The Grand Strand-Myrtle Beach area certainly offers the illusion of a comfort zone for tourists and residents. Beautiful beaches and sunny days belie the fact the local hospitality and tourism industry is a favorite target for cyber criminals.
Myrtle Beach, being a popular tourist destination, attracts a large number of businesses in the hospitality industry that process sensitive information, such as credit card details and personal information of customers. In recent years, there have been several reports of cyber attacks on businesses in the Myrtle Beach area. By contacting your personal banker, you’ll find out how frequent their customers experience credit card fraud.
In 2019, the Myrtle Beach city government was hit by a ransomware attack that encrypted the city’s files and demanded a ransom payment to restore access. The city government was able to restore the data without paying the ransom, but the incident caused disruptions and delays in city services. In 2020, a popular restaurant chain with multiple locations in Myrtle Beach was targeted in a data breach that compromised customers’ payment card information.
Furthermore, a recent report by the South Carolina Department of Consumer Affairs revealed that data breaches in South Carolina have increased by 17% in 2021, with the hospitality industry being one of the most targeted sectors.
The consequences of a cyber attack can be severe for businesses, including financial losses, damage to reputation, and loss of customer trust. Therefore, it is essential for Myrtle Beach businesses to take proactive measures to protect their systems and data. This includes implementing robust cybersecurity measures such as firewalls, encryption, and regular backups, training employees on security best practices, and staying up-to-date on the latest threats and vulnerabilities.
In addition, businesses should comply with relevant data privacy regulations, such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA). These regulations require businesses to implement appropriate data security measures and report data breaches promptly to the relevant authorities.
Stay safer by contact SpartanTec, Inc., a leader in providing cybersecurity to not just the Grand Strand, but throughout the Carolinas.
