Improving Online Security For Your Travel Business and Clients

Online security has been an evolving point of discussion for the past few decades in many industries. So, while this isn’t a new topic by any means, as made clear by the numerous qualifications now available in online business admin alone, online security, admin, and management are still being freshly explored by many businesses.   If you’ve been in the travel industry for the past 4 decades especially, you will have seen how digitalisation has affected the way we sell and book travel. Which, regardless of your views on the mass digitalisation of the world (whether you’re leaning more towards Terminator-apocalypse, digital evolution, or you’re just settled in the middle trying to be polite to machines just in case), proves that it’s undoubtedly important to understand how being online as a travel business can both benefit and disadvantage yourself and your travellers.   All of this is to say, that while utilising digital management and admin will overall reduce your time spent on tedious tasks and make you easier to find for travellers, it’s equally important for both parties to be aware of online security and how it affects you.

Why Should Your Travel Business Be Concerned About Online Security?

  No matter the size of your business, and no matter the industry you work in, everyone can be affected by cyber-attacks and fraud. If there is a way to utilise it for malicious means, unfortunately, it will be done. Fraud and cybercrime are increasingly common and are becoming more prevalent with each passing day. However, there is plenty that you can be doing about it.   Cybercrime and fraud can be devastating to your business in a number of ways, the most obvious being the potential financial impact. If a cybercriminal accesses your bank details and acquires funds from your account, this money is no longer available to your company. Even if the money is refunded, this can still cause short term problems with the business’ cash flow. Additionally, the business may be subject to a fine, which can mean you may lose money after all. By way of example, if a cybercriminal were to acquire a client’s details during a booking, you may find yourself fined as part of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).   Fraud and cybercrime can also damage your reputation and reduce consumer trust in your business. Consumers are understandably less enthusiastic about purchasing from a business that has previously been the target of fraud or cybercrime.   Cybercrime also isn’t the only threat to your online security. If you don’t ensure a moderate understanding of how to protect your businesses information, you could accidentally end up exposing client information or simply putting your trust into the wrong hands. It is for this reason that those like us at Protected Trust Services (PTS) are so vigilant to stay up to date on online security and put multiple measures in place to ensure that members and customers alike can feel entirely comfortable knowing that whatever happens (including in the alternate universe where PTS turns out to have bad intentions) their monies, data, and privacy are steadfast, secure, and only for the appropriate eyes.

Remember Not To Discount Internal Threats

  One great oversight when addressing cybercrime is that businesses tend to consider only external attacks as a threat. However, you must also consider internal threats posed by your employees or partners. Employees will often have a greater understanding of your IT system, and may also be an inadvertent accomplice to an attacker, such as through phishing emails.   There are some essential measures to help prevent employees from acting fraudulently. Firstly, make sure to educate your organisation, ensuring that employees are aware of potential threats to your security so they can avoid providing a window for these issues.   On top of that, putting clear measures in place to ensure that not just any employee has direct access to sensitive data or client monies unnecessarily is important. For example, while we trust those we work with here at PTS, the fewer people that have direct access to member monies, the better for security. This means there are less places for outside threats to target, and less potential internal threats.   This isn’t just about being cautious though, it’s about client trust. Part of why our members work through PTS, is the knowledge that we do not have direct access to any of their money, and this online security measure doesn’t effect the efficiency of their business in the slightest. This applies to your travellers as well, having evidence of clear online security that stops you from simply taking their money and running with it will make them more likely to book with you once, and even more likely to continue booking with you in future.

What Can I Implement Right Now To Improve My Cyber Security?

 

• Never use public WiFi with mobile banking. Most banks will include a section in their terms and conditions to warn the customer against this, but many people continue to fall foul of this advice. Mobile banking is fine but always access it through a secure, private network.
• Teach your team about how attacks tend to begin. The most common starting points are email attachments from unknown people, slight changes in email addresses, and demands for private or confidential information via email.
• To reiterate and build upon the previous point, never click on an email you don’t know!
• Ensure that your staff speak to one another and communicate as a team. If payments, communication, or a client’s behaviour seem strange, discuss it. This is particularly important before you action any request that has been sent to you via email. It is always better to be cautious and to check, and people often find that their gut instincts are correct.
• Always keep your passwords absolutely private. Don’t even give the password to your most trusted colleague. The password stays with you, and you alone.
• When staff leave the company, make sure that all passwords are changed immediately by the IT team.
• Consider membership with a trusted consortium like PTS. This isn’t just a sales pitch, whatever support works for you, often consortia can provide multiple extra layers of online protection that could be the difference between a thriving, success business, and one small error thwarting your income.

Contact Protected Trust Services For Further Cyber Security Advice

  Cybercrime and fraud are everyday threats for any business, but any business can put preventative measures in place. It is absolutely imperative to make your personal information and your business completely secure, and Protected Trust Services will happily support any travel or business member with advice on cyber security. If you would like to discuss how your travel business can better protect against cyberattacks, or if you have any further questions for our member support team, please contact us on 0207 190 9988, or via email at hellopts@protectedtrustservices.com. We look forward to hearing from you.