Will your ATMs be secure in 2020?

In January of 2020, Microsoft will no longer support Windows 7, spelling potential trouble and security issues for many ATMs still running on that software. Now is the time to take steps to upgrade equipment or software to address this issue, and with some strategic contract negotiations, you can keep your equipment secure through this as well as future compliance and security events.

The state of ATM security today

The last several years have seen a number of compliance and security concerns when it comes to ATMs. EMV chips became required on all debit and credit cards, as well as at point-of-sale systems, in part to combat the fraudulent practice of “skimming” customers’ secure data from cards’ magnetic strips. Many smaller banks and credit unions lagged behind this implementation deadline, with some currently still working to upgrade their machines. This lag on card chips pushed back implementation of chip reader requirements on ATMs, leaving some machines susceptible to fraud and exposing banks and credit unions to liability.

The latest issue banks and credit unions must deal with is the elimination of Windows 7 support in January 2020. The many ATMs that run on this software will no longer receive patches and software updates. And while it’s not an absolute mandate to replace your machines or upgrade to Windows 10, protecting your ATMs can help protect against malware intrusion.

 

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