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End of EZR

The beginning of a Better Network


What's Happening With the EZR?

At the Verifone Client Forum in May 2018, Verifone announced plans to End-of-Life(EOL) the Enhanced Zone Router (EZR) in 2019. The EZR is a secure zone router to segregate the POS LAN from the rest of the network and also allows the Verifone help desk to remotely access and support the Verifone Commander platform. In place of the EZR, retailers are required to use their brand certified Managed Network Service Provider (MNSP), certified by Verifone, to facilitate the remote access required by the Verifone help desk. Prior to the EOL date, retailers should begin preparations to transition their store networks, which involves

  • Selecting and contacting a Verifone Certified MNSP
  • Prepare for replacement of the EZR in each store
  • Ensure the MNSP will rewire and reconfigure the store network
  • Validating the installation

Understanding the EZR End-of-Life Transition

The Verifone EZR is reaching its end-of-life. Here's what you need to know to keep your location(s) operating and secure.

 

 

 

What you need to know about Outdoor EMV

MasterCard and Visa have issued a mandate that all outdoor fuel pumps need to be EMV chip-compliant by October, 2020. Watch the video to hear more!

Hughes Discussion: Outdoor EMV 2 thumbnail
Hughes Discussion: Verifone EZR EOL 2 thumbnail

 

 

What you need to know about the Verifone EZR EOL 

At the Verifone Client Forum in May, 2018, Verifone announced plans to end-of-life the Enhanced Zone Router. As a result, retailers will need to use a managed network service provider, certified by Verifone. Watch the video to hear more!

What Do I Need to Know?

The EZR provides the Verifone Help Desk with a consistent means of remotely accessing the Commander. When the EZR reaches EOL, the Verifone help desk will only be able to reach the in-store Commander platform via a connection facilitated by a certified MNSP. If a retailer has not transitioned to a certified MNSP, the Verifone help desk will not be able to reach the store’s commander platform. This will interfere with remote troubleshooting, and with the ability to distribute software updates to the Commander. 

There are several potential approaches to removing the EZR, including:

  • Replacing the EZR with a simple switch
  • Replacing the EZR with a managed switch, allowing more future functionality

In addition to the EZR change, retailers should also prepare for technology requirements driven by near-term industry changes.  For example, Outdoor EMV (deadline of October 2020) will require significant investment into the store’s dispensers.  The mobile payment initiatives launched by many of the major oil companies may also introduce additional bandwidth, Guest Wi-Fi, and network security requirements.  As convenience store operators plan for the EOL elimination of the EZR, they should also consider future store technology requirements.
 

How Will This Impact My Business?

Retailers should exercise great care in selecting their MNSP.  Not all MNSP are offering the same network security solution.  Some MNSPs are using network security solutions developed in-house, while others have integrated best-of breed solutions that have been thoroughly vetted by independent research and evaluation.  Some MNSPs are providing basic network firewall services (e.g. whitelist/blacklist), while others are providing a full portfolio on Unified Threat Management (UTM – IDS/IPS, anti-virus, web content filtering, etc.) 

For many large enterprises, due to the severe consequences of a data breach, the responsibility of network security has been elevated from a cost-center reporting to CIO to a strategic business function reporting directly to the CEO.  Convenience store operators should carefully consider the financial impact of a breach as they make investments into network security. The lower cost monthly service may incur much higher exposure to a costly data breach. The average cost of a data breach for a small/medium business increased from $88,000 in 2017 to $120,000 in 2018.  (Source: Kaspersky Lab Corporate IT Risk Survey).

What Action Do I Need to Take?

Now is the time to act. The original target date for the EZR EOL was February, 2019. While this has been delayed, Verifone still expects to convert all sites away from the current EZR in 2019. There are over 36,000 stores that will be impacted by this change. The EZR EOL is expected to severely tax the availability of all technical resources capable of doing this work. Early action now will protect convenience store operators from being lost in the chaotic storm of an industry trying to digest the same major transition at the same time. 

Operators should:

  1. Study the implication of the EZR EOL for their current environment
  2. Consider the implication for future initiatives 
  3. Develop a comprehensive strategy to fulfill immediate requirements, while anticipating future requirements. 
  4. Begin early execution of the plans. 

Proper planning will enable convenience store operators to minimize the disruption to the retail business. 
 

How Can Hughes Help? 

HughesON retail petroleum solutions consolidate separate point-of-sale (POS) and back-office networks into one network, reducing complexity while providing next-generation security, more throughput, and robust back-up options, allowing retail petroleum operators to better run and grow their businesses.

Hughes has delivered secure and reliable managed connectivity to the leading retail petroleum brands for more than 20 years, with more than 50,000 sites serviced across the United States. We offer a wide range of technologies, from DSL, cable, and fiber to wireless and satellite broadband as well as the latest in security technology and PCI.
 

Verifone’s Managed Network Service Provider (MNSP) Certification Program