Online ordering systems have become essential for restaurant operations, but they also create new attack surfaces for cybercriminals. Whether you use a third-party platform or your own system, breaches can expose customer data, payment information, and your business systems. Understanding the risks and your insurance coverage helps you navigate this evolving landscape.
Online Ordering Attack Vectors
Direct System Attacks
- SQL injection into ordering databases
- Credential stuffing attacks on customer accounts
- API vulnerabilities exposing data
- Payment skimming on checkout pages
Third-Party Platform Risks
- Platform provider breach exposing your customer data
- Compromised integrations between systems
- Shared infrastructure vulnerabilities
- API key theft or misuse
Account Takeover
- Customer accounts compromised
- Stored payment methods fraudulently used
- Loyalty points stolen
- Personal information accessed
Who's Responsible for What?
Your Responsibilities
- Data you collect and store directly
- Security of systems you control
- Proper integration and configuration
- Customer notification (usually)
Platform Provider Responsibilities
- Security of their infrastructure
- Data they store on their systems
- Their compliance with payment card standards
- Often contractually limited liability
Important: Review your contract with ordering platforms. Many contain significant liability limitations. Your cyber insurance may need to fill gaps.
Cyber Insurance Coverage
First-Party Coverage
- Breach response and forensic investigation
- Customer notification costs
- Credit monitoring for affected customers
- Business interruption if systems are down
- Data restoration costs
Third-Party Coverage
- Customer lawsuits for data exposure
- Regulatory investigations and fines
- PCI-DSS assessment penalties
- Card brand fines
Risk Management
- 1.Vendor due diligence: Evaluate platform security before signing
- 2.Minimal data storage: Don't store data you don't need
- 3.Strong authentication: MFA for admin access to ordering systems
- 4.Regular updates: Keep all software and plugins current
- 5.Payment security: Use tokenization, never store raw card data
- 6.Monitoring: Watch for unusual order patterns or access
- 7.Incident planning: Know how you'll respond to a breach
Frequently Asked Questions
If our third-party ordering platform is breached, are we liable?
It depends on what was breached, where data was stored, and your contract terms. If customer data flows through your systems, you may share liability. If the platform stored data on their systems, their liability is primary but you may still have notification obligations. Cyber insurance helps navigate these complex situations.
Does cyber insurance cover PCI fines?
Many cyber policies include PCI-DSS assessment coverage, but limits and terms vary. Some policies cover fines and penalties, others cover only defense costs. Review your policy specifically for payment card industry coverage. If online ordering is significant for your business, ensure adequate PCI coverage.