Waves of change have and will continue to crash into the side of the ship that is the real estate industry. Never has this been more true than the past two years. Except what we experienced wasn’t just a wave—it was a tsunami.
Real estate agents have had to be more agile, flexible and adaptable to not only survive, but thrive. As the nation responded to the pandemic, real estate agents were called on to respond to state and local orders that changed the way real estate transactions are handled from start to finish. These changes have included the adoption of new tools and technologies that enable agents to work remotely and limit contact with other individuals—and they are likely here to stay.
Unfortunately, not all of these tools and technologies are as safe as we need them to be, and agents need to be more cognizant than ever of protecting the data that their clients entrust them with daily. REALTORS® are particularly susceptible to data breaches—and like many small business owners, they can underestimate their cyber risk.
Here are some simple best practices for data security, featuring the most popular apps and platforms being used by real estate agents today:
As millions of Americans are now using Zoom and other videoconferencing tools daily, any data breaches may provide unprecedented access to otherwise confidential conversations between users. Virtual meeting platforms lack important security features that real estate agents need.
- When hosting a virtual client discussion, look for end-to-end encryption like that of WhatsApp or Google Duo.
Agents and clients are still getting caught up in phishing, spear-phishing and social engineering attacks. Phishing scammers often email real estate professionals to list properties the scammer is not authorized to sell. These emails typically include links or attachments, which are designed to hack your system to gain confidential or sensitive information.
- An easy way to decrease your risk is to limit what data and information you are sharing on social media and quit taking Facebook quizzes.
There is no “security by obscurity”—every agent and brokerage needs to examine their data security protocols.
- Incorporate simple steps into your team’s daily routine like using passwords, installing patches and avoiding rogue hotspots.
Just as threats are evolving every day, so must you and your team. Every brokerage should have proactive compliance habits and security in place to prevent an attack and know how to respond to an incident the right way.
Expand on these tips, and take a deeper dive into data security in the free member benefit webinar, Data Security in a Virtual Environment, found at CRS.com/catalogsearch.
Photo: iStock.com/peshkov
