Promo codes are back, plus other Seekom enhancements
Seekom users can now manage promotional codes and make it easy for guests to use them when making online bookings at their accommodation, thanks to a recent update that re-introduces the feature alongside some other small but helpful improvements.
These changes are designed to support marketing efforts and make management of last-minute bookings simpler.
Promo codes are back
We’ve added the promo code feature back to our new online booking screens, making it simple for you to allow guests to enter a discount code you have made available as part of a special offer.
This could be used to support an advertising campaign or promotional offer, or harnessed to offer a discounted rate for returning guests when they use the promo code for their next booking with you.
To set up a promo code check out our promo code help guide. Once set up, you can make the code live on your booking screens by visiting the Website Booking Templates screen in Seekom iBox, selecting General Fields, and then Other Options.
Promo codes can be used by guests when booking using Seekom’s online booking screens.
More control over your after-hours cut-off time
Last, but not least, we have given you finer control over the after-hours cut-off time you can set in our system for your property’s needs.
The after-hours cut-off time is an optional setting that can be used to automatically change the selling method of any remaining available units at your accommodation to 'on request.' Any online bookings made after a ‘cut off time’ you set will be processed as a request, rather than instantly accepted, allowing you to either confirm or reject the booking.
Our latest update allows you to select a cut-off time in any 15-minute block, rather than on the hour, as was previously the case.
By setting a cut-off time in Seekom that is slightly ahead of when your office closes, you can avoid situations where a customer booking on the day of their stay starts their booking online shortly before the cut-off time but finishes it afterwards, resulting in their booking being instantly confirmed after your office closes and them turning up with no one to check them in.
Please have a read through our help guide on how to set the after-hours cut off.
Recent Blog Post
Smarts to help you operate more effectively and efficiently. From guides of our systems and integrations to tips and tricks you can use every day - we've got you covered.
SeekomPay ‘brilliant’ for business at boutique South Island motel
Clyde Central Motel SeekomPay ‘brilliant’ for business at boutique South Island motel Owner and manager: Fizz Hunter-Weston After using Seekom to run unique Central Otago motel Clyde Central for over four-and-a-half years, owner and manager Fizz Hunter-Weston says she can’t […]
Accommodation marketing calendar 2025: important dates to capitalise on
Accommodation marketing calendar 2025: important dates to capitalise on At Seekom we’re on a constant mission to make your life easier. That’s why we’ve collated a host of key dates for 2025 that offer you the chance to run a […]
Promo codes are back, plus other Seekom enhancements
Promo codes are back, plus other Seekom enhancements Seekom users can now manage promotional codes and make it easy for guests to use them when making online bookings at their accommodation, thanks to a recent update that re-introduces the feature […]
Sign Up For Updates
Contact Us
PO Box 9300, Marion Square, Wellington 6141
Phone (NZ) : +64 4 974 9588
Phone (UK) : +44 20 3835 5939
Support: support@seekom.com
Websites: webhelp@seekom.com
Copyright 2024 © Seekom Limited (NZ owned)
Seekom takes security seriously: From phishing simulations to IT health checks
Is online security front of mind in your accommodation business? The consequences of a security breach can be major and include financial loss, reputational damage and losing the trust of your customers.
At Seekom, we believe security is paramount and have recently taken some extra steps to keep both our systems and our customers safe in the face of cyber threats. Measures include regular security scans by external experts to maintain compliance with Payment Card Industry (PCI) requirements and random phishing exercises with staff to ensure they don't fall prey to someone wanting to hack our systems.
To make doubly sure that our online defences are watertight we also engage independent experts to run IT Security Health Checks of our systems and web services each quarter.
External security scans ensure PCI compliance
Seekom conducts regular external security scans to check our compliance with PCI standards, which provide a strong framework for protecting customer payment data and are critical for any business that handles credit card information
Our security scans, performed by independent external providers, assess our entire system to identify potential vulnerabilities and make sure we meet the strict security requirements established by the PCI Security Standards Council. These scans involve testing firewalls, encryption protocols, access controls, and ensuring sensitive data is stored and transmitted securely, among other things.
Random phishing exercises raise awareness of cyber attacks
One of the most common methods hackers use to infiltrate businesses is known as ‘phishing’, where cyber hackers attempt to deceive employees into revealing sensitive information, such as passwords or financial data, by posing as legitimate entities.
The weakest link in a security chain can often be human error, which is why we’ve incorporated random phishing exercises into our security protocol. These exercises simulate real phishing attempts, testing our staff’s ability to recognise and respond to suspicious emails or messages. By doing this we create a security-conscious working environment where our team remains vigilant and on alert to detect fraudulent behaviour.
