Your Winter Security Checklist: Small Steps That Make a Big Difference
Winter is a good time to take stock. The team gets a breather, and there's finally a moment to look after the things that often get pushed to the back of the queue. Security is usually one of those things.
It doesn't have to be complicated. A few simple habits go a long way towards keeping your property and your guests safe online. So here's a quick checklist. Run through it with your team and you'll be in good shape going into the busy season.
This is the one most properties skip, and it's probably the most important. Had a staff member leave in the last six months? A seasonal worker who came and went? Log into your Seekom account and check who still has access. Old accounts that are no longer in use are an open door, and one that's easy to close.
While you're there, make sure every team member has their own individual login. Shared logins might feel convenient, but they make it impossible to know who did what, and they're much harder to secure.
If you haven't already enabled Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) on your Seekom account, winter is the perfect time to sort it out. 2FA means that even if someone gets hold of a team member's password, they still can't get in without a second verification step. It's one of the simplest and most effective things you can do to protect your account, and it takes about five minutes to set up.
Our support team is happy to walk you through it. Just give us a call or drop us a message during business hours.
We know, we know. It's easier to just tell the new person the password. But shared passwords are one of the most common ways accounts get compromised.
The good news is there's no reason to share passwords in Seekom. Every account can have unlimited individual users, so everyone gets their own login with their own access level. Set it up once and you'll never need to share a password again.
Removing old user accounts is step one. But if a former team member knew your passwords, changing the locks matters too. Go through your key systems - your PMS, email accounts, OTA extranets, social media, and update any passwords that might have been shared with someone who’s no longer with you.
While you're at it, make sure passwords aren't being reused across different platforms. If one account gets compromised and the password is the same everywhere, the damage spreads fast. A password manager can take the headache out of keeping track of them all.
Your email account is the key to the kingdom. If someone gets into it, they can reset passwords for pretty much everything else. Yet email is often the last thing people think to protect.
A few quick wins:
- Enable two-factor authentication on your business email account, not just your PMS
- Check who has access to shared inboxes like info@ or reservations@ and remove anyone who no longer needs it
- Be careful about what you include in automated guest emails. Avoid putting full booking reference numbers or personal details in subject lines where they can be easily read
- If you get an email that looks like it's from a supplier or OTA asking you to update payment details or click a link, call them directly to verify before doing anything
Phishing is when someone sends you an email pretending to be a trusted source, trying to get you to hand over your login details or click a dodgy link. It happens more than you'd think in the accommodation industry.
The recent Booking.com breach is a good example of how this plays out. Once scammers had real guest data, including booking details and contact information, they used it to send convincing messages that looked like they came from a legitimate source. Guests were contacted via WhatsApp and email and asked to verify their payment details.
A few things to remind your team:
- Seekom will never ask for your password by email or phone
- If an email asks you to click a link and log in, go directly to the website instead of clicking
- When in doubt, call the company directly using a number you already know
- If something feels off, it probably is. Trust your gut and check with us
Take a look at your booking form and ask yourself: do we actually need all of this? A lot of properties collect more than they need. Dates of birth, passport numbers, dietary requirements for a property that doesn't serve meals. The less guest data you hold, the less there is to lose if something goes wrong.
Strip your forms back to what you genuinely use. It's better for your guests, better for your liability, and it makes your life simpler too.
If you're taking online payments, it's worth checking that 3D Secure (3DS) authentication is active on your SeekomPay setup. It adds a bank-level verification step for cardholders, which reduces fraud and protects your revenue from chargebacks.
Not sure if you have it switched on? Drop our support team a message and they'll check for you.
Start with whatever feels most overdue for your property. Even ticking off one or two things from this list will put you in a stronger position than you were yesterday. And if you need a hand with any of it, our support team is here. Give us a call or flick us a message and we’ll help you get sorted.
Note: Something you may not know is that we also build websites. Many of our customers have Seekom-built, self managed websites with full control, backed by our expert setup and support. If you’re interested in finding out more, please get in touch.
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Phone (NZ) : +64 4 974 9588
Phone (UK) : +44 20 3835 5939
Support: support@seekom.com
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Copyright 2025 © Seekom Limited (NZ owned)
The True Cost of 'Free' Property Management Software
Who doesn’t love the word ‘free’? It’s a powerful hook, especially when it comes to property management software. After all, running a property business comes with enough costs—so why not save on software? But here’s the reality: free software isn’t really free. In fact, it can end up costing you more than you bargained for in ways that aren’t immediately obvious.
What Does ‘Free’ Really Mean?
When a software provider offers a ‘free’ property management system (PMS), it typically means you get access to the most basic version of the platform. While this might be enough for a small B&B properties, motel, or campground with a minimal number of rooms, as soon as your needs grow, you start hitting paywalls. Need automated messaging? That’s extra. Want better channel management? Upgrade required. Prefer customer support? That might not even be an option—or it comes at a premium price. Other daily functionality you will likely need, which comes at an additional cost, includes your customer database, invoicing, and emails. On top of that, there’s the weekly management of reporting and dynamic rates. If you also require an integrated payment gateway, you’ll be charged transactional fees, which may initially be hidden under the ‘free’ umbrella—so it always pays to check the fine print.
The Hidden Costs of Free Property Management Software
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Limited Features = Stunted Growth
Free PMS systems for hotels, motels, holiday parks and campgrounds often restrict essential features like reporting, integrations, and automation. This forces you into time-consuming manual processes or, worse, into upgrading to a costly ‘pro’ version.
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Lack of Support = Lost Time & Revenue
When something goes wrong (and it will at some point), who do you turn to? Many free property management software solutions don’t offer live support or even reliable email assistance. This means if your booking system glitches, you’re on your own—potentially losing customers and revenue while you scramble to fix it.
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Data Privacy? You Might Be the Product
One of the biggest concerns with free software is data security. If you’re not paying for a service, how is the company making money? Often, it’s through data collection and third-party partnerships. This could mean your customer data, pricing strategies, and booking trends aren’t as private as you think.
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Integration Limitations = Frustration
Many free property management software options don’t integrate well with OTAs, payment gateways, or accounting software, leading to a disconnected workflow. A robust channel manager is essential for hotels, motels, and campgrounds to maintain real-time inventory updates and prevent overbookings. Without seamless integrations, you’ll find yourself trapped in an ecosystem that can’t keep up with your needs.
A Smarter Investment: A Reliable PMS from the Start
Instead of navigating the limitations and potential risks of ‘free’ property management software, choosing a trusted, full-featured PMS system saves time, frustration, and unexpected costs.
While free property management software may seem appealing, the long-term drawbacks outweigh the initial savings. In business, reliability, efficiency, and data security are worth the investment. Instead of settling for software that limits your potential, choose a PMS system that truly supports your growth from day one.
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Contact Us
4/234 Wakefield Street, Te Aro, Wellington 6011
Phone (NZ) : +64 4 974 9588
Phone (UK) : +44 20 3835 5939
Support: support@seekom.com
Websites: webhelp@seekom.com
Connect With Us
Copyright 2025 © Seekom Limited (NZ owned)