SecureConnect Serves up Security for C.R. Restaurant, Inc. at Its Thirty Burger King and Così Locations

MINNEAPOLIS (June 15, 2012) – C.R. Restaurant, Inc., a multi-unit franchisee in the quick serve and fast casual market, has implemented SecureConnect managed security solutions in all 30 of its Burger King and Così locations. The services provide all locations with a robust PCI compliance offering including managed network security, secure customer Wi-Fi access and an online PCI training module to train all employees on proper credit card handling procedures.

The world has seen a dramatic rise in cybercrimes in recent years. Hackers are becoming more sophisticated and they continue to focus on smaller targets with a growing interest in the restaurant, hospitality and retail sectors. According to Visa, in 2011 alone, restaurants accounted for 73 percent of all breach incidents within the United States. This reality hit close to home for Brian Swann, the Director of Information Technology for C.R. Restaurant, after hearing that a merchant they knew had suffered a credit card breach. When he learned just how much the breach incident had cost them, Swann decided it was necessary to address PCI compliance in all of the C.R. franchise locations. Realizing the complexity of the PCI requirements and having minimal exposure to the topic after upgrading their Point-of-Sale system, he said that the biggest obstacle to getting started was simply understanding what it meant to be PCI compliant.

“I have an IT background and I was completely lost on what PCI was,” Swann said, “ I can imagine other individuals, [including] many franchisees I know, that have no IT background and as a result, may not work on being complaint because they have no idea where to even start.” For Swann, he looked to SecureConnect as a partner in protecting their business and brand. Beyond the technology services provided, part of the value SecureConnect offered was access to educational resources and a team of trained experts that assisted him through the PCI compliance process, clearing up his confusion and making sure he did what was necessary to become compliant.

“I have dealt with some great employees at SecureConnect,” Swann said, “They work with you and help you along. They don’t make you fell feel stupid.” In addition to the expert guidance, Swann found that SecureConnect offers important features to the C.R. Restaurants organization like 24x7 proactive monitoring and support as well as a layer of financial protection with a $100,000 Breach Protection Program. SecureConnect team members work around-the-clock in the Network Operations Center to monitor the network security for thousands of locations across the country, including those for C.R. Restaurant, Inc. By ensuring that their network is secure and fully operational, Swann and the rest of his team can focus on other areas of the business.

Swann said that their investment in PCI compliance is all worthwhile now that they have peace-of-mind that their locations are compliant and their customer’s cardholder information is secure.

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About SecureConnect: A leading Managed Security Services Provider (MSSP) in the United States, SecureConnect is a thriving organization that has experienced double-digit revenue growth for the past five years. With national clients such as Culver’s, Wendy’s, Choice Hotels, Dairy Queen, and Taco John’s, SecureConnect focuses on providing PCI compliance and network security solutions to franchisors and their franchisees in the multi-site retail industry. The company has been nationally recognized for its success being named on the Inc. 5000 list in 2010 and 2011 as one of the country’s fastest growing companies. In addition, SecureConnect has been ranked #50 in the MSPmentor 100 Global Edition 2012 and has established itself locally, ranking as one of the 50 fastest-growing private companies in Minnesota by the Minneapolis-St. Paul Business Journal. For more information about SecureConnect, please visit http://www.secureconnect.com.

About C.R. Restaurant, Inc.: CR Restaurant has experienced incredible growth since its inception, highlighted by the recent acquisition of 11 Pennsylvania Burger King locations. The company, which began with just a single Burger King franchise, now operates 17 Burger Kings in Maryland, 12 in Pennsylvania, and a single Così in Columbia. The company employs approximately 1,300 people. CR Restaurant expects to continue its growth, and has put development agreements in place with Burger King and Così for both Maryland and Pennsylvania. For more information about CR Restaurants, Inc., please visit http://www.crcrealty.com/crc/Content.do?pageID=83.

SecureConnect Inc.
7599 Corporate Way
Eden Prairie, MN 55344
marketing@secureconnect.com
888-949-7328
Kristyan Mjolsnes
Director of Marketing

This release was published on openPR.