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This article is based on SIM's top 5 largest IT investments of 2017, which I found interesting to share, as we learn about I.T. investments. They ranked business analytics as the number one of IT investments, as companies are always looking to hire the best talent. Next on the list is custom software development, as new technologies now allow access to different applications to work together. Furthermore on the list, are cybersecurity, cloud computing, and CRM, which is no surprise as they are growing tools in today's technology driven industry. Overall, I agree with SIM's list, as these top 5 investments are clearly necessities to success in today's tech-driven industries. 

This article discussed some of the biggest cyber security threats to the hotel industry. One of the biggest threats is that of the POS system, this is not new but we should still watch over it. Another threat that is old is a phishing scam the scams are getting more sophisticated now, hackers get into the email accounts of executives and order large transactions to be made. Internal protocols cannot wipe of the hack but can minimize the risk of employees falling for the fake emails. Ransomware and DDos are also hacks though not as common they still carry big risks.

The purpose of this article was to review the available literature on the subject of ensuring software integrity for IoT (Internet of Things) devices, focusing on detecting and preventing modification of the original software, so that the device cannot be used for unintended purposes. The literature reviewed; secure boot, trusted boot and runtime security. Concluding that no one single control is going to adequately protect a device the solution based upon 25 years of experience is to create a multi-layered approach to security that starts at the beginning when power is applied, establishes a trusted computing baseline, and anchors that trust in something immutable that cannot be tampered with. Additionally, because a device built today can become a major problem tomorrow, due to them having hardcore keys "set and forget", the internet will then have literally billions of obsolete hosts in the coming years. Therefore it is important for MIS Managers/ Consultants investigate how to change the game in order to mitigate the damage or economic value of new systems being breached and by asking questions such as 'Can we even in the presence of a malicious attacker offer some limited form of security for the most valuable transactions (such as e-banking) or assets?' and 'Can we make the 'business' of the attackers less attractive by applying security technologies that are particularly tailored towards destroying the business model of the attackers?'

As this week we are talking about electronic accounting systems, I found this article on the disadvantages of computerized accounting systems to be rather interesting. As mentioned in the article, many companies tend to become too reliant on computerized systems, which leads to them forgetting about the negative outcomes that may arise from using such systems. These disadvantages include high cost, from training staff to repairing/replacing the electronic systems. In addition, like any cloud-based system, a computerized accounting system can also make a company vulnerable to cyber security issues, such as hacking. Overall, while very advantageous, computerized accounting systems still have certain risks companies must address before deciding whether, or not to use them. 

I believe you found a very interesting article on electronic accounting systems. Even though the tendency is all about the positive aspects on electronic accounting systems, I enjoyed reading the perspective on this article which focuses on its drawbacks. Companies need to evaluate whether this investment is functional for them and weight the pros versus the cons. Additionally, the information on an electronic accounting system is sensitive, and it can make the company vulnerable to hacking and data breaches. These are very important points for managers to take into consideration while finding the right accounting system for them.

In this article we discuss the issues that airlines are having with the GDS system. They give an example of someone attempting to purchase a ticket through an airline website, and then through a travel agency. The direct airline method was only cheaper, if the guest provided information to a direct bank account. The cost for airlines to sell is a bit less than 10%, and they are sold mostly through indirect channels, like travel agencies. The main reason this can happen, is the integrated GDS system. A GDS system is a data facility that shares inventory information for various airlines to different 3rd party channels. The issue with this, is that the total in fees for the use of the GDS system was around $7billion, which is twice the amount of net profit they are receiving. People state that the airline system cannot survive without the GDS, but is that statement really true? Airlines like Air Asia or Ryanair have really attempted to focus on selling tickets directly, and really expand on their profit. How can this be achieved? Well, airlines are making the booking process easier for guests to manage, which gives them more of a reason to book through there. Also, they are offering greater loyalty rewards for directly booking through the site. Different incentives need to be created to attract guests to book directly. Lastly, they would like to create another distribution system, to put GDS out of business. This new system will work to allow guests to handle meal and baggage fees. Concepts that the GDS cannot handle. With that said, will this new system reduce costs for airlines? I guess they will have to wait and see.

Researchers from Arbor Networks and IntelCrawler identify new attacks using malware designed for point-of-sale systems. " https://diigo.com/0bdlpi

This article discusses the benefits to using new technologies to manage kitchens in hotels and/or restaurants. By using digital softwares, processes can be streamlined as information is shared more quickly across different departments and staff versus paper reports being misfiled or lost. This also ties into food sensors to better determine and manage food output and ensure not only a better quality being served to the public but less waste overall. Especially in the current climate, less food waste would not only help the bottom line but would be an added marketing tool to more eco-conscious patrons.

There are so many systems for revenue management and labor control for the F&B industry, but certainly based on my personal experience, the use technology for food temperature and cost control is an area that is still lagging behind. In most the hotels I have worked at, we still rely on monitoring the temperature of the fridges from the sensors and alarms installed in the fridges and although we use the Birchstreet system to order food and cost the recipes, the inventory and quality assurance of food once received is still done visually and with the "clipboard and paper" method which takes a lot of labor and inaccuracies. Very interesting article and reminder of where technology can come in handy. Thanks for sharing!

This article is short and very much to the point. Plainly explaining what is an "offsite backup". Its purpose, and reasons one would utilize the cloud-based application.

In a way, fighting cybercrime is everybody's business. Think of it as an obligation to do your part in the fight against cybercrime. For most people, that means following a few simple, common-sense steps to keep yourself and your family safe. It also means reporting cybercrimes to relevant officials at the appropriate time.

This article is well worth the read. It informs us as to why our credit cards keep getting hacked although our favorite retail stores seems to have secure POS systems. There is actually lots of time and money that needs to be invested in order to have a secure POS. Many of these hacks keep happening because companies wait until it's too late to upgrade to chip reader POS or a higher performance security

This article stresses the importance of providing cybersecurity training to staff in the hospitality industry.

PCI Compliance for HOTELS: What you need to know (PCI-DSS)

Thanks for the summary. It's comforting to know that countries in Europe are getting on board with being PCI compliant, one less thing to worry about when using credit cards internationally for booking, shopping or entertainment.

Cloud Systems have many disadvantages, the big three include downtime, connectivity and security.

The article deals with the 2016 cyber attach on disney

This article talks about the many challenges for the hospitality industry due to hacking. One example is interconnected technology. If a hacker can hack into one location, they can hack into multiple connected locations.

This article sums up the ways in which POS is currently changing. These ways include by using shared commerce POS systems, mobile POS systems such as Square and PayPal, integrated real-time transactions with CRM solutions, and POS security. 

This article sums up the ways in which POS is currently changing. These ways include by using shared commerce POS systems, mobile POS systems such as Square and PayPal, integrated real-time transactions with CRM solutions, and POS security. 

The article discusses three key points to keep in mind for a better security within a hotel according to Russ Schrader from NCSA.