Cybersecurity for PropTech (Property Technology) companies is critical due to the vast amounts of sensitive data they handle—financial records, personal information of tenants and buyers, IoT-enabled building systems, and real estate transaction data. These companies often serve as intermediaries between tech infrastructure and physical assets, making them attractive targets for cyberattacks.
We love to support fast-growing property technology (proptech) companies with cybersecurity so they can focus on their core business within the real estate industry. Together we can contribute to a healthy, safe and future proof ecosystem of real estate, agricultural land and smart cities.
Niagaros is a cybersecurity agency focused on modern infrastructure. Our services consist of foundational security pillars, offensive/defensive security and OWASP Top 10 (Web/Mobile/API). We test most companies of the list below.
Need help with your cybersecurity or is your proptech company missing in this list? Contact us here.
Cybersecurity for Proptech Companies
Key Cybersecurity Threats for PropTech Companies
- IoT Vulnerabilities
Smart building systems (HVAC, lighting, security) are often weak points due to poor security controls or lack of updates. - Data Breaches
Storing user PII (personally identifiable information), financial details, and property data makes these firms high-value targets. - Ransomware Attacks
Locking access to systems like booking platforms, access control, or building management can cripple operations. - Supply Chain Attacks
Many PropTech solutions rely on third-party APIs or platforms that can be compromised. - Insider Threats
Employees or contractors misusing access rights—especially common in companies scaling rapidly. - Social Engineering & Phishing
Real estate transactions involve high-value payments, making social engineering a lucrative strategy for attackers.
Key Cybersecurity Measures
1. Network & Infrastructure Security
- Use firewalls, intrusion detection systems (IDS), and VPNs.
- Segment networks for IoT devices to isolate them from core systems.
2. Data Protection
- Encrypt data at rest and in transit (TLS, AES-256).
- Implement access controls and least-privilege principles.
3. IoT Device Security
- Change default credentials.
- Regular firmware updates and patching.
- Monitor traffic from IoT devices for anomalies.
4. Cloud Security
- Use secure cloud providers with strong SLAs and compliance (AWS, Azure, GCP).
- Monitor for misconfigured storage buckets (e.g., open S3 buckets).
5. Identity and Access Management (IAM)
- Use Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA).
- Role-based access controls (RBAC).
- Centralized user management and single sign-on (SSO) where feasible.
6. Security Awareness Training
- Train staff on phishing, secure data handling, and incident reporting.
- Simulated phishing campaigns to test readiness.
7. Incident Response & Business Continuity
- Have a detailed incident response plan (IRP).
- Regular backups stored offline.
- Penetration testing and red team exercises.
8. Compliance & Legal Considerations
- Ensure compliance with:
- GDPR (EU data)
- CCPA (California)
- SOC 2 (for SaaS PropTech firms)
- ISO/IEC 27001 (for information security management)
- Ensure proper legal disclaimers and cyber insurance coverage.
Cybersecurity Best Practices for PropTech Startups
- Build security into the product from day one (DevSecOps).
- Regular security audits (internal and external).
- Establish a bug bounty program (e.g., via HackerOne).
- Vet third-party vendors thoroughly (due diligence on APIs and integrations).
- Keep software dependencies up-to-date (watch for vulnerabilities in open-source libraries).
Residential Real Estate
List and search services
- Funda – The leading Dutch property search platform connecting buyers, renters, and real estate agents.
- Pararius – A major Dutch rental property portal listing verified apartments and houses for rent.
- HousingAnywhere – An international housing marketplace for mid-to-long-term rentals, mainly for students and expats.
- Kamernet – A Dutch platform specializing in rooms, studios, and apartments for rent, especially for students and young professionals.
Property management and leasing
Investment & crowd financing
- Dwello – A property investment platform allowing individuals to co-invest in real estate projects.
AI Data, valuation, analytics
- Watson + Holmes – A real estate analytics company providing data-driven insights and valuations using AI.
Property inspection
- Spotr – Uses AI and computer vision to inspect and analyze building conditions through imagery and data.
Smart IoT Buildings
- Nami.ai – Smart building platform using AI and IoT to optimize energy use, comfort, and building performance.
Mortgage and lending
- Morty – Online mortgage marketplace simplifying the process of comparing and securing home loans.
- Better.com – Digital mortgage lender offering fast, commission-free home loans and refinancing.
Direct home buying (iBuying)
Agent tools & matching
Title and closing
- Qualia – Cloud-based platform that streamlines the real estate closing and title process.
Marketing
- Matterport – Creates 3D virtual tours and digital twins for real estate listings.
- HouseLens – Provides video marketing, 3D tours, and visual content for property listings.
Commercial Real Estate
List and search services
- Wework – Flexible workspace provider offering shared offices and coworking spaces globally.
- Spaces – Operates coworking offices with modern designs under the IWG group.
- Tribes – Flexible office and coworking provider inspired by nomadic tribes and community culture.
- Crexi – Online marketplace for buying, selling, and leasing commercial real estate.
- TenantBase – Platform connecting tenants with commercial space providers and brokers.
- Liquidspace – Marketplace for flexible and short-term office space rentals.
Property management
- Happyco – Software for inspections, maintenance, and operations management in property portfolios.
- BuildingEngines – Building operations platform improving maintenance, tenant service, and efficiency.
Investment & crowd financing
- Cadre – Online platform enabling accredited investors to access institutional-quality real estate investments.
Data, valuation, Analytics
- Kate Innovations – Platform for automating valuation workflows and reporting for commercial appraisers.
- Brainbay – Data and analytics provider focused on the Dutch real estate market.
- Flux – Real estate data analytics and visualization tools for investment and development decisions.
Online settlement
- Pexa – Digital property exchange platform enabling online property settlements and title transfers.
Leading & deal management
- VTS – Leasing and asset management platform used by landlords and brokers to manage deals and tenants.
Marketplaces
- Ten-X – Online platform for buying and selling commercial properties via digital auctions.
Mortgage and lending
- Credifi – Provides data, analytics, and financing solutions for commercial real estate lending.
Energy management
- Cortex – Energy optimization platform using IoT and AI to reduce building energy consumption.
- Sympower – Flexibility platform enabling buildings and industries to participate in energy balancing markets.
- EnergyWorx – Cloud-based data management and analytics platform for utilities and energy providers.
- Net2Grid – Provides smart energy analytics using data from smart meters and IoT devices.
Marketing
- Buildout – Marketing automation and CRM platform for commercial real estate brokers.
- SharpLaunch – Marketing and analytics platform for promoting commercial properties online.
Agricultural Land
- Cropin – Agri-tech platform using AI and satellite data for farm monitoring, yield prediction, and sustainability tracking.