When Network Threats Are Not Allowed to Check-in

Like elevators, networks in this hotel are segregated for guests, for service, and locked for outsiders unless they prove bona fide. Does this approach work?

- Pratima H

What makes security more than a chandelier and IT teams more than valets? And how tough it is to be ruthless but discreet, polite and always ready with a smile when it comes to safe hospitality? Pratima H finds out more in this walkthrough with Vinesh Gupta, the General Manager at The Den, Bengaluru. Gupta is a highly experienced and accomplished hotelier who has successfully worked for several prestigious international hotel chains. He has contributed his competencies and passion to the success of Starwood, Shangri-La, The Leela Kempinski, Hyatt, and Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces. He is also actively educating and mentoring aspiring hoteliers and has been a board member of The Seychelles Tourism Academy. Let's understand why he prefers the A la carte to table d'hôte regarding network security.

Hospitality and security. Is it a tough table arrangement? Specially when you have to seat data privacy, real-time availability and guest safety next to each other?

We manage it by mixing some old-school approaches with new-age ones. Real-time focus is blended well with manual and alternative ways. We keep data in many layers. It is in the Cloud, in conventional discs, in real-time workloads, in onsite as well as offsite environments and as back-ups.

What's your floor plan here, if any?

We follow a pyramid for security plan as incidentpreparedness. The first plank is where operations are not hampered at all. The second is about availability in different solutions and the ability to have a backup with apt speed as well as effectiveness. The third is about negotiations and cyber-insurance. Some incidents may not affect your operations but can affect you in a long-term way - like data theft. That's where firewalls and strong measures jump in.

Has security changed to a premier suite in your industry?