Social Media Security: The Current Tips to Mitigate Risks

by Devin Smith, Guest Contributor

Social media monitoring has become difficult to impossible with the influx of users. 

Looking at the amount of information shared online, cybersecurity isn’t keeping up with the pace, which is a threat to social media security as well. Social media has been the key to the world globalization and communication because it opened doors to a whole new world, which is a great deal. Then again, with benefits there comes risks as well because constant connectivity on the internet has paved the way for hackers.

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Many say boycotting social media forever, which can be a solution but not the way forward. The most crucial thing is to prepare with a line of defense to protect your social media security. Without wasting time on the internet, let’s discuss the essential tips to mitigate risks. 

Restrict Social Media Access
Its clear users will be busy to secure their privacy externally from the organization, employees of the firm PriceWaterhouseCoopers found that the workforce is likely to cause more damage to cybersecurity incidents than the hackers. For an organization, its better for their employees to reduce social media access on work premises. For a digital marketing agency, social media usage is a must. 

For that it’s better to limit the number of people who access it, only the people who have an interest may access it and then as well limit the usage. Decide which employees will get access to post and then use software like Hootsuite so that only the specific people can access the accounts.

Issue a Social Media Policy
If your organization's prime focus is on social media marketing, then you need to create a social media strategy and make it effective ASAP. The guideline of the policy will outline how your business will be run and how the employees will be safe while doing social media marketing. 

As an example, your social media policy should include: 

• How to pick and reduce security threats
• Who your immediate ranking officer is to respond against a social media security threat
• Which employees are responsible for social media accounts
• Guidelines concerning copyright
• Brand and client guidelines that detail the communication on social media accounts
• Strategy to create sophisticated passwords.

Along with these protocols, the company or individual should consider looking at outsourced online privacy apps that are an added layer of security to your social media accounts. These work as a charm and will strengthen your online presence. 

Use software for Social Posting
Social media posting blunders can be a big concern. A burger shack named “Z-Burger” found themselves in a major outcry where the marketing contractor used an inappropriate photo of a journalist in his Twitter posts. None of the employees knew about the twitter post and was posted because the contractor had the rights for posting. 

The owner of the eatery was disgusted with the tweet and had to delete the post immediately. This would not have happened if there was a scheduling system in place for posting that would ask for approval before publishing the post. Make sure to use such software such as Hootsuite that allows employees to create and draft the posts.  

Hire a Responsible Person to Lead
Placing a key person in a responsible position will be a deal-breaker who will keep an eye on all the social media presence. The person will be well versed with social media policies and will incorporate posting according to the market trends and mitigate risks. This person will be responsible for multiple things, and one of them will be to ensure that social media practices remain safe. 

Another key job description would be to maintain communications with the IT team so that they inform and educate him in case there is a social media security concern. 

Train Staff on Social Media Security Practices
Social media threats can be challenging to control, and at times, the best social media policies do not protect the corporation if they are not followed properly. The procedures may be easy to understand, but implementation can be a difficult task. Training sessions need to be placed which will give the employees a chance to learn and understand the vital fundamental factors of social media security

This social media training can boost employee confidence and morale to counter social media protective so that mishaps can be avoided.

Monitor Your Accounts Regularly
Unattended social accounts can be a target for hackers who can exploit them, considering no one is keeping a check. A social media cell has to be in place, which should divide the accounts among employees. Every employee should look after at least 2-3 accounts so that all posts and accounts are accounted for. Also, a social media manager has to be alert at all times who will create the content plan and calendar and keep a check. 

Follow-ups are extremely useful as anything can pop-up that would need instant focus. Moreover, be on a lookout for imposter accounts and unethical comments that can cause disruption in the team and any negative comments regarding the brand. 

Author bio:

Devin Smith is a tech-mech by profession, and also passionate into finding variant indulgence of the Tech World. He has studied marketing and now turning his exposure into the experience; when you find him playing soccer, it must be his spare hours.

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