Cybersecurity in travel and tourism

Cybersecurity in travel and tourism

prologue

Recently, tourism and travel companies have become increasingly targeted by hackers and cybercriminals looking to exploit data security vulnerabilities. Data breaches have become commonplace in the travel and tourism industry these days. In one case, British Airways suffered a major cybersecurity breach when they hacked into their systems and managed to steal personal information and related financial data from over 380,000 cards. Hackers are believed to have exploited a cybersecurity flaw during payment authorization to compromise the security code associated with card payments.

Global revenue from travel industry cybersecurity will be $1.4 billion in 2021. The travel and tourism industry is becoming increasingly digital and includes new technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT) and cloud.

The travel industry holds highly valuable and sensitive data about each traveler. If these data points are not adequately protected, customers are at significant risk of data theft. Several major companies in this space have received negative headlines due to their poor cybersecurity. Effective risk management as cybercriminals exploit vulnerabilities as part of their cybersecurity strategy requires a consistent approach. To combat cyberthreats, a company’s cybersecurity strategy should include contingency planning, immediate action design, post-breach response, and an understanding of the company’s current cyber risks.

Also read: https://nomadlawyer.org/is-it-legal-to-carry-alcohol-on-a-domestic-flight/

State of cyber security in travel and tourism

Looking at past cybersecurity issues and data breaches, it’s understandable that travel companies don’t take cybersecurity seriously until the bittersweet moment comes. Recently, however, my views have changed.

But why are hackers targeting travel agencies? Hospitality groups, travel agencies, airlines, and car rental companies have vast amounts of customer data that can be very useful to cybercriminals in the long run. Attempts to identify weaknesses or holes in the travel agency system. And as most travel companies rely on online platforms and booking portals to grow their business, networks with poor security protocols and well-established rules make it easy for private data to be compromised.

The impact of cybersecurity on the travel and tourism market

The travel and tourism industry is one of the most vulnerable to cyberattacks. The risks and impact of cyber ignorance escalate as attacks become more prevalent and sophisticated. Various layers of the travel and tourism value chain process vast amounts of personal data and involve many human error-prone individuals who interact with millions of customers in cyberspace. Therefore, as attacks become more sophisticated, it is no longer enough to thoroughly consider cybersecurity strategy or focus on compliance obligations after a cyberattack.

The COVID-19 pandemic has increased cyberattacks, requiring organizations to quickly respond to significant operational and financial challenges. The pandemic has accelerated our reliance on online communications and payment systems, increasing the demand for digitization. This has led various companies to streamline their operations, shift their business models to become more digital, and increase the threat of cyberattacks.

A company with poor risk management can expose its business to a number of threats that can significantly threaten the future viability of the organization. A strong cybersecurity strategy is essential for effective risk management. This is notable as the survey also showed that respondents in the tourism industry consider risk management to be the most important factor in corporate governance. Ineffective strategies can lead to criminals hacking and misusing sensitive data, putting your business, employees, and consumers at risk.

Cyber ​​Security Tips for Travel Agents

Therefore, given the nature of the data held by travel agencies, it is time to take cyber security seriously. You can take a few simple steps first, but to completely eliminate the possibility of data breaches through internal or third-party servers, you need to develop a complete security strategy. Here are some tips to help you strengthen your security system.

1. Must provide monitoring of incoming and outgoing communications for data-destroying malware.

2. A secure CRM system with user rights should be implemented to reduce the potential for data misuse.

3. Continued use of unsafe websites on corporate servers should be blocked.

4. Access to back-end data servers and systems should be controlled.

5. Use of up-to-date antivirus and antimalware products is a prerequisite.

6. You should use strong passwords to protect your data.

7. Employees should be prevented or prohibited from opening email attachments from unknown sources.

8. Enterprises should implement data tokenization and encryption measures to protect sensitive information.

Even small businesses can improve their cybersecurity readiness by using these simple strategies. Once you have the basics in place, we recommend conducting a cybersecurity audit and involving experts to ensure your system is fully protected against cyberattacks.

Check travel laws

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Contributed by Ankit Raj Sharma

Edited by Imtiaz Ullah