As a digital marketer, you may think that cybersecurity is the aspect of technology that only the IT people in your company need to worry about.
If this is your case, you may want to know that: cybersecurity is everyone's responsibility. If there is a breach in your company's confidential data, pleading ignorance will not solve things.
But cybersecurity is achievable. Protecting your team and business from digital criminals is not difficult. Following the best practices of some forensic computer lab experts , which we investigated for this article, we share with you five of the most common digital marketing areas where cybersecurity threats can be found and how you could protect yourself against them.
1. Email
Yes, email. If your marketing team spends most of their time on social media , it can be easy to forget that the oldest digital medium of communication is still the most dangerous. Even today, the vast majority of attacks – up to 91% – start with an email.
There are two main threats when it comes to email. One is that your team could be sending sensitive personal or business data in an unsecured format. In other words, not using encryption. If that’s the case, there are relatively simple encryption strategies that marketers should be aware of and be able to execute.
The second big threat is phishing . Marketing teams are a favorite target for hackers because they are interested in interacting with customers, or hackers pose as customers. Teach your team how to recognize a phishing email and you will go a long way toward preventing successful cyberattacks.
2. Malware
Most people are familiar with the standard computer virus. But do you also know how modern malware has evolved ? Today, there is spyware that can log your passwords and keystrokes, while ransomware encrypts a site's sensitive data and only decrypts it when a ransom is paid.
Once again, marketing teams are on the receiving end of a number of malware attacks , thanks to their frequent daily communication. For this reason, your marketing team needs to be gambling data japan smart about where they click and add antivirus extensions to all the software they use to work.
3. WordPress
It may seem strange to give WordPress its own entry on this list , given the number of systems digital marketers use on a daily basis.
However, WordPress is so dominant in the CMS market that related vulnerabilities, and even vulnerabilities in popular plugins used with the software, continue to make headlines around the world.
One of the best ways to keep your WordPress site safe from hackers is to simply update it regularly. Enable automatic updates to ensure you receive timely security patches, and regularly review the plugins and extensions you use.
Outdated plugins that are no longer supported are a huge danger to organizations, so it's a good idea to remove them and find a compatible alternative. It's also best to remove plugins, themes, and extensions that you no longer use.
4. Domain
WordPress isn’t the only site, or web server, that can run into problems . Popular forms of attack, such as Cross-Site Scripting (XSS), SQL injection, and DDoS, have been on the rise in recent years, and all make use of domain-level flaws in your security. These dangers are amplified if your website has multiple users, such as freelancers or consultants.
Since you are not a cybersecurity expert , accept that you need help monitoring and protecting your domain. Seek help from your IT team to put cybersecurity safeguards in place for all the websites you own.
5. Social networks
Modern marketers are well aware of how effective social marketing can be. But with great power comes great danger. Social media accounts are a favorite target for hackers, as they can wreak exponentially more havoc, not only by stealing personal information, but also by hijacking accounts to post offensive material until you pay them to stop.
This is a particular problem for marketing teams because multiple members are likely to use the same social media account. Make sure all members use a password manager to keep authentication credentials secure and unique.
Additionally, educate your team about the danger of unsolicited messages on social media. Just as hackers rely on emails to scam and share sensitive information, they can also use Facebook and Instagram to attack your systems.
Now it's your turn.
The bottom line today is that digital marketers can’t afford to ignore cybersecurity, just because the word isn’t in their job description. Not only can you put your data at risk, but the companies you work with are unlikely to continue to do so if you do fall victim to a hack or data breach. It’s simply not worth the risk to them.
Implementing an effective cybersecurity strategy should be an integral part of your B2B marketing strategy. By showing partners or customers that you take your cybersecurity responsibilities seriously, you uphold your brand values and protect your company at the same time.
