PCI Solution Serves up Security for Burger King and Cosi Locations

C.R. Restaurant, Inc., a multi-unit franchisee in the quick serve and fast casual market, has implemented SecureConnect managed security solutions in all 30 of its Burger King and CosÌ locations. The services provide all locations with a robust PCI compliance offering including managed network security, secure customer Wi-Fi access and an online PCI training module to train all employees on proper credit card handling procedures. 

 

The world has seen a dramatic rise in cybercrimes in recent years. Hackers are becoming more sophisticated and they continue to focus on smaller targets with a growing interest in the restaurant, hospitality and retail sectors. According to Visa, in 2011 alone, restaurants accounted for 73 percent of all breach incidents within the United States. This reality hit close to home for Brian Swann, the Director of Information Technology for C.R. Restaurant, after hearing that a merchant they knew had suffered a credit card breach. When he learned just how much the breach incident had cost them, Swann decided it was necessary to address PCI compliance in all of the C.R. franchise locations. Realizing the complexity of the PCI requirements and having minimal exposure to the topic after upgrading their Point-of-Sale system, he said that the biggest obstacle to getting started was understanding what it meant to be PCI compliant.

 

Beyond the technology services provided, part of the value SecureConnect offered was access to educational resources and a team of trained experts that assisted him through the PCI compliance process, clearing up his confusion and making sure he did what was necessary to become compliant. 

 

In addition to the expert guidance, SecureConnect offers important features to the C.R. Restaurants organization like 24x7 proactive monitoring and support as well as a layer of financial protection with a $100,000 Breach Protection Program. SecureConnect team members work around-the-clock in the Network Operations Center to monitor the network security for thousands of locations across the country, including those for C.R. Restaurant, Inc.     

 

Swann said that their investment in PCI compliance is all worthwhile now that they have peace-of-mind that their locations are compliant and their customer’s cardholder information is secure.