Is Installing a New POS Safe?

When purchasing a new point-of-sale system, it is normal to have several fears and questions, especially regarding the safety and onboarding process in your company. Indeed, the security of your point of sale should not be neglected since there are several technical aspects to consider.  

Is it safe to install a new POS? The processes for implementing new point-of-sale software may vary depending on the supplier. However, some issues need to be addressed depending on the provider you choose, such as if it has recognized security accreditations, regular updates, technical support, data migration, and more.

It is important to understand that each company is different but the safety issues are similar. However, if you are looking for software installed on-site rather than cloud-based, you should consider additional aspects that we will discuss later. 

How Can I Be Sure That My POS Software is Secure?

In this article, we will give you some tools to recognize a secure point of sale software and how to increase the security of your system. Before you make your purchase, you will know which questions may be asked to ensure that your POS is secure.

1. POS Security Feature Information 

Asking the company for security-related information, such as the types of tests they have performed, and the built-in security features their system offers including security settings to help you make an informed choice. Some companies such as Alice POS have also passed an intrusion test performed by a third party company, a group of experts who comes to evaluate the security level of a computer system, which ensures highly secure software. 

2. Software Updates

It may be useful to check with your supplier to find out if updates are automatic, regular, and included in the subscription of your point of sale. If this is not the case, be sure to update and synchronize it regularly to keep your system up-to-date and safe at all times. Indeed, it is essential to always ensure that you are using the most recent version of your system in order to reduce possible external threats that could harm your point of sale and your data. With Alice POS, updates are included in the monthly payment of the software and thus provide greater security for you and your company.

3. Two-Factor Authentication

Some software, such as Alice POS, is more secure thanks to two-factor authentication. This means that two key pieces of information are required to access the system. In the case of Alice POS, you must have the installation key, as well as the password associated with an existing user in the system. Two-factor authentication remains an effective way to greatly reduce threats to your system. 

With Alice POS, you can also set a password policy. You can customize what is mandatory, such as the minimum required length and content of passwords (e.g. special characters, capital letters, etc.). 

4. Increased Management of User Access

Security-focused point-of-sale software, like Alice POS, allows administrators to manage user access and roles. Indeed, some employees, depending on their role in the company, have different tasks and must make data entries in the system that other employees do not. By adjusting the roles accordingly, Alice POS restricts some more sensitive access. It is also possible, thanks to the cloud computing system offered, to quickly deactivate users remotely, wherever you are. These security features are offered by Alice POS.

5. Technical and Ongoing Support

In the event of an unforeseen event or intrusion, it is always reassuring to know that a person is available 24/7 to deal with the situation and accompany you. A point-of-sale system that offers reliable support services reduces the anxiety that sometimes accompanies the implementation of new software in a company. Technical support that accompanies you throughout the process, from installation to software use, is an essential service for Alice POS. You can also check if the solution offers a tool that shows in real-time the level of service availability (e.g. a Status Page).

6. Cloud Solution

Another important aspect to consider when purchasing a point of sale is to check if it is a cloud-based solution. Part of the benefit of the cloud is the protection of your business data and the regular and automatic backups managed by the supplier, such as Alice POS. By keeping data in the cloud, you don’t have to manage a local server on-premise that isn’t safe against theft, phishing, breakage, or major natural forces like flooding or fire.

A cloud-based solution allows you to manage and control your business remotely, from anywhere and at any time. If your software does not have cloud functionality and is installed locally, you will not experience any of the benefits mentioned above.

Alice POS is currently in use around the world, from Alaska to Quebec and including California and New Caledonia. We have servers located in the United States and Canada. It is also possible to specify in which country the data should be hosted. Thanks to its cloud-based structure, Alice POS offers a more secure backup system than the one performed locally and manually. Indeed, even if your desktop stops working or your hard drive breaks, you will not lose your data with Alice POS since everything is stored in the cloud. Never again will you need to worry about backups or losing important information.

7. Secure HTTPS Website

You can easily manage your physical store with Alice POS and also synchronize your online activities with it. So, if you have an omnichannel strategy and a transactional site, it is essential that it uses SSL protection. What is it about? SSL (for Secure Sockets Layer) protection is the recognized security protocol when a web browser communicates with a web server, among other things. For example, the data sent by your customers via your site to the payment provider will be encrypted and secure only if you have obtained an SSL certificate.

Some merchants are expanding their online store with existing solutions, such as Ecwid, Shopify, WooCommerce, Wix, and many other Alice POS partners. These solutions allow you to sell your items online on a website that is protected when a customer provides credit card or other confidential information. By pairing the strengths of Alice POS with those of Ecwid, for example, SSL protection is included by default.

However, if you have developed your e-commerce site yourself or your supplier cannot offer you an appropriate solution, make sure you have SSL protection on your e-commerce site to help protect your data, information collected, and online transactions.

8. Data Migration 

To ensure that the installation of your new POS is fast and secure, data migration from your old software to the new point of sale must be done carefully. With Alice POS, you benefit from a simple and reliable onboarding process made by our team. We take care of products import, customers, and inventory lists at the same time, but our work does not stop there! We then ensure that we train your staff, from practical training of the software to the official use of Alice POS in your company.

How to increase the security of everything about your point of sale?

Here are some tips to increase the security of your point of sale: 

1. Installing an Antivirus Software

The POS software will inevitably be installed on a computer or tablet. What the vendor protects first with their security measures is the point of sale itself, not the computer where you install it. Therefore, some accesses or data on your computer may not be well protected. To avoid being the victim of attacks, thefts, or intrusions, the installation of an antivirus on the workstation(s), which allows you to access your point of sale software, is recommended. However, be sure to verify with your supplier to see if the antivirus is compatible with the system you are using.

2. Maintain Up-to-Date Point-of-Sale Material

To have optimal security of your point of sale, the fact of maintaining your point of sale equipment, such as the sales terminal, the version of the tablets, or the computer software, is essential. Indeed, this increases security and ensures better performance of your system. For example, if point-of-sale software is compatible with Windows, it is likely that the software will not be able to use a version that is no longer supported for security reasons. 

3. Train Employees on Functionalities 

It is important to take into account the human factor, i.e. the errors that can occur and that can affect the security of your system. Proper training of your staff and regular use of password policy, secure access, and other related elements can reduce the risk of software intrusion. Indeed, ensuring that employees know how to use the system considerably increases the security of your point of sale. 

4. Restrict Employee Access to Certain Functions

Controlling the access of certain employees in the company is a simple and effective measure to increase the security of your point-of-sale system. Without effective management or access control, some employees may perform actions that could affect security and operations. Some examples of this include allowing employees to place supplier orders or access other employee’s confidential information. Therefore, by assigning each employee a user name, password, and restricted level of modification in the system, the employee will still be able to perform their daily tasks without accessing confidential information. 

With Alice POS, you can benefit from all these features and more! It is possible to allow point-of-sale users to authorize access to certain information, without them having the possibility to modify it. Talk to one of our experts to learn more.