In early April, Omni Hotels & Resorts fell victim to a devastating cyberattack, leaving their entire IT system offline and resulting in a company-wide outage. The organization acted immediately and brought the whole network offline to isolate the issue, protect its data and prevent further damage from occurring. Unfortunately, though, this attack not only disrupted their operations but also potentially cost the hotel chain over a million dollars. While the exact nature of the cyberattack remains unconfirmed, it is speculated to be a ransomware attack, similar to the one that targeted MGM in Las Vegas a few months ago.
Most customers were aware of the inconveniences of the Omni outage affecting the hotel’s operations and day-to-day functions, such as: managing reservations, unlocking hotel room doors manually and using point-of-sale (POS) systems in restaurants and shops within the hotel. Many, though, weren’t aware of the dangers associated with cyberattacks.
The Omni cyberattack serves as a stark reminder of the ever-present threat. When a network is compromised, every device you connect to is put at risk. So, when you’re traveling, it’s important to treat everything like a risk to ensure your safety whether you’re on the road for work or even on vacation this summer.
Here are a few lessons we can learn from the Omni incident and some tips to keep your business safe:
- Avoid Public Wi-Fi: Public Wi-Fi networks, including those in hotels, coffee shops, and airports, are often not secure. If a network is compromised and you connect to it, you could expose your devices to hackers.
- Disable Auto-Connect: Turn off the auto-connect feature on your devices to prevent them from connecting to unsecured, and potentially hacked, networks without your knowledge.
- Use Your Phone's Hotspot: Instead of connecting to public Wi-Fi, use your phone's hotspot to access the internet securely. If your phone doesn't have this feature, contact your wireless provider to see if they can add it.
The above tips will help protect you but, if you travel for work or have employees who do, it is crucial to ensure that all work devices have professional-grade cybersecurity tools installed. You don’t want to send your sales team to a hotel-hosted trade show and, instead of bringing back a list of leads, they bring back malware that could shut down your company altogether.
The final lesson, then, in this terrible incident that all business owners in West Houston, Katy, and surrounding areas need to understand: No matter the size of the company, you can still be the victim of a cyberattack. The Omni chain, which boasts over 50 properties nationwide, would likely have a large budget to defend itself from cyberattacks and yet still fall victim to hackers. No system is 100% impenetrable, but small business owners who don’t have any security measures in place are putting a big red target on their backs.
Why You Need Professional Cybersecurity:
- Protect your company's data and assets from cyber threats.
- Prevent malware and ransomware attacks that could cripple your business.
- Ensure the security of your network, even when your employees are on the go.
At Alexaur Technology Services, we understand the importance of cybersecurity for small businesses. That's why we offer a FREE Cyber Security Risk and IT Optimization Assessment. Our assessment will identify vulnerabilities in your network and provide solutions to fix them, ensuring your business is protected from cyber threats.
Don't wait until it's too late. Click here to schedule your free assessment and safeguard your business from cyberattacks or call our office at 281-646-1200. Don't let your business become the next victim.
