Resilience in Hospitality: The New Cybersecurity Playbook

The modern hospitality environment is a high-speed, high-risk digital battlefield. As consumer expectations rise, so too does the complexity of hospitality IT infrastructure, and the threats targeting it. From POS system breaches to ransomware attacks, the cost of a cyber incident isn’t just financial, it’s reputational.

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What CIOs Need to Know to Stay Ahead of Threats

In this new reality, resilience is everything. It’s no longer enough to simply defend; hospitality businesses must now recover quickly, adapt continuously, and operate securely — all without compromising performance or customer experience.

To meet these demands, a new kind of cybersecurity playbook is require

The Evolving Cyber Threat Landscape in Hospitality

As digital transformation accelerates, hospitality businesses have become prime targets for cybercriminals. This is largely due to the high volume of transactions, sensitive customer data, and reliance on multiple third-party systems.

Let’s take a closer look at the most pressing risks:

  • Point-of-Sale (POS) Breaches: These remain a common threat, particularly during busy trading periods. Outdated systems and inconsistent patching often leave POS environments vulnerable.
  • Credential Theft: Weak password practices and phishing attacks can easily compromise both staff and guest accounts.
  • Supply Chain Vulnerabilities: A single insecure vendor can become an entry point for ransomware or malware across your entire environment.
  • Distributed Storefronts & Remote Access: With hybrid teams and decentralised locations, the number of devices and access points has skyrocketed — making visibility and control more challenging.

Best Practices for Securing the Hospitality Environment

To stay ahead of threats, hospitality businesses must move beyond reactive security. A proactive, layered approach is key — one that protects both the customer experience and internal operations.

Here’s how to build cyber resilience across your environment:

1. Secure All Endpoints — Not Just the Obvious Ones

Cybersecurity extends far beyond POS systems. From self-service kiosks to mobile stock-check devices, every connected tool must be protected.
➡️ Wanstor’s Secure Productivity (SP) platform provides centralised visibility and policy enforcement across all devices — no matter where they are.

2. Implement Zero Trust Architecture

In today’s landscape, it’s wise to assume breach. Every access attempt should be verified, whether it comes from internal staff or external systems.
➡️ SP enables identity-based access controls and enforces device compliance, helping to shrink your attack surface.

3. Enable Real-Time Monitoring & Automated Response

When downtime hits, so does lost revenue. That’s why always-on monitoring and smart automation are essential.
➡️ With AI-driven threat detection and response, SP helps detect unusual activity and take swift, automated action.

4. Empower Your People

Technology can only go so far — your team is the first line of defence. Regular training on phishing, device usage, and security protocols is essential.
➡️ Creating a strong security culture empowers your staff to make smarter decisions, faster.

5. Back Up and Recover With Confidence

Even with the best defences, incidents can still occur. A resilient backup and disaster recovery plan is your safety net.
➡️ Wanstor ensures your backups are regularly tested and ready to restore, minimising disruption when it matters most.

Hospitality Resilience in Action: D&D London

To illustrate how Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) can transform business operations, look no further than Wanstor’s partnership with D&D London, a leading hospitality group operating high-end restaurants and hotels in London, Paris, and New York.

The Challenge

As D&D expanded its global footprint, the operational demands on its IT infrastructure grew considerably. Long service hours, customer expectations for seamless dining experiences, and increasing reliance on cloud applications made always-on, resilient IT not just a preference — but a necessity. Managing devices, booking systems, stock software, and customer-facing Wi-Fi across a multisite estate required a more agile, integrated approach.

The Solution

Wanstor implemented a comprehensive IaaS solution tailored to D&D’s needs, including:

  • A fully managed hosted IT platform

  • 24/7 monitoring and support from Wanstor’s London HQ

  • Onsite technical consultants working in tandem with D&D’s IT manager

  • Hosting of business-critical apps in Wanstor’s secure private cloud

  • Secure WAN connectivity across all sites

  • Hardware supply and third-party application support — including hospitality software, ePoS systems, CCTV, and more

The Outcome

As a result of this engagement, D&D gained:

  • Greater agility and significantly reduced IT costs

  • Seamless scalability for new property launches

  • Streamlined user experience, with business-specific apps deployed by role across devices and locations

  • Reduced number of IT touchpoints for end users

  • Stronger compliance posture, particularly around PCI-DSS

Wanstor’s proactive support model empowered D&D’s internal IT team to shift from firefighting daily issues to focusing on strategic initiatives and future growth.

Your Cybersecurity Playbook Starts with Resilience

In 2025, hospitality cybersecurity is about more than firewalls and antivirus—it’s about embedding resilience into every layer of your IT and operations. From preventing breaches to responding in real-time and recovering quickly, the stakes are too high for half-measures.

Wanstor’s Secure Productivity offering was built with this reality in mind — giving CIOs the tools to protect, empower, and adapt at scale.

Contact Wanstor today to find out how we can support you.