Quarterly IT Security Health Checks safeguard our systems
Seekom undertakes quarterly external IT Security Health Checks of our systems and web services. These health checks provide a comprehensive evaluation of our IT infrastructure and identify any potential vulnerabilities. By conducting regular checks we proactively ensure our systems remain robust and resilient in the face of new and emerging threats and maintain a strong line of defence.
At Seekom we’re proud to be ‘walking the talk’ when it comes to online security. We do our utmost to make sure we’ve got your back with solid cyber defences so you can have peace of mind as you go about your business.
The measures outlined above are recent additions to our security efforts, but they aren’t the only steps we take. Other steps to safer online security that we’ve blogged about include introducing stronger passwords and multi-factor authentication, as well as implementing security updates in many of the version upgrades we release for our Seekom system. We’ve also published advice about how to stay scam savvy – it’s worth a read if you want to keep your online guard up.
Recent Blog Post
Smarts to help you operate more effectively and efficiently. From guides of our systems and integrations to tips and tricks you can use every day - we've got you covered.
Promo codes are back, plus other Seekom enhancements
Promo codes are back, plus other Seekom enhancements Seekom users can now manage promotional codes and make it easy for guests to use them when making online bookings at their accommodation, thanks to a recent update that re-introduces the feature alongside some other small but helpful improvements. These changes are designed to support marketing efforts and make management of last-minute […]
Seekom takes security seriously: From phishing simulations to IT health checks
Seekom takes security seriously: From phishing simulations to IT health checks Is online security front of mind in your accommodation business? The consequences of a security breach can be major and include financial loss, reputational damage and losing the trust of your customers. At Seekom, we believe security is paramount and have recently taken some extra steps to keep […]
Save time and boost security with Seekom’s latest improvements
Save time and boost security with Seekom’s latest improvements As part of our constant commitment to improving Seekom’s functionality to save you time and keep your systems and data more secure, we’re highlighting three of our latest system enhancements. Discover how to save time by addressing emails to groups and locating guest details with handy new search fields, plus be […]
Sign Up For Updates
Contact Us
PO Box 9300, Marion Square, Wellington 6141
Phone (NZ) : +64 4 974 9588
Phone (UK) : +44 20 3835 5939
Support: support@seekom.com
Websites: webhelp@seekom.com
Copyright 2024 © Seekom Limited (NZ owned)
Save time and boost security with Seekom’s latest improvements
As part of our constant commitment to improving Seekom’s functionality to save you time and keep your systems and data more secure, we're highlighting three of our latest system enhancements.
Discover how to save time by addressing emails to groups and locating guest details with handy new search fields, plus be aware of new password requirements to keep your data safer than ever.
Send emails to multiple room types with ease
You can now select multiple properties and multiple room types when setting up your email scheduler. The scheduler allows you to create automated email messages that provide important information to guests at different pre-set times before, during or after their stay with you (e.g. a day prior to arrival, the day before check-out and a day after they leave).
Say goodbye to creating separate emails for each different category of rooms and welcome the ease of sending out one batch email to all of them instead. A real time saver.
Search and sort from the Arrivals and Departure screens
We’ve added a search field and sort function to make it easier to track down guests from your Seekom Arrivals and Departures screens.
If you have lots of different units at your property you can now use the search bar to find your guests easily rather than having to keep scrolling down the screen. Alternatively, you can sort the screen by guest name, unit number, booking reference number or even vehicle registration plate to find them.
Beefed up password strength requirements
Strong passwords are a key part of your business’s online defense strategy in the fight against cybercrime. A best practice is to update your password often and make sure it’s strong enough to resist the nefarious efforts of hackers.
Our new beefed up password requirements require passwords to have at least eight characters and include a minimum of one lowercase letter, one uppercase letter, one number and one symbol. It might seem a bit over the top, but if you’re going to use a password you might as well use one that does the job properly.
To update your password, select 'My Account' from your Seekom iBex menu. Once there, select the Change Password button, which will open the Change Password pop up window.
In the future, we will be implementing two-factor authentication to apply an extra layer of online security armour. To learn more about keeping safe online read our data security article.
These three savvy Seekom system tweaks are live and ready to save your time and keep you secure online – make the most of them.
Recent Blog Post
Smarts to help you operate more effectively and efficiently. From guides of our systems and integrations to tips and tricks you can use every day - we've got you covered.
Sign Up For Updates
One of our amazing business development managers will be in touch to showcase our product to you and talk you through how we can help grow your business.
Our fully scalable Property Management System can provide you the tools and integrations you need to scale and grow your business year round. With the added functionality of a fully integrated channel manager, connect your property or properties to as many channels as you'd like.
