The inhospitable vulnerability: A need for cybersecurity risk assessment in the hospitality industry

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this conceptual paper is to underline several issues related to cybersecurity in the hospitality industry; address the importance of evaluating cyber risks, vulnerabilities and capabilities; and provide suggestions for hospitality operators to minimize the damage that cyberattacks could cause. Future research addressing cyber threats is a call to action.

Design/methodology/approach

To understand the occurrence and the impact of information security, the researchers reviewed the previous research regarding information security and used the database from Privacy Rights Clearinghouse and collected 76 information security incidents in the US hospitality industry since 2006.

Finding

The increasing frequency of data breach incidents from 2006 to 2017 indicates that the issue of cybercrimes has become more critical in the hospitality industry.

Originality/value

This conceptual paper sheds light on the issues of cybersecurity in risk assessment and heightens the necessity of discussing data breach issues in future hospitality research.

研究目的

本论文旨在提出几项有关酒店行业网络安全的问题, 并指出网络风险评估的重要性、脆弱性、以及能力, 本论文对酒店行业人如何减少网络攻击所带来的损害有着建设性意义。未来科研应该加强对网络威胁方面的研究工作。

研究设计/方法/途径

为了了解信息安全的缘由和影响, 本论文作者审阅了有关信息安全的文献, 并且借用隐私权咨询中心（Privacy Rights Clearinghouse）的数据库, 采集了自2006年以来美国酒店行业76起信息安全事件, 以进行分析研究。

研究结果

本论文发现自2006年起至2017年, 数据泄露事件发生频率在与日俱增。此现象表明网络犯罪在酒店行业已经成为越来越严重的问题。

研究原创性/价值

本论文是理论性文章, 其研究结果对风险评估中的网络安全问题有着启示作用, 此外, 本论文还重点提出了未来酒店管理研究方向, 应该着重研究数据泄露问题。

关键词

关键词 网络安全 、数据泄露事件 、风险评估 、信息技术 、酒店行业

Citation

Chen, H.S. and Fiscus, J. (2018), "The inhospitable vulnerability: A need for cybersecurity risk assessment in the hospitality industry", Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Technology, Vol. 9 No. 2, pp. 223-234. https://doi.org/10.1108/JHTT-07-2017-0044