Secure Every
Transaction
Real estate transactions involve large wire transfers, sensitive personal data, and a mobile workforce operating on personal devices. CtrlLayer protects the technology that makes deals happen.
Wire Fraud Prevention
Business Email Compromise (BEC) targeting real estate transactions resulted in over $446 million in losses in 2023 (FBI IC3). A compromised endpoint is often the first step — the attacker gains access to email, monitors transaction timelines, and sends fraudulent wire instructions at the perfect moment.
Email Security at the Endpoint
CtrlLayer's network monitoring detects when endpoint email clients communicate with suspicious mail servers, forward rules are created routing copies of emails to external addresses, or email access patterns change — such as email being accessed from a device for the first time during a pending closing. These are the precursors to BEC attacks that traditional email gateway security misses.
Network Anomaly Detection
When an attacker compromises an agent or title company employee's workstation, the endpoint's network behavior changes. New external connections appear. Data volumes shift. DNS patterns change. CtrlLayer baselines normal endpoint communication and alerts on deviations that indicate compromise — before the fraudulent wire instructions are sent.
Transaction Period Monitoring
During active closings, CtrlLayer can apply heightened monitoring policies to endpoints involved in the transaction. Increased network scrutiny, additional elevation restrictions, and enhanced audit logging during the most vulnerable window — from contract to close — when wire fraud attempts are most likely.
MLS/CRM Software Access Management
Real estate agents live in their MLS systems and CRM platforms. These applications contain client contact information, property details, financial pre-qualification data, and transaction histories — a treasure trove for identity thieves and competitors.
- Application-level access controls for MLS platforms (Bright MLS, CRMLS, Stellar MLS) ensure only authorized agents access listing data
- CRM elevation policies for Salesforce, Follow Up Boss, kvCORE, and BoomTown protect client relationship data from unauthorized access
- Transaction management platforms (Dotloop, SkySlope, DocuSign) secured with per-user elevation tied to active transactions
- Prevent bulk export of client databases — when an agent leaves, they should not be able to download the entire CRM contact list
- Audit trail captures who accessed which client records, when, and from which device
Protected Applications
Agent BYOD Policies
Real estate agents are typically independent contractors, not employees. They use personal laptops, tablets, and phones. You cannot mandate corporate devices — but you can mandate security standards for devices that access brokerage systems.
Lightweight Agent Deployment
CtrlLayer's agent installs on agents' personal Windows devices without requiring a full device management solution. The agent manages elevation policies and monitors network behavior for brokerage-related applications without controlling personal applications. Agents keep their personal device. The brokerage gets security assurance.
Brokerage App Isolation
Policies apply only to brokerage-related applications — MLS access, CRM tools, transaction management, and brokerage email. Personal applications are not monitored or restricted. This separation makes BYOD policies acceptable to independent contractor agents who would refuse full device management.
Compliance Without Control
CtrlLayer provides the brokerage with verification that security controls are active on devices accessing brokerage data — without giving the brokerage control over the agent's personal device. It is compliance verification, not device takeover. Agents maintain independence while the brokerage meets its data security obligations.
Offboarding Protection
When agents leave the brokerage, CtrlLayer's policies for brokerage applications are automatically revoked. The agent loses access to brokerage systems — MLS credentials, CRM data, transaction files — without affecting their personal applications or files. Clean separation, no disputes.
Transaction Data Protection
A single real estate transaction generates a file containing Social Security numbers, bank account details, employment verification, mortgage pre-approval letters, and property appraisals. This data is subject to federal and state privacy regulations and represents significant identity theft risk if compromised.
- USB controls prevent transaction files from being copied to unauthorized removable media — no thumb drives with closing documents
- Network monitoring detects bulk file transfers to personal cloud storage, external email, or unauthorized destinations
- Application elevation ensures only authorized personnel access transaction management systems during active deals
- Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (GLBA) compliance for financial data handled by mortgage-related transactions
- State privacy law compliance — California CCPA, Colorado CPA, Virginia VCDPA — for personal information in transaction files
Transaction File Contents
Multi-Office Management
Brokerages with multiple offices — or franchises with hundreds of independently owned locations — need centralized security visibility with distributed management.
Franchise Model Support
National franchise brands (RE/MAX, Keller Williams, Coldwell Banker) can establish corporate security baselines that all franchise offices must meet, while allowing individual office owners to customize policies for their local needs. Corporate compliance teams see aggregated security posture across all franchisees.
Regional Brokerage Management
Regional brokerages with 5-20 offices manage all locations from a single CtrlLayer dashboard. Each office can have location-specific policies — the downtown high-rise office has different physical security considerations than the suburban strip mall location — while maintaining consistent data protection standards.
Agent Mobility
Agents work from multiple offices, home, coffee shops, and client locations. CtrlLayer policies follow the agent, not the office. Whether an agent is at the main office, a satellite location, or conducting a showing, the same security controls apply to brokerage application access on their device.
Protect Every Deal
See how CtrlLayer secures real estate transactions from listing to closing.