HEALTH & SAFETY hotels that kind of impact can stall growth and damage brand reputation.
What hospitality and F & B can do
At Dariel, they advise both businesses and home users to apply good Wi-Fi hygiene. This includes upgrading encryption to WPA3 using strong, unique passphrases, segmenting guest and internal networks, applying updates promptly, and disabling remote management features. As Slankamenac puts it:“ Every device connected through Wi-Fi represents potential risk. Good network hygiene is no longer optional; it is fundamental to digital resilience.” Pelser and Slankamenac offer five practical steps to keep your network safe.
1. Network segmentation and access control Ensure that guest Wi-Fi is fully separated from core business networks. Use VLANs or separate physical networks and enforce strong access controls. Guest Wi-Fi should always be treated as untrusted.
2. Hardening IoT and network devices Guest rooms and public areas increasingly rely on IoT. Each device must have unique credentials and updated firmware. These devices should also sit on isolated networks because attackers often scan for exposed IoT systems.
3. Deploy continuous monitoring and detection Advanced monitoring such as Managed Detection and Response( MDR) can identify intrusions early and limit damage. Hospitality organisations that lack in house security expertise gain round the clock visibility and rapid response through MDR.
4. Deploy a next generation firewall for Wi-Fi networks Best practice is to use a next generation firewall across guest networks and IoT networks. This reduces opportunities for threat actors to expose devices and move laterally.
5. Backup recovery plans and cyber risk readiness Backup strategies should include customer data reservation systems and POS systems. Test recovery processes often. Cyber incidents should be treated as business events with oversight at board level and a clear link to operational risk guest confidence and regulatory exposure.
In hospitality, guest trust is everything. A breach that disrupts operations or exposes data can have lasting consequences. Leaders should embed cyber resilience into broader risk culture by training staff on secure Wi-Fi practices developing incident response plans that include guest communication and ensuring that boards understand cyber risk as a business continuity issue. As Pelser puts it:“ Cybersecurity is no longer just an IT matter. It shapes the guest experience itself.” TT
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