Cyber Security Real Estate compliance
South Africa, UK, US & Europe
Maurice Watts
Last Update a month ago
The problems with website technology when prioritising cybersecurity and resilience in the real estate industry include:
1. Outdated security protocols: Older websites may not have the latest security protocols in place to protect against cyber threats such as malware, phishing attacks, and data breaches.
2. Lack of encryption: Older websites may not have encryption technologies in place to secure data transmissions between the website and users, leaving sensitive information vulnerable to interception.
3. Vulnerabilities to cyber attacks: Websites may have known vulnerabilities that can be exploited by cyber criminals to gain unauthorised access to sensitive data or disrupt business operations.
4. Limited resilience: Websites may not have the necessary backup and recovery mechanisms in place to quickly recover from a cyber attack or other disruptions, leading to prolonged downtime and potential data loss.
5. Inadequate training and awareness: Employees may not be adequately trained on cybersecurity best practices, making them more susceptible to social engineering attacks and other cyber threats
By investing in modern cybersecurity technologies and practices, real estate companies can better protect their assets, data, and reputation in an increasingly digital world.
This includes implementing HTTPS encryption, using data encryption for CRM and other data sources, and renting progressive web apps that prioritise security and resilience via QR to the phone user in the field.
2. Data Subject: The person the information is about.
3. Responsible Party: The organisation in charge of processing the information.
4. Operator: Someone who processes information on behalf of the responsible party.
5. Processing: Any action taken with the personal information.
6. Consent: Permission from the person for their information to be processed.
7. Information Officer: Person in charge of making sure the organization follows the rules.
8. Data Breach: Unauthorised access or disclosure of personal information.
9. Information Regulator: Authority that enforces the rules.
10. Data Protection Officer: Person responsible for data protection in an organisation.
11. Data Processing Agreement: Contract between the responsible party and operator.
12. Data Subject Rights: Rights of individuals regarding their personal information.
13. Data Portability: Ability to transfer personal information to another organization.
14. Data Minimisation: Collecting only necessary information.
15. Data Retention: Keeping information only as long as needed.
16. Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA): Assessment of risks of processing personal information.
17. Privacy by Design: Including data protection in system design.
18. Information Security: Measures to protect personal information.
19. Data Subject Consent Withdraw
19. Data Subject Consent Withdrawal: The ability for individuals to revoke their permission for their information to be processed.
20. Data Processing Principles: Guidelines for legally processing personal information.
21. Data Localisation: Requirement to store information within a specific country's borders.
22. Data Encryption: Encoding information to keep it secure.
23. Data Transfer Agreement: Contract for transferring information between parties.
24. Data Security Breach Notification: Obligation to inform the regulator and affected individuals of a breach.
25. Accountability: Being responsible for following data protection laws.
26. Data Subject Access Request: Request from an individual to access their personal information.
27. Data Processing Register: Record of all data processing activities.
The narrative
By fostering a culture of cybersecurity awareness among employees and stakeholders, Real Estate companies can empower their workforce to identify and respond to potential threats effectively. Regular training sessions, awareness campaigns, and communication about cybersecurity best practices can help instill a sense of responsibility and vigilance across the organisation.
Collaboration with industry partners, government agencies, and cybersecurity experts can also provide valuable insights and resources to enhance cybersecurity posture. By sharing information, best practices, and threat intelligence, Real Estate companies can strengthen their defences and stay one step ahead of cyber adversaries.
Conducting regular cybersecurity audits, penetration testing, and vulnerability assessments can help identify weaknesses in the organisation's security infrastructure and address them promptly. By proactively addressing vulnerabilities and implementing robust security measures, Real Estate companies will reduce the likelihood of a successful cyber attack and minimise potential damage to their operations.
UK as an indicator of the fines for breach of data, this is similar around the world.
Under the GDPR, fines for cybersecurity breaches can be up to €20 million or 4% of the company's global annual turnover, whichever is higher. The ICO takes into account factors such as the nature of the breach, the number of people affected, and whether the organisation took appropriate measures to protect personal data when determining the amount of the fine.
In addition to fines from the ICO, organisations may also face legal action from affected individuals or other regulatory bodies. It is important for organisations to take cybersecurity resilience seriously and implement robust measures to protect personal data and prevent breaches.