In hospitality, every endpoint, from the reception desk PC to the manager’s laptop, is a potential gateway to your entire operation. From guest check-ins to payment systems, hotels run on technology, and with that comes risk.

At ThreatSpike, we believe good security starts with simple, practical habits. As a leading provider of managed cybersecurity and IT services, we’ve helped top hotel brands secure their infrastructure without disrupting operations or blowing the budget.

For hoteliers attending the Hotel Innovation Summit, here are five no-software-required tips any IT manager can implement to significantly improve endpoint security. No tools. No costs. Just practical changes that make a difference.

Strip Local Admin Rights
Start with something basic but powerful: remove local administrator rights from user accounts. Most malware, especially ransomware, relies on these permissions to install itself or spread. Limiting what users can do without approval adds an important layer of friction for attackers.

In hospitality, this matters more than you might think. Shared terminals at reception desks or business centres, mobile devices used by concierge teams, or laptops handled by multiple staff members often have too much power. Splitting admin functions into separate accounts used only by IT will stop many threats in their tracks before they even begin.

Secure the Physical Environment
You would be surprised how often breaches begin with someone simply walking up to a device. Laptops without locks, USB ports left open, screens displaying sensitive data, all of these are entry points that require no hacking skills whatsoever.

Hotels are busy, open environments. Guests wander. Suppliers pass through. A terminal left unattended for even a few minutes can become a risk. Lock down what you can physically. Use cable locks, port blockers, and privacy screens. And make sure screen lock policies are in place and enforced. The best cyber controls in the world will not help if someone can just walk up and plug something in.

Harden and Standardise Device Builds
Consistency is underrated. When every endpoint has the same hardened configuration, it is much easier to maintain control and spot when something is wrong. That means fewer surprises, fewer security gaps, and a simpler support process.

Standardisation is especially important in hotel chains or groups with multiple sites. Devices get rotated. Staff move between properties. Without a consistent baseline image, one that removes unused features, disables unnecessary ports, and follows recognised hardening benchmarks, you are constantly fighting fires in different directions.

Create and Enforce Device Use Policies
People do what they think is easiest unless told otherwise. That is not laziness, it is human nature. Without clear, simple rules, staff might plug in their personal phone chargers, use guest Wi-Fi for internal tasks, or download helpful-sounding software from suspicious websites.

In a hotel environment, where many employees are seasonal or temporary, this risk is even higher. A one-page cheat sheet at the front desk. A five-minute talk during onboarding. Even a poster in the break room. These are small steps, but they reinforce expectations. Security is not just a toolset. It is behaviour.

Audit Old Accounts and Access
Every access point that no one’s using anymore is a door you forgot to lock.

Take a moment each quarter to look through your user accounts. Who has admin rights? Who still has VPN access? What third-party vendors still appear in the system even though you stopped working with them two years ago?

In hotels where high staff turnover is normal and multiple vendors support property-level systems, this is a recurring problem. Make access audits a routine, not a reaction after something goes wrong. Prevention is always cheaper than response.

Security Starts Here, But Does Not End Here
These are all simple steps. You do not need a budget or a new piece of software to do them. But they make a meaningful difference, especially in environments like hotels where operations are complex and staff turnover is high.

That said, endpoint protection is just one part of the puzzle. If you are looking for a partner who can manage your entire IT environment while keeping security baked in from the beginning, take a closer look at ThreatSpike Black. It is a fixed-price, all-in-one managed service that combines helpdesk support, infrastructure design and cybersecurity into one seamless experience. Trusted by leading hotel brands including Kempinski and Maybourne and PPHE, it is built for organisations that want real results without unexpected costs.

You can do a lot on your own. But for everything else, we are here.