manipulation is discovered.

Best Practices for Point-Sale-Security Checklist!

Tokenization

If you include tokenization in the mix, your situation will be much better. Tokenization substitutes a token or reference code for the card information. If a hacker manages to access the retail POS system, they are left with pointless token values that they cannot use to manipulate the data or fraud.

Point-to-point encryption

P2PE and Tokenization are the two components of a card data protection strategy, called data undervaluation. Point to Point encryption in the POS system will encrypt the data throughout the process, and when it reaches the user, it gets decrypted. This encryption will leave the hacker with useless information, resulting in enhanced data protection. 

PCI DSS compliance

Organizations must adhere to the requirements of data privacy and protection laws and put procedures in place to control and protect POS systems. It contains the PCI Data Security Standard (PCI DSS), which governs security requirements for any business that accepts credit cards from well-known merchants. 

Every transaction made using card machines, online shopping carts, networking, routers, computers, and paper files must be compliant.

Password protection

Regular software updates prevent unwanted access to company data, while a password-protected restaurant POS system continuously works to prevent data leaks. Additionally, incorporate end-to-end encryption, two-factor verification, and antivirus scanning into developing sophisticated security measures to safeguard the POS system further.

Go for IOS devices

The majority of intrusions and attacks have been caused by malicious software that has been installed into the retail POS system's memory. Hackers can covertly implant malware software into POS systems, after which they can steal data.

As a result, multiple apps or activities can be managed by Windows devices simultaneously, which might lead to data breaches or leaks.

Additionally, because iOS can only fully run one app at a time, similar assaults have historically been less common on Apple-made devices.

Training for employees

The human element is a further consideration in this whole process. To preserve the complete security of your restaurant POS system and client data, you must provide your personnel with the appropriate training. 

Employees should be trained to provide safe access, credentials, and other best security practices to prevent system breaches. In a constantly evolving cyber world, it's essential to provide personnel with annual or regular training to keep them informed.

Related Blog: Why do you need pos system for small business?

Conclusion

POS security checklist is essential as data quantities expand dramatically along with the expansion of known and unidentified attack vectors and security risks. The information stored in POS systems is extremely important, and its loss or theft could harm businesses and their clients.

Businesses that depend on POS systems must put security at the top of their priority list to safeguard their sensitive customer information and avoid compromising client payment information. 

They must put in place the right measures for consumer transactions and POS system security and train staff on the dangers associated with Point of Sale security checklists and practices.

You must select the most sophisticated and reliable POS system to ensure end-to-end security.

When it comes to finding the best, OVVI has you covered. Our state-of-the-art POS system is sophisticated and robust, which makes the payment system faster with the utmost security.