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Cyber Security in Housing Associations
Housing associations need to collect and store a lot of personal data that belongs to their tenants, and they must protect it under the Data Protection Act 2018.
Discover how we safeguard some of the leading and largest housing providers in the UK today to prevent data theft and service disruption, and protect their reputation with customers and the housing regulator.
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Data security in the social housing sector
Housing providers have suffered from a spate of cyber-attacks in recent years, some of which have been high-profile cases that have made the headlines.
Cybercriminals have targeted the sector in an attempt to steal data from tens of thousands of people and in some cases to hold the housing provider to ransom. While some cyber-attacks have targeted them directly, others have been via unknowing third-party suppliers such as maintenance companies.
These incidents have sometimes had serious consequences for all parties: tenants have lost personal data and faced severe disruption to services; housing associations have suffered from data and financial losses, and had to divert employee resources away from other work, and their all-important reputation with their customers and the national housing regulator has been damaged indefinitely; and third-party suppliers have lost contracts and business. In a worst-case scenario, regulatory and auditing authorities have the power to intervene and award a financial penalty.
The trend of more people working from home has increased opportunities for cybercriminals to launch phishing, malware, and ransomware attacks, making employees more exposed and employers more vulnerable to threats.
While many housing associations’ directors have prioritised cyber security, and have good in-house IT teams, they often lack the specific skills to defend themselves around the clock.
Working closely with leading not-for-profit housing providers, Quorum Cyber understands the industry’s unique challenges and its sense of urgency in the current hostile digital climate. We have the expertise and experience to partner with organisations of any size and complexity to protect them every day of the year.
Cybercriminals have marked the housing sector as an easy target
Due to their relatively lower levels of budget provision towards IT security, housing associations are perceived to have weak defences.
£27 Billion
The estimated cost of cyber-crime across the UK each year – Housing Technology
25%
A quarter of housing associations have suffered an attack in the last 12 months – RSM UK
135,000
The number of people who were without online public services after one council was targeted by cybercriminals in 2020 – BBC News
Some of the most pressing issues and risks for the social housing sector
Cyber security is one of the top priorities for housing associations who want to avoid becoming a victim of increasingly sophisticated cybercriminals.
Safeguarding huge amounts of personal data
Under the Data Protection Act 2018, housing providers are responsible for securing the personal data, such as names, addresses and bank account details, of all their tenants.
Ransomware attacks
Housing Associations are threatened with data leaks if they fail to pay the ransom fee to criminals. This is potentially very expensive and damaging to an association’s business and reputation with both its customers and the housing regulator.
Shortage of skilled cyber security professionals
Without in-house cyber security teams, not-for-profit associations need to find another way to defend themselves effectively and affordably.
Phishing
Professional criminals launch phishing attacks against employees at the target company and at third-party suppliers. If they successful steal tenants’ contact details, then they can also target those residents too.
Increased online service delivery
More public services have moved online, allowing more opportunities for phishing, ransomware and malware attacks. Public sector and not-for-profit bodies have been the unfortunate victims of these attacks since 2020.
Hybrid working models
As more employees now work from home, the chance of devices being lost or stolen has increased. Furthermore, a widespread workforce is harder to protect from cybercriminals who take advantage of human behaviour and working habits.
Trust between tenants and providers
The greater the risk of a breach, the greater the chances of a breach of trust between the housing provider and its customers and stakeholders.
Vulnerabilities in supply chains
Threat actors sometimes start their attacks along the supply chain, trying to infiltrate third-party suppliers as an indirect way into their primary target. Due diligence needs to be conducted on third-parties’ security measures.
‘Easy’ target for threat actors
Cybercriminals see the sector as having weaker defences than others and easier to thieve data from due to lower levels of budget provision towards IT security.
Cyber Security Services for Housing Associations
We’re working with a growing number of large housing associations across the country who are already benefiting from our in-depth knowledge of the sector, helping them to retain the valuable trust of their tens of thousands of long-term tenants and the housing regulator.
Why choose Quorum Cyber as your trusted cyber security partner?
As a Microsoft Gold Partner, our team is qualified in deploying the most advanced Microsoft Security technologies while streamlining existing security tools from multiple vendors to optimise performance and give the best value for money.
Reduce your housing association's cyber risk
Round-the-clock detection and response to protect your tenants, delivered by our qualified teams in the UK
Comply with the national housing regulator
Our service is delivered entirely in your environment, ensuring data ownership
Procure managed and professional services easily via G-Cloud Framework
Helping customers in the UK Social Housing sector find and buy cloud computing services
Safeguard your housing association’s reputation
Our experienced cyber security team defends your assets and data – and those of your tenants – and protects your reputation with all stakeholders
Explore our latest content and resources for Housing Associations
Here you will find our latest news, comprehensive technical blog and thought leadership on developing cyber security related issues for Housing Associations.