PRESS RELEASE: Focus On Hospitality Unveils Next-Gen Hotel Cyber Defence Platform

‘Hospitality Cyber’ strengthens hotel data protection, resilience and guest trust

Shoreham-by-sea, 27 October 2025: Focus Group – one of the UK’s leading providers of business technology, cyber security and connectivity solutions – has launched Hospitality Cyber, a new modular cyber security framework built specifically for hotels, restaurants, and venues. The service is delivered through Focus on Hospitality, the group’s specialist division dedicated to the sector.

As hotels embrace digital check-ins, cloud-based property management systems (PMS), and online bookings, cyber threats are growing. Attackers now target everything from guest Wi-Fi and payment systems to booking engines and supplier accounts. Stolen credentials, phishing emails, and fake OTA campaigns have become everyday risks. 

Hospitality Cyber helps operators protect guests, teams, and brand reputation. It blends advanced security tools with practical, sector-specific insights, integrating cyber security into part of daily hotel operations. The platform consolidates the hotel tech stack under one framework – including the PMS, point of sale (POS) terminals, booking systems and guest Wi-Fi – covering protection, detection, and staff awareness.

Hospitality Cyber launches at a time when hotels across the UK are seeing a rise in phishing and data theft incidents. In one recent case, guests received fake payment emails that appeared to come from a well-known online travel agent. Although no systems were breached, the reputational hit was real, and costly. 

“Cyber security is no longer just an IT issue, it’s a guest experience issue,” said Alessandra Leoni, Head of Hospitality at Focus Group. “Hotels must treat data protection with the same seriousness as fire safety or hygiene. Hospitality Cyber makes that achievable, bringing together strong defences, trained staff, and round-the-clock protection, all designed for the pace and pressures of hotel life.” 

Integrated into Hospitality Cyber is a 24/7 Security Operations Centre (SOC), providing always-on monitoring for managed IT clients, delivering real-time threat detection and rapid response. It also incorporates Cyber Essentials and Cyber Essentials Plus, helping hotels prove compliance and commitment to data protection through UK-recognised standards. Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) verifies every connection - including teams, contractors, and suppliers – by identity, device, and location, ensuring only authorised users reach hotel systems or guest data. 

Many operators struggle to keep up with regulations including GDPR, PCI DSS, and cyber insurance requirements. Hospitality Cyber simplifies this by offering a managed, step-by-step approach to compliance and resilience. 

“We know hotel teams are under pressure to deliver great service every day,” said Laurence Glenn, Head of IT at Focus Group. “Our role is to make security simple — tools that work with existing systems, minimal disruption, and visible peace of mind. It’s about building confidence, not complexity.” 

Taking a continuous, proactive approach to cyber security, the platform also provides monthly vulnerability scanning (V-Scan), which identifies weaknesses in internet-facing systems before attackers do. Advanced email protection (Mimecast) blocks phishing, spoofing, and malicious attachments before they reach inboxes. Security awareness training builds confident, cyber-aware teams who can spot scams, phishing attempts, and social engineering before mistakes happen.

The launch of Hospitality Cyber strengthens Focus Group’s commitment to the UK hospitality industry, adding to its proven portfolio of IT, connectivity, and telecoms services. The group currently supports more than 200 hospitality businesses across the UK. By combining technical excellence with hospitality insight, Focus on Hospitality continues to help operators enhance operational resilience, meet compliance requirements, and protect guest trust in an increasingly digital-first world.