Revel Systems iPad POS Raises Awareness About How XP End-of-Support Will Shock The State of Retail and Hospitality

SAN FRANCISCO, March 14, 2014  /PRNewswire/ -- Revel Systems, the leader in iPad point-of-sale (POS) technologies, today announced an initiative to raise awareness about the impact that Microsoft's end of Windows XP support in April will have across retail and hospitality industries. Currently, a large percentage of merchants around the globe rely on Windows XP to conduct business, both at the point-of-sale terminal as well as to manage business databases and inventory management systems. Businesses electing to stay on Windows XP will no longer be PCI compliant and will leave themselves and their customers vulnerable to security and malware threats.

Greg Keizer of Forbes reported, "Microsoft itself predicts that the rate of malware infection for Windows XP may jump by up to 66 percent once Microsoft stops developing patches for the archaic OS." According to POS compliance firm Trustwave, the percentage of Windows XP POS systems in the field today is significantly higher than 30 percent, leaving hundreds of thousands of businesses susceptible to security risks.

Revel Systems believes highlighting this large-scale issue is of vast importance to not only merchants across the industry, but also to the fiscal security and privacy of American consumers. If retail businesses have not upgraded by the end of April, Revel Systems believes businesses could be vulnerable to attacks by hackers and will no longer be PCI compliant, leaving customer credit card data at risk of being compromised. The company seeks to educate merchants about the importance of having a secure point-of-sale system, and to raise awareness on the upcoming transition from XP to Windows 8.  If a business is not with a POS system that is making this switch or is with an old system that needs an upgrade, there are many options for merchants to consider to further support and grow their business and it is imperative for them to find a solution that is secure and PCI compliant to keep their business and customers safe.

"Due to the recent credit card security breaches at well-known retail chains, it's amazing how many people have been calling us in the last few weeks," said Chris Ciabarra, security expert and CTO of Revel Systems. "They no longer feel confident in their current point-of-sale provider, and want a solution that is more secure and reliable. With 3 weeks to go until the switch, it is unclear how this will affect the retail and hospitality space. Both of these industries are already under heavy attack by hackers, and this shift in the tech landscape will only magnify this effect on mom and pop stores and smaller businesses. Customers come to Revel because security and PCI compliance have been our design since day one."

According to PC World, Apple-based POS solutions have taken an entirely different approach. Since they are not bound to the Windows-based operating system, they are not susceptible to Windows-based malware. POS terminals that run Windows make it possible for hackers to repurpose other Windows malware to suit their needs and as an added bonus, Apple-based platforms, like Revel Systems, are able to be PCI compliant.

For further information on how the Windows XP expiration could impact your business or to hear more about how Revel Systems can help, visit http://revelsystems.com/windows-xp.

About Revel Systems                    
Revel Systems iPad POS was founded in 2010 in San Francisco, CA with the goal of changing the point-of-sale market. Founders Lisa Falzone and Chris Ciabarra developed a quick, intuitive and secure iOS-based point-of-sale system by combining cloud-based technology and the mobility of the iPad. Revel Systems software offers a feature-rich POS solution for restaurant, retail and grocery establishments with integrated payroll, inventory tracking, customer relationship management and more. With the introduction of the Revel Marketplace, Revel iPad POS users can now integrate directly into third-party enhancements, including mobile payments, online ordering, gift or reward cards and advanced financial software suites. For more information on the future of point of sale, please visit http://revelsystems.com.

Available Topic Expert(s): For information on the listed expert(s), click appropriate link.
Chris Ciabarra
https://profnet.prnewswire.com/Subscriber/ExpertProfile.aspx?ei=104573

Media Contact:
Katharine Kemp
Barokas Public Relations for Revel Systems
Ph: 206.264.8220
[email protected]

SOURCE Revel Systems