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Here are Interface Systems’ best cybersecurity practices for retailers

As part of cybersecurity awareness month, Interface Systems has put out a report summarizing best practices for retailers.

The company recognizes that retail chains now face a variety of challenges to do with POS systems and devices as well as online ordering and delivery applications. Retailers are a special target for cybercriminals as they hold client information along with their credit card information.

Below is a summary of factors for retailers to consider.

Securing the Point of Sale

To secure their POS, retailers are advised to:

• Encrypt all POS data end-to-end
• Accept EMV chip cards and NFC (contactless payment) technologies
• Whitelist applications to run on a POS system
• Keep their POS software up to date
• Address PCI-DSS compliance gaps proactively
• Segment the POS network
• Physically secure POS devices including mobile POS devices
• Watch out for unusual transactions
• Integrate security cameras with POS transactions

Securing cloud-based applications

• Adopt a zero-trust security model to help prevent unauthorized access to sensitive data.
• Protect sensitive data in cloud environments using policy and encryption.
• Invest in security orchestration and automation of response (SOAR) and extended. detection and response (XDR) to help improve detection and response times.
• Protecting against loyalty programs fraud through multiple layers of protection which include, implementing a data analytics system to flag suspicious transactions.
• Enforcing password policies and encouraging multi-factor authentication. Limiting the personal data needed to enrol in the rewards program can also help.