Technology

Report: Cyberattacks hit 78% of restaurants despite security confidence

A 10-unit restaurant chain could lose between $20,000 and $50,000 during a two-hour outage on a busy Friday evening, excluding recovery costs such as forensic investigations, legal expenses and system restoration

Photo: MargJohnsonVA for Shutterstock

July 8, 2026 by Amy Sorter — Writer and Editor, Connect Media

Summarize with

Kevin Pierce, courtesy of VikingCloud

Restaurant operators are facing a growing wave of cyberattacks even as most said they were prepared to defend against them, according to a report from VikingCloud.

The company's "Cyber Risk Supersized: Quick Service Fast Casual Restaurant Report" found that 78% of restaurant leaders surveyed experienced a cyberattack in the past 12 months, while 76% reported sensitive data was exposed and 80% said they had been hit by social engineering.

Yet, 94% said they were confident in their ability to recognize and prevent an attack.

That gap could leave many operators susceptible, said Kevin Pierce, Chicago-based VikingCloud's president and COO.

"That disconnect suggests many organizations are underestimating their actual risk," Pierce told Fast Casual.

"The reality gap and the distributed environment of QSRs and fast casual restaurants put this industry directly in the crosshairs of cybercriminals."

Why restaurants are vulnerable

Restaurants face cybersecurity challenges that differ from many other industries. Systems must remain online during long operating hours, making it difficult to install security updates without business interruptions.

According to the survey, 78% of respondents delay software patches to avoid service disruptions, while 44% said employees prioritize speed over security.

Third-party technology also expands the attack potential. The report found that 62% of restaurant chains rely on six or more vendors at each location, from payment processors and delivery platforms to loyalty programs and online ordering providers.

"Each vendor integration increases the likelihood of an attack while introducing risks that may not be fully under the restaurant's control," Pierce said.

At the same time, restaurants continue adding connected devices and AI-powered ordering technology. More than half of respondents said each location operates between 26 and 29 connected IoT devices, while 40% have adopted AI-powered ordering. One-third acknowledged they are not prepared to manage the security and reputational risks associated with those technologies.

Financial consequences

Cyberattacks can quickly become costly. According to the report, 68% of restaurant leaders said they would lose more than $1,000 per hour if point-of-sale, ordering or delivery systems went offline during peak business hours. More than one-third estimated losses exceeding $2,500 per hour.

Pierce said a 10-unit restaurant chain could lose between $20,000 and $50,000 during a two-hour outage on a busy Friday evening, excluding recovery costs such as forensic investigations, legal expenses and system restoration.

The survey also found that a $50,000 cyber-related loss would significantly affect operations, with 10% of respondents saying such an event could temporarily or permanently close one or more locations.

Closing the gap

Pierce said many operators equate compliance with cybersecurity. While standards such as PCI compliance help protect payment card information, they don't secure every system or type of sensitive business data.

Instead, he recommended that operators regularly assess security at all locations, apply software updates promptly and closely monitor third-party vendors. Managed security providers can also help chains monitor multiple locations without requiring dedicated cybersecurity staff at each restaurant.

"The restaurants that come through the next wave of attacks recognized the risk, mapped their environment and addressed the most dangerous security gap at each location," Pierce said.

Food & Beverage Technology

About Amy Sorter

Amy W. Sorter is an award-winning journalist, copywriter and content producer. Sorter has generated quality articles, blogs and thought leadership pieces for multiple industries during her many decades as a writer. Her byline has appeared in local and national publications including the American Business Journal, Connect CRE, Bankrate, CURE Magazine and the Dallas Morning News.

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