Contact Us
PO Box 9300, Marion Square, Wellington 6141
Phone (NZ) : +64 4 974 9588
Phone (UK) : +44 20 3835 5939
Support: support@seekom.com
Websites: webhelp@seekom.com
Copyright 2024 © Seekom Limited (NZ owned)
Stay scam savvy: keep your guard up with Seekom
While customers bear some personal responsibility for avoiding scams, it’s also crucial that companies can be relied on to safeguard the data they hold on their customers’ behalf.
After all, the last thing you want is for any credit card details or your business’ email list to be stolen by scammers and used with malevolent intent.
It can sometimes be hard to identify scams, not least because scam types and techniques are constantly evolving, but also because scammers often use psychological techniques to make it less likely for people to identify a scam.
Scammers contact their targets via all sorts of methods: text, email, phone, social media, messaging apps, fake websites, or even in person. Regardless of the scam, or how it is presented, there are some established actions you can take to reduce the likelihood of being taken in by it.
Maintain a healthy level of scepticism
Maintaining a healthy level of scepticism is no bad thing. Anyone contacting you legitimately will respect the fact you might need to ask some hard questions upfront before you are comfortable dealing with them.
Also, if you are asked for money or to confirm personal details, take some time to think before you respond. Very few situations are so urgent that you need to act straight away. If you’re not sure whether a request is legitimate, you could phone someone you trust to get an objective perspective on the situation, or Google the company’s details and contact them through their official website.
If they have emailed you, carefully check their email address - does it look suspicious or is it a slight variation on their business name (e.g. an extra character added in the middle - think @nike.com instead of @ni-ke.com)? Many banks maintain lists of known scams from people pretending to be bank staff. So it is worth keeping up to date with those as well (e.g. you can view BNZ’s ‘latest scams’ page here).
One of the more worrying approaches used by some scammers is blackmail, or demands for a ransom. In some cases this can involve claims that they have hacked your system and a threat that they will release information that is embarrassing or financially damaging if payment isn’t made, while in other cases they may demand a ransom to restore access to systems they claim to have taken control of. It is possible that your security may have been compromised, but in many instances these claims are bluffs, so don’t take all such claims at face value and get an expert to look into it.
Make sure your staff permissions are up to date and beware of attachments
If you have multiple staff using your online systems, now may be a good time to review the permissions you have in place. It’s easy to forget to update permissions when someone moves into a new role within your business, or to forget to remove their account when they leave. Undertaking regular account and permissions reviews, as well as having sound policies in place for how team members should store and protect passwords, is time well spent.
It goes without saying you should never open attachments or click on links you’re not confident are from a reliable source – you could be opening a Pandora’s box of malicious code ready to infiltrate your computer or personal device.
For more useful advice check out Consumer Protection NZ advice on avoiding scams.
And of course, always remember the ancient adage your parents might have told you: if it seems too good to be true, you’re probably about to get scammed hard.
The Auckland Transport example
In September this year, Auckland Transport suffered its second ransomware attack in a month when a group called Medusa threatened to release financial data it claimed to have stolen from the agency’s ticketing system.
The initial attack crashed Auckland Transport’s HOP card system, meaning top ups of customers’ travel cards and other HOP services had to be taken offline.
The agency responded promptly by getting their HOP card system back up and running within a short space of time. It chose not to bow down to the scammers’ ransom demands, apparently confident in the IT security safeguards it had in place to protect its customer’s financial details.
Despite making the news, Auckland Transport’s situation is an example of a business that could trust the security of its systems and therefore avoided a worst-case scenario.
Business owners are well-advised to employ the same general scam identification and handling tools in their day-to-day dealings that individuals would use.
With a chain being only as strong as its weakest link, and businesses being much juicier prizes for scammers due to the amount of personal data they might hold, businesses also need to make sure their software systems are equipped to repel cyber threats. This can avoid a worst-case scenario that gets a business in the news for all wrong reasons.
If you need detailed security advice there are many experts you can engage to help you put tools in place that are fit for purpose –there’s no one-size-fits all solution so it pays to consider your own business and the specific risks you and your users face.
What Seekom does to keep you safe
Seekom employs a host of IT security measures to stay one step ahead of scammers, eliminate cyber threats and protect the data your customers trust you to look after.
Monthly IT and cyber security health checks allow us to identify any areas for security improvement and ensure we are sticking to best practice. We engage a trusted third party to run quarterly vulnerability scans on our software to meet our PCI DSS requirements.
On top of this, strict data use and security policies for all Seekom staff are in force and we are 100% GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) compliant.
All Seekom’s critical systems are behind a virtual private network as well as being cloud-hosted in Amazon Web Services, giving a double layer of security. Going one step further, secure credit card storage adds another layer of ‘armour’ to minimise the risk of financial data being hacked.
