Another day, another cyber-attack! In early April, Omni Hotels & Resorts fell victim to a cyber-attack that crippled its entire IT system, leading to a company-wide outage. In response, the organization swiftly took action, bringing the network offline to contain the issue, safeguard its data, and prevent further damage. However, this measure significantly impacted the hotel’s operations, causing disruptions in managing reservations, manually unlocking hotel room doors, and using point-of-sale (POS) systems in restaurants and shops within the hotel. The financial toll of this attack is expected to exceed a million dollars, according to some estimates. While the exact nature of the attack remains unconfirmed by the hotel, speculation suggests it may have been a ransomware attack akin to the one that targeted MGM in Las Vegas several months prior.

Diverse CTI was there firsthand to experience the aftermath of this cyber-attack at Omni Hotels.  Our employees were escorted to their rooms by staff due to key card malfunctions, we opted not to use the Omni Wi-Fi for security purposes. This experience underscored the critical importance of cybersecurity and the need for individuals and businesses to remain vigilant against cyber threats, especially when traveling.

While the inconveniences of the Omni outage were widely felt, many may not fully grasp the potential dangers associated with cyber-attacks. When a network is compromised, without robust protective measures, every connected device is at risk. This highlights the importance of adopting proactive cybersecurity practices, particularly when traveling. Here are a few tips to keep you safe on the road:

  • Avoid Public Wi-Fi: Refrain from connecting to public Wi-Fi networks, including those in hotels, coffee shops, and airport lounges. These networks can be compromised, potentially granting hackers access to your devices.
  • Disable Auto-Connect: Turn off the auto-connect feature on your devices. This prevents them from automatically connecting to unknown or potentially malicious Wi-Fi networks.
  • Use Your Phone’s Hotspot: Instead of using public Wi-Fi, consider using your phone's hotspot for internet connectivity. This can be a safer alternative, as your phone's connection is likely more secure.

While these tips can help protect your personal devices, businesses must take additional steps to ensure their cybersecurity. Professional-grade cybersecurity tools should be installed on all work devices to mitigate the risk of cyber-attacks. Without these precautions, businesses risk exposing sensitive data and compromising their operations.

The cyber-attack on Omni Hotels serves as a stark reminder that no company is immune to cyber threats, regardless of its size or budget. Even large organizations with extensive resources can fall victim to cyber-attacks. For small business owners, this underscores the importance of implementing robust cybersecurity measures to protect against potential threats.

If you are concerned about your company's cybersecurity posture or would like a second opinion on your existing security measures, Diverse CTI offers a FREE Security Risk Assessment. This comprehensive assessment will identify vulnerabilities in your network and provide tailored solutions to address them.

Click here to book your Security Risk Assessment with one of our cybersecurity experts, or call our office at 405-840-4100.