Rentec Direct security features protect your property management data on all online devices, so you can enjoy the new year without worrying about your data. Take a look at the key ways you can protect your password and information to keep your tenant, owner, and business information secure.
Determined bad actors are constantly evolving and increasingly rely on a psychological approach known as social engineering, where they manipulate people into disclosing confidential information or accessing their data. Rentec Direct makes your account security our top priority, employing industry-leading methods, from strong encryption to secure storage. However, your vigilance is the most critical layer of defense.
The start of a new year is the perfect time to secure your business assets. This article outlines six simple, actionable steps, from enabling two-factor authentication (2FA) to regular account reconciliation, that you can implement today. These steps create a robust, unified defense against modern online threats, helping to safeguard your data and finances so that you can relax and enjoy the New Year with confidence.
What is Social Engineering?
Social engineering is a deceptive tactic used by cybercriminals to manipulate people into giving up confidential information or granting access to data. The aim is to steal credentials, gain access to the system, or trick staff into transferring funds or revealing sensitive data. There are common scams that can occur under the umbrella of social engineering.
Phishing:
Phishing can consist of fake emails or texts that look like they are from IT, a vendor, or even an owner. They ask you to click a bad link or attachment to install malware or steal login details to access financial or management systems.
Fraudulent Payment Scams:
A criminal impersonates a manager or executive. They request an urgent fake payment, such as rent or a vendor bill. They may also ask you to change bank details.
Pretexting:
The criminal creates a false situation (a “pretext”) to get you to willingly provide confidential information. This is often done by impersonating a trustworthy authority, such as a bank official, IT support, a government agent, or another authority.
Note: Other common Social Engineering attacks include: Business Email Compromise (BEC), Spear Phishing, Vishing, SMiShing, and Whaling. Understanding how to recognize and stop these social engineering attacks will help keep all of your digital accounts secure.
Your 6 Steps to Better Security
There are six simple steps you can take now to protect your data and your money.
- Reconcile Your Rentec Direct Account With Your Bank Account: Reconciling your accounts at regular intervals (at least once per month) can alert you to any irregular activity. Discrepancies between your Rentec Direct ledger and your bank statement could indicate unauthorized changes to payments or transfers. Bank Account Reconciliation
- Don’t Share Your Login: Rentec Direct allows unlimited users for each account. Give each user a unique username, password, and custom permissions to ensure everyone accesses only the data they need. Learn how to add additional users to your account in the Rentec Direct Knowledgebase.
If you have shared your login with another user, this is a good time to reset your password and add them to your account with their own username, password, permissions, and two-factor authentication.
Important Note: Your Rentec Direct success team and our vetted integrated partners will never ask you for your login information. To protect your banking and tenant data, do not share your logins or two-factor authentication codes with anyone requesting your information. When in doubt, reach out to your Rentec Direct success team for any questions you may have.
If you wish to grant access to a trusted employee or a third-party service, create a subuser account with the appropriate permissions. This ensures each user has a unique login, customized access levels, and two-factor authentication, allowing access only to the information necessary for their role.
- Use Strong, Unique Passwords:
- Length and Complexity: The password for all users of your Rentec Direct account must be at least 12 characters and include at least four distinct character types.
- Best Practice: Use a unique password that is different from your other passwords. Consider using a reliable password manager to store them safely.
- Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA): 2FA is a security method that requires two different verification methods to access an account. The first Factor is your username and password. Rentec Direct offers 2FA to all users. While we encourage all users to enable 2FA for extra security, we require it for all accounts that process online payments. 2FA options for Rentec Direct login include:
- Passkeys (Most Secure): This option provides the strongest protection and is resistant to phishing, SIM swapping, and man-in-the-middle attacks.
- Authenticator App (TOTP – Time-based One-Time Passwords): This is a strong alternative to SMS, more secure than SMS. Apps like Google or Microsoft Authenticator generate a new, unique code every 30 seconds.
- SMS Text Message (Least Secure 2FA): This option is convenient, but the least secure due to potential vulnerabilities.
- View Recent Logins: Check this log often. It shows the time, IP address location, and risk level of every login. You can spot and stop suspicious activity right away. View Recent Logins
- Direct Access is Best: Do not use a search engine to find the login page. Use a saved link (a bookmark) or our Mobile App. This is the quickest and safest way to log in.
How Rentec Direct Protects Your Data
Rentec Direct’s Development Team has been creating secure web-based applications since 1996, ensuring your account is protected with decades of experience. Their experience and dedication allow them to quickly update your account with current security needs and anticipated threats.
Rentec Direct makes your data security a top priority through a multi-layered, industry-leading defense, including:
- Strong Encryption: We secure all data exchanged between your computer and our servers with 256-bit or stronger TLS/SSL encryption, similar to the technology used by major banks. We apply an additional layer of protection to sensitive data, such as payment details.
- Secure Storage: We encrypt personal and payment data to prevent unauthorized access before saving it in databases, a best practice in the payment industry.
- Development Security: Rentec Direct’s Development Team specializes in secure programming. Seasoned programmers check new code to ensure it is safe before it’s used.
- Access Monitoring: Human personnel monitor all system access both automatically and manually to address security issues, such as brute-force attempts, immediately.
- Third-Party Scanning: Rentec Direct regularly undergoes external verification and scanning by the same agencies that banks use. This ensures compliance with the strict PCI-DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard).
- Offsite Backups: A Cloudflare content delivery network (CDN) serves data from the Amazon data center nearest to you. This ensures we can quickly restore our services even after a major problem.
Learn more: Q&A with Rentec Direct founder, Nathan Miller, Account Security and Protecting Your Data with Rentec Direct
Final ThoughtsYour account security is our top priority! Be vigilant for unusual logins, emails, or phone calls. If you notice anything suspicious, change your password right away and double-check your two-factor authentication (2FA) settings to enhance your security. If you need additional assistance, contact Rentec Direct’s support team at 800-881-5139, ext. 2, or success@rentecdirect.com.
Suggest a Feature
Our goal is always to make your tasks as a landlord, property manager, or investor simpler, quicker, and more efficient. One way we accomplish this is by reviewing valuable feedback and input from our awesome clients. If there’s anything you would like to see added to enhance your Rentec Direct experience, please send your ideas and suggestions to success@rentecdirect.com.
About Rentec Direct
Rentec Direct delivers industry-leading property management software and tenant screening solutions to real estate professionals. Key features include online rent payments, mobile apps, tenant portal, vacancy listing syndication, and accounting tools. Founded in 2007, Rentec Direct is the third-largest software provider in its sector and has consistently been the highest-rated by investors, landlords, and property managers. Recognized on the Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing private companies for nine consecutive years, Rentec Direct was also named Real Estate Company of the year in the 2025 American Business Awards and listed among the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Top 100 Small Businesses. rentecdirect.com
