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Hospitality Leadership Through Learning
Faculty & Research

Hotel Network Security: A Study of Computer Networks in U.S. Hotels

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Vol 8 No 15
By:  Josh Ogle, Erica L. Wagner Ph.D., and Mark P. Talbert

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Executive Summary: A study of 147 U.S. hotels finds a mixed picture with regard to the security of guests’ connections to the hotels’ network, whether by cable or Wi-Fi. Since many business travelers connect remotely to continue working while on the road, the potential for theft of corporate information exists. Some hotels still rely on relatively rudimentary hub technology for their networks, and these are particularly subject to hacking. Others have upgraded to more secure switches or routers. Even better is encryption for Wi-Fi connections, but that still does not prevent malicious users from intercepting guests’ transmissions. An example of a best practice is presented in the case of the W Dallas Hotel—Victory, which has set up virtual local area networks (VLANs) for all of its users. The VLAN inhibits attackers from using their computer to imitate the hotel’s main server, which is the mechanism most would use to intercept other people’s data. Given that the technology exists to increase a hotel network’s security, a hotel could potentially be considered at fault for not taking the necessary precautions to protect their guests from hackers.

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About Erica L. Wagner Ph.D.

A social scientist with IT expertise, Erica Wagner specializes in the study of how newly introduced information technology is "made to work" within organizations. Professor Wagner uses qualitative field research techniques to understand the patterns of action, stakeholder behaviors, and systemic interactions that reveal the issues of strategy, negotiation and power present whenever major technological change occurs within an organization. She is particularly interested in how new technology can be accepted within organizations even when it is perceived as problematic, and the role played by the "best practices" concept and has published widely in both scholarly and applied outlets. Professor Wagner teaches the required IS course as well as a database design elective at the School and uses a critical thinking framework for presenting course content and evaluating student learning. Her IS Ethics Debate and Vision Essay assignments have received University-wide recognition for their innovative approaches to assessing student learning.

For more information visit http://www.hotelschool.cornell.edu/research/facultybios/faculty.html?id=103

About Mark P. Talbert
Mark P. Talbert is a Senior Lecturer in the Information Technology area of the School of Hotel Administration. He teaches courses in business computing, modeling and programming, and is the author of several educational software programs including the Competitive Hospitality Education Simulation Series, Yield Lab and Menu Dynamics. Talbert has taught in hospitality management schools in Australia, France and Switzerland, and presented educational seminars to companies such as Inter-Continental Hotels, Group Accor, Holiday Inns Worldwide, Shangri-La and the Peninsula Group. He is an authority on real-time management simulation models, and his programs are utilized at management development programs, schools and colleges throughout the world. Talbert holds BS and MPS degrees from Cornell University.