How to Ensure Optimal Security of Your Hotel’s WiFi
5 Rules to Ensure Optimal Security
of Your Hotel’s Wi-Fi
The hospitality industry is incredibly competitive, which is why every advantage your hotel offers makes a significant difference.
The effectiveness of your hotel Wi-Fi solutions can set you apart from your competitors. Travellers look for three indicators while evaluating the Wi-Fi service at the hotel they choose to stay at.
These three parameters are speed, reliability and Wi-Fi security.
Unfortunately, many hoteliers do not pay adequate attention to the last parameter. This article helps decision makers identify the right hotel Wi-Fi security solutions.
Come to think of it, if your hotel Wi-Fi is secure, then there are several monetization opportunities as well. However, for now, let’s focus on the safety and security of your Wi-Fi networks.
These are the main pillars of hotel WI-FI security your establishment needs to have in place:
NO DIRECT ACCESS
While setting up the internet connections at your hotel, ensure that your customers do not have a direct access to your Wi-Fi servers. Now, you might argue that a multilayered security system may put off your prized customers, but that will be an unsafe assumption.
Data privacy and protection should be the highest criteria while designing your Wi-Fi networks. All the customers must authenticate their identity while logging into their systems. SMS based OTP processes are sure shot ways of letting your customers know that you care about their privacy as well as the security of your internet systems.
SECURE YOUR HARDWARE
Many hoteliers think that safe and secure hotel Wi-Fi solutions have to do with complicated software. To an extent it is true, but all the software in the world is run by physical hardware. So, what are you going to secure your switches and servers?
The solution to this problem is two-fold. One, you must control the access to your switches and servers. Place them under lock and key and restrict the access to this equipment. Two, keep the switches high up on the walls beyond the reach of people. You can further restrict access to these components by placing them in caged boxes etc.
And yes, it is not a bad idea to have closed circuit cameras keeping a watch on unauthorized access.
UPDATE YOUR MALWARE/ ANTI-VIRUS SOLUTIONS
If you are particular about the safety and security of your Wi-Fi systems, then never let your malware and anti-virus software go out of date. Update them annually, and also keep an eye on the newer versions that are coming to the market. Please remember that viruses keep on reinventing themselves, so never ever let your systems go undefended.
An unprotected hotel Wi-Fi system could not only leak out crucial customer data, but also cost you monetarily. Your online transactions would be exposed as open bait to the cyber vultures (hackers) unless your systems are equipped with the latest ant-virus tools. Use the https:// protocol to keep your online assets safe.
EMPLOYEE TRAINING
Ultimately, the best Wi-Fi safety protocols fail if the employees are not trained properly in data handling. While you cannot prevent your colleagues from bringing in their personal electronic equipments, you still can ensure that they follow some basic hotel Wi-Fi security rules and regulations. You can also create a parallel network for your employees, then runs independent of the mainframe network dedicated to your customers. Apart from this, hosting bi-monthly training sessions for your employees by IT experts on steps to securing your Wi-Fi network should be a wise move.
HOW ABOUT A VIRTUALIZED NETWORKS?
Hotel owners should go in for virtualized networks. These use fewer pieces of hardware, and cannot be hacked easily by cyber criminals. Virtual networks do not have central controllers or servers. As such, every access point has all the necessary hardware to be secure and they use the consolidated abilities of all the attached hardware.
Virtual private networks are used by big institutions like airports, hospitals, railway stations, etc., and are very safe to operate.
IN CONCLUSION
There are multiple solutions to enhance and ensure for your hotel Wi-Fi security, and these are simple to put in place. While internet services are a must for your property, you must ensure to offer your patrons a virus-free and anti-theft network.
Viggo Smart Net’s wide range of solutions are specifically designed to dramatically improve the guest experience and raise your hotel’s rating score. Find out more about Viggo Smart Net Today.
