Essential Role of Cyber Awareness in Online Business Promotion
Embracing the digital era, businesses today are leveraging the internet to market their products and services. Every aspect of branding, communication, advertising, and marketing is now technologically adaptable and digitally driven. Organizations, big and small, are pouring investments into digital marketing.
However, going digital brings its own set of challenges. The immense access to servers and sensitive information required for digital marketing makes businesses vulnerable to security issues. In the first half of 2019 alone, close to 4.1 billion records were exposed due to data breaches [Verizon]. While 71% of such breaches are motivated by financial reasons, the remaining 29% are for espionage. In fact, 56% of data breaches in 2018 were attributed to social media marketing [Reports].
So, how does digital marketing create security issues? It could be due to poor email marketing strategies, sloppy content management, or weak social media profile security. Here's how:
1) Content: Content is the heart of every digital marketing campaign. While it's the king, content management systems are the castle. If unguarded, malware can enter and capture sensitive information, leaving the organization in disarray.
2) Email: Emails are the basic unit of communication in digital marketing. Phishing attacks are prevalent, with cybercriminals impersonating brands or using fake communications to trick users into revealing sensitive information.
3) Social Media: Social media is a space to connect, but spam messages and weak passwords can lead to unexpected security breaches.
To combat this invisible enemy, enter cybersecurity. It helps protect data and servers against attackers and malware. The internet we see is like the tip of the iceberg. The hidden iceberg can uncover many security breaches that could potentially harm organizational harmony and functioning. All it takes is exploiting a small vulnerability. With cybersecurity, your online vigilantes are on alert 24×7 to protect your safety.
Implementing Cybersecurity Measures
Website Protection
Websites and landing pages are like online property, acting as the gatekeeper to information and the door through which consumers can explore content. To protect them, you can:
- Use an SSL certificate for an encrypted link between the organization's web server and the online browser. This secures sensitive information, making it safer for consumers and users [Google SEO Rankings].
- Update the CMS system regularly to the latest version, providing additional security against malware.
- Ensure that all website consumers and users maintain strong passwords, adhering to set parameters, and changing it frequently.
- Use two-factor authentication for an extra layer of security.
- Implement a website firewall to detect traffic entering the website.
Social Media Vigilance
Hackers often research digital platforms before attacking. To avoid being vulnerable:
- Keep strong passwords and change them often.
- Restrict access to social media profiles. Only a few personnel should be allowed to access them.
- Be cautious of suspicious activities and report them immediately.
Email Security
Emails are a fundamental tool in digital marketing. To protect them from fraudulent activities:
- Regularly scan all emails for fraudulent content.
- Learn to identify fraudulent emails and take necessary actions.
- Maintain complex passwords as the first line of defense.
In conclusion, implementing small cybersecurity measures like VPN, Anti-virus, and firewall will provide long-term protection against security threats, ensuring the smooth functioning of organizations.
- In the digital marketing realm, the mismanagement of content can lead to security issues, as unguarded content management systems can provide entry points for malware, potentially capturing sensitive organizational information.
- Emails, serving as the fundamental unit of communication in digital marketing, are susceptible to phishing attacks, with cybercriminals impersonating brands or using fake communications to trick users into revealing sensitive information.
- The careless use of social media in digital marketing can lead to unexpected security breaches, as weak passwords and spam messages can reveal sensitive information or provide an avenue for cybercriminals.
- To combat these security challenges, organizations can invest in cybersecurity measures such as implementing website protection through SSL certificates, regular software updates, strong password policies, two-factor authentication, and website firewalls. Additionally, maintaining social media vigilance through strong passwords, restricted access, and suspicious activity monitoring can help guard against potential attacks.Lastly, ongoing email security, achieved through regular scanning, identification of fraudulent emails, and complex passwords, will help protect organizations from fraudulent activities in digital marketing.
