Gone are the days when cybercrime was something that happened to a friend of a friend of your neighbour’s cousin. According to Check Point Research’s latest Global Threat Intelligence Report, organisations in South Africa face an average of 2,113 cyberattacks per week. Despite this constant threat, Prop Data’s cybersecurity poll found that only 19.1% feel “fully prepared” and “have the right tools and habits in place”.
When it comes to cyber threats, awareness hasn’t translated into action for many real estate businesses. While most property practitioners understand that cybercrime is a real risk, few have put robust systems or habits in place to protect themselves and their clients.
Time pressures, reliance on traditional methods, and the assumption that “it won’t happen to me” often lead to weak password practices, unencrypted communications, and inconsistent verification of client information. Add to this the rapid pace of technological change in real estate, including digital contracts, online payments, and cloud-based property management, and it’s easy to see why many professionals feel overwhelmed and underprepared. Without ongoing training, secure systems, and proactive risk management, even experienced practitioners remain vulnerable to attacks that could compromise client data, finances, and their professional reputation.
A closer look at the most prepared practitioners shows what proactive cybersecurity looks like in practice. “The roughly 19% who feel fully prepared are usually those who have completed POPIA and cybersecurity training, use the appropriate devices, and have proper security measures in place,” says Anton Jansen van Vuuren, Chief Operations Officer of Harcourts South Africa. “They feel ready because these issues are always on their mind, regularly reinforced through training, and part of their daily awareness.”
Empowering your team to prevent and respond to cyber incidents starts with building confidence and awareness. When employees understand their role in protecting sensitive data, they are more alert, proactive, and capable of reducing risks for the business and clients.
Locking down your data with technology
Empowering your team is key, but even the sharpest human firewalls need the right technology behind them. Prop Data's poll asked property practitioners how they would rate the cybersecurity of Prop Data Manage on a scale of 1 (very poor) to 5 (excellent). The customer relationship management (CRM) system scored an average of 4 in our poll, showing that it gives property practitioners peace of mind to help prevent cyber incidents before they happen.
“Prop Data Manage is built on secure infrastructure and uses HTTPS encryption, ensuring all data transmitted is protected from interception,” says Jansen van Vuuren. “The login page itself reflects modern security practices, with SSL/TLS certificates and clear browser trust indicators.
“Beyond that, Prop Data has strong access controls, role-based permissions, and complies with POPIA, showing that data protection is a core principle rather than an afterthought. User settings can also be configured very precisely so that each person only has access to the information relevant to their role — for example, a property practitioner can see only their own client information, while managers have access to broader reports. This prevents sensitive data such as client documents or financial reports from being viewed or downloaded by unauthorised users.
“Combined with encryption, secure hosting, disaster recovery measures, and ongoing training, these features demonstrate that cybersecurity is a top priority, which is why practitioners can rate Prop Data Manage with confidence,” he adds.