5 Ways To Improve Security In Your Point-of-Sale System
Many business owners think that meeting the basic requirements of the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) protocols will keep their point-of-sale systems from being hacked. But here’s the truth: hacking into retailer POS systems is a recurring problem worldwide, even for retailers who meet PCI DSS standards.
In just the last couple of years, several high-profile cases have received media coverage:
- In late 2011, a scheme was discovered that involved hackers from Romania stealing credit card data from hundreds of POS systems, including those from 150 Subway franchises. More than 146,000 cards were compromised, and losses have been estimated at up to $10 million.
- In September 2012, hackers got into POS systems in 63 Barnes & Noble stores in nine states. The company removed POS card readers from all its stores while the incident was investigated.
- In December 2012, an Israeli security firm found a strain of malware infecting hundreds of POS systems in 40 countries. By injecting malware into a system’s iexplore.exe file on Windows servers, the malware hijacked data that could be used for cloning credit cards.
Countless other cases of POS “hacking†come from insiders: your employees. Keeping on top of POS security is essential for every business. Here are 5 ways to improve your POS security.
Socket Scanner Now Integrated Into NCR Apple iPad POS Solution
Socket Mobile announced that NCR Corporation has selected the 7Ci Bluetooth Cordless Hand Scanner for use with NCR Silver, a simple and affordable cloud-based point-of-sale (POS) software platform
that enables small business owners and entrepreneurs to take payments and manage their entire business with one POS solution.  NCR Silver is a complete point-of-sale solution that runs on your iPad, iPhone or iPod touch device.
NCR Silver makes it easy for small retailers to run their businesses, connect with customers, and sell anywhere. The CHS 7Ci is part of a complete NCR Silver hardware offering that also includes a wireless receipt printer, iPad stand, cash drawer and encrypted credit card reader.
PCI Compliance Explained!
Point-of-Sale businesses are paranoid, with good reason, about protecting sensitive customer and company information. Financial institutions require that any company that stores, processes or transmits credit card information complies with the PCI-DSS (Payment Card Industry, Data Security Standards).
Companies that fail to comply are subject to fines, lawsuits, and can even be banned from processing credit cards. Even worse, companies that are breached can find themselves in the news headlines, significantly impacting goodwill with customers, partners and shareholders. Ensuring your POS system and wireless infrastructure are in compliance is crucial.
The objective of the Payment Card Industry (PCI) Security Standards is to protect cardholder data. The standards are developed and published by the PCI Security Standards Council (SSC), which consists of hundreds of industry participants who have a vested interested in reducing vulnerabilities in the card-processing ecosystem.
Top 10 POS Systems by topcreditcardprocessors.com for September 2012
topcreditcardprocessors.com, the well known independent authority on credit card processors, has released their monthly rankings of the top POS systems for the month of September 2012. Each of the point of sale manufacturers included in the rankings have undergone a extensive evaluation of the POS systems within the payment processing industry. Merchants use the rankings to find the best performing POS system brands in the industry.
The Top 10 Best Point of Sale System Brands for September 2012Â are:
1.    NCR CorporationÂ
2.    CAM Commerce Solutions
3.    GotMerchant.com
4.    POS Prophet Systems
5.    Epicor Software Corporation
6.    AmberPOS
7.    Microsoft Dynamics RMSÂ
8.    LightSpeed
9.    POS easy
10.    Retail Pro
Scanning at the Point-of-Sale: Keys to Improving the Customer Experience
Industry Need
What can customers get in your stores that they can’t get online?
Retailers who cannot easily answer this question risk losing business to e-commerce competitors – more than 3,100 U.S. retail stores closed in 2011 and more than 5,000 more are projected to close in 2012, according to published industry reports. Retailers who are answering the question successfully are focusing on creating an excellent customer experience. They are creating and enhancing customer loyalty programs, offering new services, seamlessly merging sales channels and providing exceptional customer service.
Creating a positive customer experience also requires satisfying the desire for immediacy. Successful retailers have products available for customers to touch, try and take home right away, without having to wait for shipment.
To create this experience, retailers need to keep their products on the shelves and their staff on the floor. It requires a workforce that is knowledgeable, flexible and highly responsive. Retailers should demand the same from their equipment.
“Simple Choice Solution” Complete Point of Sale System from Aldelo and Logic Controls
Logic Controls and Aldelo have collaborated to create a complete POS system, preloaded software-hardware bundle, called, “Simple Choice Solution”
“The offering supplied by these two top companies is in my opinion the most reliable and suitable product for the channel,” said Nancy Szczudlik, Distribution Channel Manager at Logic Controls. “The ease of sale combined with the support and commitment of these partners is by far the best I’ve seen in the industry.”
The Simple Choice Solution offers two different hardware configurations an All-in-One POS terminal or a PC-based version.
Option A
LogicTouch includes the top-line Logic Controls All-in-One terminal, LogicTouch, and the most reliable thermal printer from Logic Controls. LogicTouch, known for its high reliability and exceptional performance, has incorporated with 1GHz Celeron-M CPU, 1GB RAM and 80GB HDD. It is equipped with ELO touch screen technology and a built-in MSR for its maximum functionality. Windows XP Pro is included.
Option B
PC-based option comes with the model LC8200 ¡V fan-less and vent-less retail-hardened computer. The small footprint and the rugged die-cast housing provide the flexibility and the reliability needed for restaurant operations. It is the perfect choice for use in the high demand often times harsh hospitality environment. The LC8200 is configured with 1GHz Celeron-M CPU, 1GB RAM, and 80GB HDD. Also included are the 15¡¨ super-value touch screen, the mini magnetic stripe reader, and the USB thermal printer. Microsoft WePOS is included.
The Simple Choice Solution will arrive ready to operate. Both Simple Choice Solution configurations come with Aldelo For Restaurants Lite Edition software preloaded and included in the price. The Lite Edition is the ideal POS software for quick service restaurants. Aldelo’s hospitality solution has been well received in over 40,000 installations around the world due to its flexibility, ease of use and completeness. The Aldelo Lite software can be registered via phone, mail, or the internet, and can be upgraded to the Aldelo For Restaurants Pro Edition at a later date.
