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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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
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Copyright 2025 © Seekom Limited (NZ owned)
Secure Online Payments in AU/NZ Accommodation: Why 3D Secure (3DS) Matters
Whether you manage a holiday park, motel, boutique hotel, or multi-site accommodation business, taking secure online payments is essential. At Seekom, we’ve integrated 3D Secure (3DS) into our payment system to help protect you and your guests from fraud.
What is 3D Secure (3DS)?
3D Secure is an additional layer of authentication for online card payments. It helps confirm that the person making the payment is the actual cardholder.
When a guest books online, their bank might ask them to verify the transaction - usually by sending a one-time code via text message (SMS) or prompting them to approve the payment in their banking app. It only takes a few seconds and adds a strong layer of fraud protection.
Why is This Important for Australasia Accommodation Providers?
The accommodation sector relies heavily on online bookings - and with that comes an increased risk of fraud. Whether your guests are local or international, 3DS helps reduce this risk.
Here’s how 3DS supports your business:
- Reduces fraudulent transactions and chargebacks
- Improves guest confidence in your payment system
- Helps future-proof your operation as global payment standards evolve
What Will Guests Experience?
When paying online, guests may:
- Get a text message with a one-time code
- Be prompted to approve the transaction in their banking app
- Use Face ID, fingerprint, or a bank-issued password for confirmation
This step may not happen every time - it depends on the guest’s bank and card provider.
Built-In Security with SeekomPay:
We’ve built 3DS requests directly into our SeekomPay payment gateway, ensuring secure transactions without requiring complex setups. While the system works seamlessly out of the box, you also have the flexibility to configure the 3DS challenge indicator to suit your business needs.
A step-by-step user guide is available to help you adjust these settings, allowing you to tailor the security preferences for your property. This ensures that your payment process remains secure and optimised for a smooth guest experience.
Safe Payments Mean Secure Bookings
With 3D Secure, you're protecting your revenue, your guests, and your reputation. Seekom ensures that your payment gateway is not only secure but also future-proofed for evolving industry standards.
Ready to Enhance Your Payment Security?
Contact us today to learn more about SeekomPay and how 3D Secure (3DS) can help protect your business.
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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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)