Franchise Guide: Security - Franchising.com
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Security

Security concerns for a franchise operator run deep and wide. From onsite cameras and POS systems, to technology that keeps hackers out of your system and away from your customers' credit card data, there's a lot of ground to cover. Experts from on-premise security to computer security consultants and suppliers weigh in regularly with tips, strategies, technologies, and best practices that can prevent franchisees from becoming the latest victim.

Look here often for contributed articles and interviews with security experts, suppliers, and franchisees.

The October 1, 2015 deadline for EMV-capable POS readers has come and gone. And much like Y2K 16 years ago, the world did not end and most POS systems are still working just fine.
  • Tom Epstein
  • 13,285 Reads
While very skilled at installing systems, point-of-sale (POS) vendors often don't understand security basics and likely won't make your security their main priority.
  • Brand Barney
  • 15,785 Reads 2 Shares
Cyber attacks are on the increase. Here's what small- to medium-sized franchisees can do to be more secure in the future.
  • Darren Guccione
  • 16,597 Reads 1,023 Shares
Hopefully, you've heard that the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) has changed... again.
  • Giles Witherspoon-Boyd
  • 14,867 Reads 1 Shares
We hear hacking horror stories every day. Businesses around the world call us in a panic, needing to decipher what went wrong with their security.
  • David Ellis
  • 12,476 Reads 7 Shares
Have your begun processing payments with a smartphone or tablet yet? Maybe they're seriously considering implementing a mobile processing strategy like many other businesses and micro-merchants.
  • Jon Clark
  • 9,930 Reads 39 Shares
Hearing about embezzlement in a public company rarely shocks anyone, but when it happens in a family business, people are often stunned.
  • Lois Lang, Psy.D.
  • 7,490 Reads 1,023 Shares
If I know anything about franchisees, it's that they have lists for everything, from daily kitchen cleaning practices to employee entrance procedures.
  • Joe Durfey
  • 6,107 Reads 1,023 Shares
With an estimated 1.8 zettabytes of information created and stored in 2011 alone, there has never been a more opportune time for hackers to challenge franchise data security, according to a DC Digital Universe study.
  • Peter Clark
  • 7,747 Reads 390 Shares
Litigation is America's fastest growing business because plaintiffs have everything to gain and nothing but a few hours to lose, says Hillel Presser, author of Financial Self-Defense (Revised Edition).
  • Multi-Unit Franchisee
  • 4,068 Reads
An overwhelming number of franchisees are perplexed about network security ownership and responsibility--especially when it comes time to pay for a data compromise.
  • Gary Glover
  • 5,011 Reads 14 Shares
Red Roof Inn
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The rapidly expanding mobile payments market is attractive to merchants because of the low entry barrier to obtain a smartphone or tablet device.
  • Gary Glover
  • 7,685 Reads 518 Shares
The cost of credit card data compromise has risen nearly 70 percent since 2010 (Cost of Cyber Crime Study, 2011).
  • Gary Glover
  • 5,056 Reads 103 Shares
There was a time when a hacker needed exceptional computer skills to breach a system. Only the most talented and experienced computer users could successfully bypass even the most minimal security provisions.
  • David Ellis
  • 8,909 Reads
You may not know it yet, but you are at war. An unprecedented battle rages over what you are entrusted to protect: your customer's credit card data.
  • David Ellis
  • 4,390 Reads 61 Shares
In 1991, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) issued regulations which allowed the use of service animals in public, including restaurants, hotels, retail establishments, theaters, and concert halls. The ADA's mandate caused little stir early on because service animals at that time were primarily "seeing eye" dogs highly-trained to help persons with blindness, deafness and some other disabilities while ignoring such distractions as food, strangers, and the presence of other animals.
  • Grace Y. Horoupian
  • 45,452 Reads 138 Shares
When Anil Yadav hears people talk about the United States as the land of opportunity, he takes pride in the fact that his life since emigrating from India has been a testament to the promise implicit in that phrase.
  • John Carroll
  • 22,725 Reads 6 Shares
In my 20-year journey of understanding leadership fundamentals, I have found change to be constant and adaptability to that change as the number one indicator of personal success.
