M id A tlantic Real Estate Journal — New Jersey — February 2025 — 9A
www.marej.com
N ew J ersey By Carl Mazzanti, eMazzanti Technologies Enhance your digital defenses against rising cyber threats
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eal estate offices man - age a lot of sensitive data, including finan -
Trained experts from a trusted MSP can check your system with a “penetration test.” This test will find any weaknesses. They will then help you add strong layers of digital protection. This way, if a hacker gets through one bar- rier, another will stop them. Some of these security layers use software and hardware tools, like securing payment gateways and encrypting fi- nancial data. Your MSP will protect data when it is stored and when it is sent. They will also use automated transaction
monitoring to quickly address suspicious activity. The use of IoT devices and smart building systems in real estate has made cyber- security more complex. These devices often lack strong secu- rity measures, making them vulnerable to cyberattacks. Cybersecurity measures can protect these systems from un- authorized access and ensure their proper functioning. Another important defense is multi-factor authentication. This adds extra protection beyond regular passwords. It
requires verification through a second device, like a mobile phone. Another important step is to limit access rights, so specific employees will only see information they need for their work. They will not have access to the entire company’s data. Backing up data often to the cloud, or another remote place is very important. This helps you quickly restore your data if a disaster happens. Ad- ditionally, your MSP should periodically train employees in cybersecurity “best practices”
and then test them. As the real estate industry continues to embrace digi- tal transformation, working with an MSP is key to keep- ing client trust and support- ing the long-term success and client safety of corporate real estate offices. Carl Mazzanti is presi - dent of eMazzanti Tech - nologies in Hoboken, pro - viding IT Consulting and Cyber Security Services for businesses ranging from home offices to multina- tional corporations. MAREJ
cial informa- tion, person- al details of tenants and buyers, bank accounts, so- cial security numbers and other items. These real
Carl Mazzanti
estate offices, whether com - mercial or residential— and the people who work in them — are very attractive targets for cybercriminals. One way to manage this attraction by bad actors is to work with an experienced Managed Services Provider (MSP) that special- izes in cybersecurity to protect their networks and data. This helps guard against breaches, network penetration, and the financial and reputational damage that comes from a successful cyberattack. The real estate sector is subject to various regula- tory requirements aimed at protecting consumer data and ensuring secure business practices. Cybersecurity is essential for compliance with these standards, which can vary by region and jurisdic- tion. Adhering to regulatory standards helps real estate offices avoid legal penalties and maintain their reputa- tion as trustworthy entities. It also ensures that they are prepared to handle any data breaches or cyber incidents that may occur. In 2024, for example, a cy - bercriminal penetrated the network of a large, California- based mortgage lender. The bad actor gained unauthorized access to sensitive information on about 17 million individu- als that was stored in the com- pany’s system. Besides suffer- ing reputational damage, the lender also incurred more than $41.6 million of expense — net of insurance recoveries — re- lated to the attack, according to the company’s SEC filings. Multiple Threats Cyberattacks against real estate companies — including phishing, ransomware, and attacks on backup files — are occurring with increasing frequency. According to a 2024 international report, almost every real estate orga- nization has been the target of a cyberattack.
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