Battling the Breach: How to Strengthen Your Self-Storage Cybersecurity

Imagine waking up one day to discover that your entire self-storage database has been hacked. Tenants entrusted you to protect their sensitive information—names, addresses, phone numbers, payment details and access codes—and it has all been stolen. Customers are locked out, your website is down and the damage to your company’s reputation is irreversible.

This scary and devastating scenario has become a reality for self-storage operators across the country as cybercriminals target facilities small and large alike.

Cybersecurity is no longer just an information-technology issue; it’s a business-survival issue. More self-storage operators are migrating to digital platforms to offer online payments, automated gate access, cloud-based management software, and automated unit access and monitoring. Now, hackers have more points of access than ever.

In other words, your business is highly vulnerable to online threats and disruption. Yet many operators still underestimate their level of risk or simply assume their company is too small to be a target.

This article explores why cybersecurity is critical for self-storage businesses, the most common threats operators face, and how you can protect your data, employees and customers. By the end, you’ll have a clear strategy for strengthening your cybersecurity and ensuring your operation thrives in an increasingly risky environment.

What Is Cybersecurity?

Cybersecurity is “the art of protecting networks, devices and data from unauthorized access or criminal use and the practice of ensuring confidentiality, integrity and availability of information,” according to the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. It’s a program with no end or start date. It isn’t a one-time approach or a seasonal activity. Cybersecurity is a mindset of social and practical processes that minimize vulnerabilities and reduce the risk of cyber threats by minimizing your online footprint.

Cyberattacks can cost small businesses big money. According to a study by cybersecurity firm Field Effect, the average price of a data breach in 2024 reached $4.8 million, up from $4.4 million in 2023. It’s simple to deduce that this will exceed $5.1 million in 2025. That’s a scary figure for a self-storage operator.

Other ramifications from a data breach are the inability to recover the lost data, identity theft of victim customers, and a consumer loss of confidence in a company’s ability to respond to cyber threats and thwart attacks. In addition to the consequences of even a single data breach, self-storage operators could face legal consequences including class-action lawsuits and claims for damages and negligence.

Common Threats

There are technical terms for various types of data loss, however, threats are generally categorized as one of the following. Any of these can impact your company’s ability to protect, defend or otherwise secure its data:

Natural events (aka acts of God): Power outages, earthquakes or severe weather events such as hurricanes, floods or tornadoes

Manmade occurrences: Includes all types of cybercrime such as sabotage, data breach, identity theft, phishing attacks, physical damage to equipment, and accidental data leaks or compromise

Here are a few key types of attacks of which you and your employees should be aware:

Phishing. This involves fraudulent emails, text messages, social media posts or websites that are designed to trick you into revealing private or sensitive information such as login or financial details. Phishing is the most common type of attack, as it’s very easy for an unsuspecting victim to fall into its trap. Luckily, it’s largely preventable with proper training and education.

Ransomware. This is a type of malware (malicious software) designed to encrypt files or entire systems, making your business files and information inaccessible to you until a financial ransom (real money) is paid. These attacks are aggressive. They disrupt and otherwise paralyze operations, leading to significant financial and reputational damage.

In a blog from Field Effect, it was noted that 84% of companies outright paid these ransoms in full to help restore data and business operations as soon as possible. They aren’t cheap either, often exceeding $100,000.

Data breach. This is an incident in which an unauthorized party gains access to sensitive data such as customer records, financial information or proprietary business material. Breaches often result from weak security controls, system vulnerabilities or simple human error.

Insider threat. This occurs when an employee or other authorized personnel misuse their access to proprietary systems and sensitive data, whether intentionally or by accident. It can be particularly damaging to a business. It’s also often harder to detect because the perpetrator’s activity may appear routine and their access is typically considered legitimate.

Weak passwords and credential stuffing. Many types of attacks exploit weak or reused passwords. People often use easily guessed combinations such as whole words, kids’ and pets’ names, birthdays, or otherwise “common knowledge” items as all or part of their password. Credential stuffing is the coined term for reused usernames and passwords.

Physical security vulnerabilities. Cybersecurity isn’t just digital. Physical threats such as unauthorized access to offices, stolen devices (thumb drives, external hard drives or laptops) or improperly discarded documents containing sensitive information can also compromise data security. It’s essential to ensure that access controls, video cameras and employee awareness are in place at your self-storage operation.

Protecting Your Data

Though there are many digital threats to your self-storage business, there are also good solutions. Strong cybersecurity starts with a proactive mindset. By implementing effective policies, best practices, technical safeguards and ongoing training, you can significantly reduce the risk of data breaches and operational disruptions. Here are key strategies to protect your operation:

Implement strong authentication measures. Use multi-factor authentication and enforce unique, complex passwords.

