Deadlines about data breaches, ransomware attacks, the latest phishing schemes and other online criminal activity certainly cause pause for thought. However, in the fast-paced commercial real estate world, pressing deadlines and busy schedules can quickly re-direct attention back to day-to-day tasks. And, quite frankly, with the volume of cybercrime news in the feed it is easy to become desensitized Do not get complacent. Yes, it COULD happen to you. In fact, the likelihood that your company will be (or has already been!) in the sights of a cybercriminal is strong. With a new year knocking on the door, this is a great time to take a look at how to minimize your vulnerability. The world of cybercrime and the associated protections are constantly evolving. Your knowledge must, too. Let’s start by looking at how professional-sector businesses – like commercial real estate – are typically targeted. Verizon’s 2019 Data Breach Investigations Report notes that among cybercrime attempts and incidents, 69% generated from an outside source, while 34% were launched in-house – by an employee with bad intent or by a team member who simply made a mistake (such as clicking through on a phishing email). Fifty-two percent of attacks involved hacking, 33% included social attacks and 28% involved malware.