Point of sale systems make every business’ day-to-day activities run more smoothly, so maintaining these systems and keeping them secure important.

It’s not just your business that relies on your system, your customers’ personal information is sent across POS networks every time they complete a transaction at the terminal.

The same is true for every business that has a point of sale system. Every time a patron has their credit card swiped, they open themselves up to the possibility of credit card fraud and identity theft. These types of security breaches are front-page news that has serious and far-reaching consequences for businesses, including negative publicity and a subsequent loss of clientele; and liability of ancillary costs associated with the breach, including forensic investigations, fines and card reissuance costs.

How can you protect your customer base? It’s not as difficult as you may think.

• Every business is a target. Identity and credit card thieves want your data, they don’t care if you have one system with a large amount of data or multiple terminals with small amounts of data. Either way, the end result is the same: a stolen credit card number is still stolen.
• Make sure your credit card processor adheres to PCI-DSS standards. PCI compliance is practically a non-negotiable these days. For an additional layer of security, only purchase systems from companies that have been certified by the Retail Solutions Providers Association. pcAmerica is an RSPA Certified vendor.
• For mobile solutions, secure your iPads and tablet devices. An iPad is a tempting target–especially in a busy restaurant or store, so it’s best to secure them with a casing like those manufactured by Archelon Enclosures so they don’t grow legs and walk out the door.

For more information about how you can keep your POS system more secure, please visit www.pcamerica.com or call our sales team at 1-800-722-6374.