e-Security in the hospitality industry in Cape Town: are SMEs informed?

Abstract

The World Wide Web (Web) and Internet plays a crucial role contributing to the success of companies operating in the information age. Competitive prices of computer and Internet technologies are compelling companies of different sizes to rethink the way they operate. It is no different for hospitality SMEs also following this trend. Companies, even more so now, need to be connected to the Internet if they want to be accessible to consumers from all over the world. In South Africa, the volume of Internet traffic has increased steadily over the last few years supported by the expanding deployment of cellular smart phones. For example, over the past year Internet usage grew by 25 per cent in South Africa. Internet access ideally suits the hospitality industry by providing both, information retrieval and electronic transactions. Online applications used by hospitality companies have become more common, resulting in applications being more reliant on Internet services to reach a broader customer base. Being without it is not an option. However, this development resulted in the cyber world becoming the breeding ground for criminal activities. e-Security is a focal point requiring companies to deal with many online security issues and companies are suffering financial loss due to security breaches. Previously, SMEs believed they were not likely targets and considered hackers only to be interested in larger enterprises. However, this is not the case as literature reveals that SMEs are not immune to ever increasing security breaches. At least 47 per cent of SMEs have been victims of e-security breaches. This paper investigates security risks facing hospitality SMEs as they continue to adopt Internet based technology to succeed in today's volatile business environment.