As the world becomes more digital, cyberattacks on buildings are becoming one of the most serious threats to UK businesses. Recent data shows that more than 27% of businesses were targeted by cybercriminals in the last year. This is a scary rise from the 16% reported the year before. This trend shows that modern properties are becoming more vulnerable. Many of them have moved from traditional brick-and-mortar buildings to more advanced, tech-enabled spaces.

More and more buildings are using smart technologies to make things run more smoothly and improve the user experience. However, this also makes them more vulnerable to digital attacks. These digital systems are helpful, but they also give hackers more ways to get in. In this changing world, protecting a building is no longer just a physical task; it is becoming more and more of a digital one.

Why are cyber threats in the real estate industry growing so quickly?

More than 73% of business leaders think a cybersecurity event will happen in the next 12 to 24 months, which makes the need to act even stronger. The reason is clear: buildings today are no longer just places to live. They are data hubs that are alive and breathing, with connected devices, smart management systems, and analytics tools that work in the cloud.

Digital technology has definitely made things better, like saving energy, allowing for real-time monitoring, and giving businesses better control over their operations. But there is a price to pay for these benefits. Cybercriminals can get into any system that is connected. Because of this, more and more buildings are likely to be attacked by hackers. These attacks can shut down important systems, leak private information, and even stop businesses from running smoothly.

What effects have businesses already felt in the real world?

The effects of cyber attacks are already being felt in many different fields. After a cyberattack, a major UK retailer had to stop taking online orders for almost seven weeks. This is one of the most well-known cases. During this time of trouble, the company lost 20% of its clothing sales, which allowed competitors to take over the market and get customers’ attention.

This example shows that more cyberattacks on buildings don’t just hurt IT systems; they can also hurt revenue, brand reputation, and the stability of operations. These kinds of things have effects that go far beyond the server room. A compromised digital infrastructure can quickly turn into a crisis for many businesses, especially those in retail and hospitality.

How do old building systems make things more dangerous?

The widespread use of old technology in building infrastructure is one of the most worrying problems. Many businesses still use old systems like Windows 7, which no longer receive security updates. Hackers look for known weaknesses in unsupported software, making these systems easy targets.

Also, the rise of IoT-based building management systems, like smart lighting, HVAC controls, and surveillance networks, has made the cybersecurity landscape even more complicated. These devices are often set up with little to no security checks and may not have the right encryption or patch management. This makes a single property weak in many places.

These flaws can make a smart building a prime target for hackers if they aren’t fixed. Fixing these problems is very important for lowering the risk of the ongoing rise in cyberattacks on buildings. Read another article on M&S Cyber Attack Recovery

What expert advice can help stop attacks?

Experts in the field say that property owners and managers need to change how they think about digital risk. “Buildings aren’t just made of concrete and steel anymore,” said one property technology expert. “Each part is now connected to the others and runs on real-time data and automation.”

This change needs a new kind of supervision. You can’t just think about security after the fact anymore. Instead, it needs to be a part of every step of a building’s life, from planning and building to running it every day. That means not only making networks safe, but also updating firmware, keeping an eye on how devices work, and putting in place strong access controls. Also, it means getting cybersecurity experts involved in decisions about how to run the facility.

These steps won’t get rid of all risk, but they will make it much less likely that you will be the victim of more cyberattacks on buildings.

What should business leaders do right away?

Companies can’t afford to be reactive anymore. It is important to have proactive cybersecurity plans. Business leaders should start by doing a full check of all the systems in their buildings that are connected to the internet. This includes finding any software that isn’t supported, hardware that is too old, or devices that aren’t secure, which could be attacked.

The next step is to upgrade or replace those systems with more secure ones once the weaknesses have been found. Software updates, encrypted messages, and multi-factor authentication should all be standard. Staff training is just as important as technology. Employees should know what phishing is, how to use passwords safely, and how to report strange behaviour.

Working with cybersecurity companies can also give you useful information and tools for keeping an eye on threats all the time. These professionals can help you set up firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and other defensive technologies that add extra layers of protection.

Businesses can protect their assets and make sure their operations can handle more threats by acting quickly.

Are businesses able to wait any longer?

No, in short. The fact that building systems are getting more complicated and cyber threats are changing quickly means that the time to act is running out. Cybercriminals are getting better at what they do and using more advanced tools, many of which are powered by artificial intelligence, to break through digital defences at an alarming rate.

Taking care of security issues only after an attack is a very risky move. It can hurt customer trust and shareholder confidence, as well as put data and operations at risk. In today’s competitive world, even a small problem can have big effects for a long time.

Cyberattacks on buildings are becoming more common and serious. Businesses need to take these threats seriously and act quickly to deal with them.

Final Thoughts

The digital transformation of commercial buildings has made things run more smoothly and made tenants happier, among other things. But these new developments have also brought about new and complicated risks. The rise in cyberattacks on buildings is a clear sign that every organization’s risk management strategy needs to include cybersecurity as a key part.

It’s not enough to just secure the perimeter or put up cameras to protect building infrastructure anymore. You also need to build a strong, flexible, and forward-thinking digital defence. Companies that do these things now will be better able to deal with the problems of tomorrow. This will protect their systems as well as their reputation and long-term success.