What Digital Marketing Companies Can Do to Better Protect Their Data

by Frankie Wallace, Guest Contributor

It’s important that any small business’ digital marketing is handled with care and attention. A findable website, email lists, social media, online PR and SEO — these are all necessary components of a good marketing plan in 2019, and digital marketing-specific companies are often employed to help in this arena. This is understandable, given the number of people using the internet at all times and the data gained from digital marketing.
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Said data is extremely important. It is potentially the most significant thing a modern business can be in control of. But when we talk about massive pools of data, or “big data” as it’s often called, we also have to factor in the personal, sensitive data of individuals who have somehow connected with a company. This includes home addresses, phone numbers, credit card and bank info, and sometimes social security information.

In the digital age, that data is highly sought after by cybercriminals. Personal data is the most valuable type of information that can be stolen because it gives hackers impressive bargaining power, as well as the ability to steal identities and money. How can digital marketers protect the data of their clients and their employees?

The Issue of Cyberthreats
In a data world, cybercriminals are some of the most dangerous kinds of people we have to deal with. While there are people who don’t use the internet due to a preference for in-person communication, technological addiction, or a lack of access, they are in the minority. Thus, cyberthreats are a threat to the majority of Americans.

The news is flooded with story after story about identity theft, and a lot of these cases come via digital platforms. Unprotected businesses are one of the main avenues through which thieves steal peoples’ identities. For instance, you’ll occasionally hear about a giant entertainment company or airline that had their servers attacked and lost important information for employees and customers. Sony and British Airlines both come to mind as companies that have been victims of cyberattacks within the last few years.

Considering this, the need for cybersecurity is real. From the biggest corporate giants to small businesses, every company can be subject to them. A digital marketing firm is similarly at risk.

Setting Up Cybersecurity Protections
There are a few important steps you should take in order to protect yourself against cyberthreats. First of all, ensure that your server is secure. Your website should use the “https” encryption, and your servers should be safe. Additionally, everything should be backed up and encrypted, either onto a cloud system or physically.

Additionally, remember your customers. If a digital marketing server is hacked, it could be a gateway to the data of client companies and their employees and consumers as well. Whatever web hosts and software you use, research them to ensure they’re secure, and always update them when new updates are released.

A safety technique that isn’t commonly thought of is using a virtual private network (VPN), which is a way that people protect some of their information from the NSA. So why shouldn’t businesses as well? Further, using a public network leaves you wide open to hackers, so don’t risk it.

Educating Employees
There are documented cases in which employees have opened spammy emails and had their accounts hacked. This in turn gave hackers access to whole network systems and thus led them to innocent people’s private information. Employee accounts must be safe.

Everything that can should use two-factor verification. This way, finding a password won’t be enough to break into a system. Additionally, helping employees to learn about common cybersecurity threats and scams so they won’t be subject to them can help you avoid incredible damage.

If your employees work remotely, try to ensure that they are using VPNs as well. This way, they can transfer work to each other without random people finding their way into their networks easily and then into yours. Learning cybersecurity can be a little complicated for newcomers, but it can be more complicated to recover what’s been lost in the case of an attack.

Realize the danger and reality of cyberthreats. Set up protections for your digital marketing website like using a VPN, an encrypted server for your website, and two-factor verification for your employees. If you do this, your data will be safer and out of reach to those with ill intent.

Do you run a digital marketing company? What web security measures do you have in place? Let us know in the replies below!

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