Use secure payment processing. Ensure compliance with Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard to protect customer financial transactions.

Regularly update software and systems. Keep your facility-management software, access-control systems, surveillance software, payment gateways, operating systems and business-related applications current. Don’t overlook remote-employee systems, if applicable.

Use data encryption and secure backups. Use tools like Microsoft BitLocker for stored data and VPNs to secure data in transit. Ensure backups allow for quick, accurate and complete data recovery.

Add network security. Implement firewalls and other measures to prevent external threats from accessing internal systems.

Manage vendor-related risk. Assess any third-party providers your self-storage company hires for potential security vulnerabilities before allowing them to integrate with your systems.

Mandate security-awareness training. Institute regular cybersecurity training that aligns with your company policies and best practices. This includes guidance on the proper use of computer systems and safe internet browsing, plus how to recognize suspicious emails and respond to potential threats. Continuous education will help your self-storage employees stay vigilant and reduce the risk of human error that could lead to a security breach.

Use antivirus software. Also, keep it updated so that known, harmful computer viruses can be detected, isolated and removed from your systems.

What to Do if an Incident Occurs

A cybersecurity occurrence can take many forms including missing files, corrupted systems, unexpected pop-ups or ads, viruses, ransomware, malware, spyware, and more. When facing a potential security breach at your self-storage operation, acting quickly is crucial to minimizing damage. Take the following steps.

Isolate the affected system. Immediately disconnect the compromised device from the network to prevent the issue from spreading. This could be as simple as unplugging the network cable or disabling Wi-Fi.

Assess the situation. Identify the nature of the incident. Are files missing? Is data encrypted or inaccessible? Are there signs of unauthorized access? Understanding the scope will help determine the next steps.

Notify the appropriate parties. Depending on the severity of the incident and who’s affected, you may be legally required to inform your self-storage customers if their personal or financial data has been compromised. Compliance with industry regulations and data-protection laws is essential.

Engage cybersecurity experts. In many cases, professional firms can help investigate the source of the attack, assess its impact and guide you through recovery efforts.

Document and strengthen security measures. Once the immediate threat is contained, analyze what went wrong and implement stronger controls to prevent future incidents. This could include updating software, enforcing strong password policies and improving security-awareness training.

A Proactive, Defensive Approach

The reality is that no matter how many protections you put in place at your self-storage business, there will always be some level of risk. Insurance companies recognize this and now offer cybersecurity coverage, which helps mitigate the financial impact of a cyberattack, data breach or other security incident. To ensure your business is protected, speak with your agent about available options. There are numerous providers on the market.

It’s also essential to establish clear rules and guidance for your self-storage employees and tenants, so they understand how to use the company’s digital resources. Simple administrative controls such as, “Never click on links in an email from anyone you don’t know” and “Always use strong, unique passwords for each account and change them every 90 days,” are key components of a strong cybersecurity strategy. There are many other policies you can include to effectively manage expectations and foster a security-conscious culture.

Another valuable step is to engage with cybersecurity professionals for a comprehensive, cradle-to-grave risk assessment. These experts will examine your day-to-day operation, training materials and information systems to identify opportunities to strengthen your security while ensuring your business can continue to run smoothly. These services can vary in scope and may seem costly; but the peace of mind and enhanced fortification they provide can instill confidence that you’re taking the right steps to protect your self-storage employee, proprietary, financial and customer data.

Cybersecurity is no longer optional in the self-storage industry; it’s a critical component of running a safe and trustworthy business. By understanding the risks and implementing strong defenses, you can protect your business and customer data.

Remember, cybersecurity is an ongoing program. The threats are real, evolving and dangerous. By staying ahead of them and responding quickly when incidents occur, you can prevent costly breaches and ensure your self-storage company not only survives but thrives.

Justin Small is executive vice president and IT (information technology) and cybersecurity director for Diamond Self Storage Management, which oversees 21 facilities and provides consulting services. He served in the U.S. Air Force for 20 years, specializing as a system administrator, information-assurance compliance auditor, and cybersecurity technician and analyst. He holds a degree in IT management and information-assurance management. To reach him, email [email protected].

About the Author

Justin Small

Executive Vice President, Diamond Self Storage Management

Justin Small is executive vice president as well as information-technology and cybersecurity director for Diamond Self Storage Management, which oversees 21 facilities and provides consulting services. He served in the U.S. Air Force for 20 years, specializing as a system administrator, information-assurance compliance auditor, and cybersecurity technician and analyst. To reach him, email [email protected].

See more from Justin Small

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