POS systems are vital tools in modern retail stores. Be it brick-and-mortar or eCommerce stores. While they streamline and simplify inventory management, sales, customers, etc they contain a lot of sensitive information. That includes customer contact details and payment information. Ensuring data security in POS safeguards those data from falling into the wrong hands.
Cyber attacks causing data breaches or data theft lead to a series of severe repercussions. They affect retail businesses as well as customers. Stores that succumb to these scenarios witness a sharp decline in business credibility. Ultimately, their customer footfall also drops steeply.
POS software solutions come with in-built security systems. However, you need to configure its settings and employ a few practices to achieve the best protection.
In this post, we discuss the five tips you can employ to shield your POS from potential cyber risks. Let’s get started.
Safeguarding your Point of Sale software
We have put together five essential tips that save you from information mishaps. By putting these tips into practice, your worries about potential cyber threats fade away while your focus on running and improving retail prospects strengthens. Let’s dive into them.
Educate your workforce
Human errors jeopardize cybersecurity for retailers. Employee oversights in using your POS software leave it vulnerable to a sleuth of risks. In this regard, educating your staff about usage practices goes a long way in bolstering data security.
Emphasize the need to follow a secure protocol when using the software. Explain the factors that lead to potential disasters like:
- Clicking on unsolicited email links
- Failing to log out of the software
- Sharing usernames and passwords with colleagues
Scan integrations
POS systems are holistic retail management software solutions. You may still want to integrate third-party applications with your POS for additional functionalities or to streamline the workflow. Those external applications have access to your database. And if those digital systems have security gaps, your data is at risk. Keep third-party software systems in check by regularly auditing the systems communicating with your POS application.
Set up and review user roles
Retail businesses usually have different types of employees in charge of specific duties. Cashiers and salesmen, for example. They don’t require access to all the areas in the POS application. To restrict access, you can set up user roles. That will prevent employees from accessing modules in the software that are not relevant to them. It fortifies your security systems.
Enable multi-step verification
Strengthening the login authentication system in your POS prevents data leaks and hacks. It involves enabling a multi-step verification protocol. So when a user logs in, on top of the password, they would also have to enter the code they receive via mail or SMS. Furthermore, activating notifications every time a user logs in helps improve accountability.
Manage passwords and WiFi
Using the same passwords for more than a month opens up your data to various vulnerabilities. Make it a priority to regularly change passwords and inform your employees about it internally, and securely. In addition to that, maintain separate WiFi networks for guest access and employees. These are essential practices of a POS security solution as they minimize cybercriminals from using your own network against you.
Update software
POS solutions get regular updates to patch security flaws, implement new features, etc. It is not uncommon for retailers to postpone these updates. However, doing so jeopardizes the integrity of confidential data. So when you see an update alert, it is critical that you run the updates immediately. Consequently, your software is more secure.
Summing up
Digital retail security is most efficient alongside voluntary protection efforts by store staff. The confidential data your POS system contains requires safeguarding from malicious activities. Using the six tips in this article, you can rest assured that your data and credibility are safe. Are you looking for a POS with world-class in-built security systems? Then get SmartPOS. It has several layers of security that thwart payment fraud and unauthorized access. Reach out to us to know more.