The UK property sector is facing an urgent digital reckoning as new data reveals a 17% surge in cyberattacks against property businesses over the past year. In response to the escalating threat, industry suppliers iamproperty and cybersecurity specialist Cortida have formed a strategic partnership aimed at fortifying the sector’s digital defenses.
The collaboration coincides with Cybersecurity Awareness Month, a global initiative highlighting the importance of digital hygiene. For property agents—who handle vast amounts of sensitive financial and personal data—the threat of data breaches has become a primary operational concern.
Hayley Stafford, Chief Technology Officer at iamproperty, emphasized that the rapid digitization of the property market has created new vulnerabilities. “We know that data and cybersecurity are some of agents’ biggest concerns,” Stafford stated. “They’re facing growing pressures around trust, technology, and consumer expectations, and it can be difficult to know where to start or what questions to ask.”
To help businesses navigate these risks, the two firms have released a five-point practical guide for property professionals:
- Prioritize MFA and Password Security: The companies advise moving away from reused or weak passwords. By utilizing password managers and enabling Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA), businesses can effectively block unauthorized access, even in the event of a credential leak.
- Adopt a “Zero Trust” Email Policy: With phishing remaining the most prevalent threat, staff are encouraged to treat all incoming links and attachments with extreme skepticism. Verifying sender addresses and hovering over links before clicking are cited as essential habits.
- Mandatory Patching: Cybercriminals often exploit known vulnerabilities in outdated software. The firms urge businesses to automate updates for operating systems and browsers, ensuring that security patches are installed the moment they are released.
- Prioritize Rapid Reporting: A culture of transparency is critical. If a device shows unusual behavior or an employee receives a suspicious prompt, reporting it to IT immediately can contain a breach before it escalates.
- Verify Authority Requests: Sophisticated scammers often impersonate high-ranking officials to demand urgent bank transfers or data disclosure. The partnership stresses that any request for sensitive information—even if it appears to come from a CEO or Finance Director—should be verified through an independent, trusted channel, such as a known phone number.
Beyond these tips, the partnership is providing further guidance through a specialized podcast featuring iamproperty’s Hayley Stafford and Cortida’s CEO, Andy Compton. The discussion, available on the iamproperty website, delves deeper into the shifting threat landscape and the proactive steps agency owners can take to protect their reputations and their clients’ data.
As cyber threats continue to evolve, this partnership marks a significant effort to equip the UK property industry with the technical resilience needed to combat digital crime.
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