Apartment Trends Magazine September 2016 | Page 40

APARTMENT ADVOCATE

NATIONAL APARTMENT ASSOCIATION /
NATIONAL MULTIFAMILY HOUSING COUNCIL

NAA/NMHC Release Apartment Industry
Cybersecurity Risks and Best Practices Report

W

ASHINGTON, D.C. – A new indepth analysis of cyber risk challenges facing the apartment industry and a clear roadmap on how to
implement related best practices was published
today by the National Multifamily Housing Council (NMHC) and National Apartment Association
(NAA). The white paper, entitled, “Multifamily
and Cybersecurity: The Threat Landscape and Best
Practices,” is designed to help apartment operators
navigate the complexities of the cyber landscape.
The paper is authored by noted cybersecurity attorneys, Christopher G. Cwalina, Kaylee A. Cox
and Thomas H. Bentz of Holland & Knight.
“Cybersecurity is no longer simply an IT-issue,
but an enterprise-wide risk management issue
that must become a C-suite priority for the apartment industry,” emphasized NMHC Vice President of Government Affairs Kevin Donnelly.
“Our new white paper provides a thorough legal

38 | TRENDS • SEPTEMBER 2016

and regulatory analysis of existing requirements
faced by multifamily firms as well as a first of its
kind, roadmap for developing a cybersecurity
program that is constantly tested and refined – far
beyond planning for a one-time occurrence.”
“The apartment industry, along with its thirdparty service providers, regularly collects, uses and
maintains sensitive financial and personal data
about residents, prospective residents and employees that leave them vulnerable to cyber incidents,” said Greg Brown, NAA’s Senior Vice
President of Government Affairs. “As a result, we
have long-recognized that cybersecurity is a key
concern and this resource offers vital common
sense, cost-effective solutions.”
Ultimately, the white paper highlights the
importance of a robust cybersecurity program
that includes incident response, evaluation of
third-party relationships, oversight, staff training
and risk mitigation.

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