Holiday company steps up data security

Holiday company Attraction World has beefed up security around its business critical database and has boosted customer confidence as a result.

The company is using the Secerno.SQL security technology to protect its database from hackers and malicious activity, both externally and internally.

Attraction World sells holiday packages and travel tickets on behalf of numerous travel agents - as well as directly to the public - and its database is central to the business.

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The system protects the database from attacks that could lead to customer, employee or partner information being compromised.

Its database also supports back-office processes, accounts and front office systems - including various websites - so it is essential it is properly protected.

Peter Barnsley, head of IT at Attraction World, told silicon.com: "If our database was to be hacked or something malicious was to happen to it, it could be catastrophic."

He said: "[The Secerno system] ring-fences our database servers. We're now in a position where we've got a stable system in place."

Barnsley said if the system prevents one attack which could threaten 24 hours of data, it would represent a 400 per cent return on investment.

The software also alerts the company when vulnerabilities have been identified and where security could be tightened up.

As a result of the improved data security, the company has been able to strengthen existing relationships with customers and bring in new business.

The level of security at the company now complies with bank security regulations and this has been instrumental in winning business to sell tickets through a global payment card provider.

Barnsley said: "It gives us a peace of mind and it also allows us to then go to our major customers and say 'we've got this system in place and your data is safe'."

The company has also secured a significant new contract since Secerno was introduced. Barnsley said: "[Secerno]'s not the only reason why we got the contract but it's instrumental. It does enable us to stand out."