We regard scam protection and cyber security as a team effort, that’s why we’re busy behind the scenes, maintaining best practice and playing our part to provide a safe and secure software platform. For more handy advice, read our recent blog on playing it safe online with Seekom.
With all these measures in place Seekom’s premium protection offers you the peace of mind to concentrate on doing what you do best – making a success out of your business.
Seekom Blog
Smarts to help you operate more effectively and efficiently. From guides of our systems and integrations to tips and tricks you can use every day - we've got you covered.
Sign Up For Updates
One of our amazing business development managers will be in touch to showcase our product to you and talk you through how we can help grow your business.
Our fully scalable Property Management System can provide you the tools and integrations you need to scale and grow your business year round. With the added functionality of a fully integrated channel manager, connect your property or properties to as many channels as you'd like.
Contact Us
PO Box 9300, Marion Square, Wellington 6141
Phone (NZ) : +64 4 974 9588
Phone (UK) : +44 20 3835 5939
Support: support@seekom.com
Websites: webhelp@seekom.com
Copyright 2024 © Seekom Limited (NZ owned)
Keeping data secure: playing it safe online is a team effort
Keeping sensitive data and systems safe is crucial for businesses seeking to survive and thrive online – including the accommodation industry. Whilst Seekom’s suite of security solutions provide top-of-the-line security, it’s key to know that online security is a team effort as a chain is only as strong as its weakest link.
In this article, we explore the different ways Seekom's cloud-based solution keeps users secure and how you can play your part in reducing the risk of cyber threats.
Password protection is paramount
The first step to playing it safe with data protection is the padlock on the online door, also known as a password.
Passwords can be fun; make them quirky, not “qwerty”, to be memorable. Incorporating a compliment to remind yourself of one of your positive qualities, or using a short joke to bring on a smile at every log in is a great way to do this. Passphrases can be a lot easier to remember than just passwords and are stronger due to their complexity.
Strong passwords are long and wrong – avoid normal spelling of words by substituting capital letters, numbers and punctuation marks and use at least eight characters to beef up that padlock.
Passwords shouldn’t include any personal or business information that might easily be guessed, such as “Hurricanesfan”.
A common password faux pas is to use the same password across different platforms, allowing one password compromise to lead to many.
Bespoke authority levels offer you more control
Seekom’s property management platform allows users to set bespoke authority levels for different staff members, ensuring staff have only got the access they require to get their job done. As well as avoiding any unpleasant surprises, this helps users ensure they are complying with best practise.
Bespoke authority levels reduce the likelihood of staff sharing login details, which is best avoided, and means that access for particular individuals can easily be revoked when necessary, for example when staff members leave.
It may be a good time to double check staff access levels and be aware, for example, of exactly which staff have administration access to amend a property's bank account details on guest invoices.
We recognise you may prefer to grant different levels of access to Seekom iBex for different roles and staff within your business. That’s why our software puts the power in your hands when it comes to controlling who can do what within your business.
Multi-factor authentication adds security
Multi-factor authentication is like a bouncer at a nightclub checking punters’ IDs to make sure that they are who they say they are and that everything adds up.
The way it typically works is by sending a message to a mobile phone when a password is entered, double-checking that anyone seeking access has the right password and the right phone.
The message provides a one-time code that must be provided to gain access, meaning that even if a hacker manages to obtain your password, they will not be able to gain access to your account.
The Seekom Vault has built-in multi-factor authentication that you can enable, due to the extra-high sensitivity of the information it contains.
If you are worried about one of your devices falling into the wrong hands and want to implement multi-factor authentication on your login screen or on any website or login screen that doesn’t currently have it setup, you can do so with a number of third party apps. For example, the Microsoft Authenticator app is available as a free download and allows you to add multi-factor authentication for individual websites. Apple’s operating systems offer the option to use multi-factor authentication on your initial login screen and for individual websites as well.
Seekom's got your back
Seekom provides premium protection to keep your data and systems safe. Behind the scenes we use extra layers of security as well as employing third party security specialists to run independent checks on our systems. We make it easy to comply with General Data Protection Regulation and Payment Card Industry requirements as part of our commitment to best practice.
These measures not only provide peace of mind to users but also demonstrate Seekom's commitment to security and our dedication to providing a safe and secure platform for our users.
One of our amazing business development managers will be in touch to showcase our product to you and talk you through how we can help grow your business.
Our fully scalable Property Management System can provide you the tools and integrations you need to scale and grow your business year round. With the added functionality of a fully integrated channel manager, connect your property or properties to as many channels as you'd like.
Contact Us
PO Box 9300, Marion Square, Wellington 6141
Phone (NZ) : +64 4 974 9588
Phone (UK) : +44 20 3835 5939
Support: support@seekom.com
Websites: webhelp@seekom.com
Copyright 2024 © Seekom Limited (NZ owned)