Understanding the Restaurant Cybersecurity Threat Landscape

Cyber risks have been around for a long time, but that doesn’t mean they’re static. Attacks are growing more sophisticated and more expensive.The average cost of a data breach in 2023 was almost $4.5 million, a figure that’s more than 15% higher than just three years prior. Statista’s market insights forecast the global cost of cybercrime will increase from $9.22T in 2024 to $13.82T in 2028. With modern threats proving to be more persistent, severe, and impactful, franchisors and franchisees must work together to protect the brand’s reputation and maintain customer trust. However, balancing those goals against the reality of financial limitations and franchisor/franchisee relationship dynamics makes it difficult to prioritize cybersecurity. Understanding the current state of cyber risk can help restaurants simplify their security strategies and focus their resources most effectively.

When looking at the franchise threat landscape today, the gaps between the digital haves…