  • Tom Welter
  • 5,567 Reads 143 Shares
Gift cards can be an important component of customer loyalty programs. They can help attract customers, driving sales and brand awareness. New federal rules governing the use of gift cards have recently gone into effect. You certainly should be aware of and comply with the new laws.
  • Jan Gilbert and Suzie Loonam Trigg
  • 7,518 Reads 198 Shares
Multi-unit franchisees have tremendous potential to increase their current revenue and future growth simply by reducing customer service breakdowns and improving service recovery. I call this "found money" because these dollars come from existing customers.
  • Jack Mackey
  • 4,035 Reads 1,023 Shares
Have you recently stayed at a branded hotel, or eaten at a franchised restaurant where the property was tired-looking and in need of an update? Was the overall experience less than expected because of the worn-out facility? On your next trip did you make a point to book a room or eat a meal at a competing brand, where the facilities and amenities were up to date? Worse yet, was the property yours?
  • John Geenen
  • 4,787 Reads 23 Shares
Angry Crab Shack
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Ken Greene has a secret. When he gets ready to open a new Honest-1 Auto Care franchise unit in New York (34 now and counting), he knows how to save up to 60 percent on the cost of his equipment.
  • Kerry Pipes
  • 9,044 Reads 722 Shares
Economic realities have been harsh, lenders stingy with money, and many suburban territories unavailable or overbuilt. These are just some of the reasons a few multi-unit franchisees are turning to opportunities in nontraditional locations. Many franchises have potential in places that have not historically been franchise hotbeds, like airports, hotels, colleges, senior centers, highway rest stops, hospitals, and military bases.
  • Eddy Goldberg
  • 4,002 Reads 70 Shares
When was the last time you challenged a landlord or property manager about the operating expenses or common area maintenance (CAM) charges? Probably not recently or never, right? To clarify, operating costs are the day-to-day management and maintenance expenses charged to the tenant; examples include asphalt repairs, snow removal, property insurance, and so on. Franchise tenants pay a proportionate share of these costs based on the space they occupy. Therefore, if a franchise tenant occupies 12 percent of a building, he or she will pay for 12 percent of the operating costs. Paying by this said ratio is the industry standard but, of course, there are deviations for special circumstances like free-standing buildings and so on.
  • Dale Willerton
  • 5,163 Reads 231 Shares
You've worked hard to build your multi-unit franchise business, and now it's time to step back--not only from the day-to-day operations, but perhaps from the business itself. Is it time to let go? Can you? Will the business continue without you?
  • Eddy Goldberg
  • 5,686 Reads 1,021 Shares
Just to let you know where I'm coming from when I talk about the five biggest mistakes I see franchisors making in today's tough economic times, I've been plying my trade for more than 20 years now, and well over 50 percent of my clients have been among the nation's foremost franchise organizations. I've been in the trenches with them during all kinds of economic scenarios--inflation, recession, expansion, steady-as-she-goes, and a couple of booms and busts.
  • Mel Kleiman
  • 7,282 Reads 286 Shares
There may be some lag time, but experts note that every recession since the 1950s--with its rising unemployment and weakened economy--has been tied to an increase in crime, most notably property crimes and robbery.
  • Rollie Trayte and Gary Widman
  • 3,925 Reads 22 Shares
I have a suggestion that will raise your odds of winning--and it won't cost you any money. To clarify what I mean by improving your probability of winning, let me contrast that with an example of winning by chance.
  • Jack Mackey
  • 4,929 Reads 1,014 Shares
In our previous column, we covered the first two elements of security and loss prevention when setting up a new business: site selection and employee screening. This issue we look at alarm systems.
  • Rollie Trayte with Gary Widman
  • 3,675 Reads 35 Shares
Reciprocity Restaurant Group President Lyndon Johnson good-naturedly lets new acquaintances have a little fun with his name. That's because he's fine with his name. "I can think of a lot worse people to share a name with," he says.
  • Debbie Selinsky
  • 3,173 Reads 74 Shares
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