Security is a crucial aspect in today’s world, particularly for businesses that handle marketing via the Internet. These agencies handle huge amounts of data ranging from client information to marketing plans and could be the next victims of cyber criminals.
Implementing security measures is not just beneficial for your company but also improves the trust of your customers as well as the credibility of the work completed. Here are some helpful guidelines that should be followed by digital marketing agencies to protect their online assets.
Keep Software Updated
One of the fundamental and essential aspects of cybersecurity is to make sure that the software is up-to-date. Hackers will always attack systems with old software as they can easily infiltrate them via known vulnerabilities. These vulnerabilities are typically dealt with in software updates, which is why it is important to upgrade the software as soon as possible.
Maintenance releases aren’t just about introducing more features or increasing performance. They are also vital in fixing security flaws. The developers are always looking for new vulnerabilities hackers might exploit. Therefore, by updating the software you use on a regular schedule, you can ensure the security of your system is secured from new dangers. Failure to update your software regularly can put your organization in danger of cyberattacks and data loss, which can cause huge losses to your business.
Use Strong and Varied Passwords
The password is the primary defense against unauthorized access to the resources of an organization. An insecure password is typically susceptible to hacking because it is easy to determine what password is used and get access to data. It is essential to ensure that the passwords are strong and unique for different accounts to keep hackers from gaining access to the accounts.
A complex password is the use of alphabets both small and capital letters, numbers, as, and special characters. This minimizes the possibility of hackers gaining access to your accounts by figuring out your passwords. Additionally, don’t use private information such as birthdays or names or even simple word forms such as ‘password’, ‘123456’, or ‘password The hackers begin with these options.
It’s risky to utilize the same password on various accounts on different platforms. If one account is compromised, all other accounts using that same password will be at risk. To prevent this from happening it is suggested you employ password management. Password managers can create unique and secure passwords for you, and they will remember them automatically so that you don’t need to remember them all.
Related: 7 Best Tools for Measuring the Success of Your Digital Marketing
Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)
Two-factor authentication is simply the term used to describe when you have to present some other form of identification, that is not the password. This could be a number that is sent to your mobile or a fingerprint scan, or a security code. 2FA significantly reduces the chance of a fraudulent login since it is, in addition to the password, additional details are required to sign into the system.
It is simple to enable 2FA and can make a big impact on account security. Two-factor authentication is readily accessible across all of the services and platforms that will allow you to secure your online accounts. If 2FA is enabled even if the password is compromised, the hacker still requires the second type of verification to access the account. This extra layer of security could mean that the distinction between having a safe account or having it compromised.
Google Authenticator or Authy are two apps that are excellent for managing 2FA. They create time-based one-time passwords (TOTP) which are passwords that are changed every thirty seconds. So, the passwords remain fresh and distinct this is another way for hackers to break into.
Educate Your Team on Phishing Attacks
Phishing is a form of cybercrime aimed to trick a victim into revealing personal information via an email that is fake or a web-based site. These types of attacks can be complex and therefore, sometimes, difficult to spot. The best method to reduce the risk of being a victim of an attack from a phishing scam to making people aware of the potential dangers and ways to spot fake emails.
Phishing emails appear as if they came from a trustworthy business, such as the bank or company that you trust. Furthermore, the messages are always written in a way that evokes fear or urgency. For example, an email could contain a warning that your account could be closed if you fail to change your information in the shortest amount of time. Your organization needs to educate your employees on these tactics to safeguard your company.
It is suggested to hold regular training sessions to ensure that your employees are informed of the latest developments in the field of phishing. Explain with examples the ways these types of attacks occur and how they can be avoided. Instruct employees to always confirm the email address of the sender, and be aware of attachments and links contained in emails they receive. The threat of phishing can be stopped by raising awareness about possible threats, thereby reducing the risk of being targeted.
Secure Your Network
Security of your network is vital to ensure that no one can gain access as well as to safeguard content. Security is a security feature that stops unwanted traffic from infecting your network and restricts access to authorized users.
Firewalls are essential components of any security system for a network because they aid in filtering the traffic that is entering and leaving the network. The firewalls that are properly configured can help prevent the unauthorized access of users and other malicious activity. Encrypting the data that is in motion and at rest adds a security layer, as even if data is recorded, it is not readable without the encryption key.
Another method of securing your network is via network segmentation. This helps to isolate an attack within an area if one segment of the network is affected. This strategy of containment is beneficial to provide a safe environment for your entire network.
Implement Regular Backups
Backups allow you to recover your data in the event of a cyber-attack, such as ransomware, or if the hardware fails. Backups are a security measure that allows you to restore your data and systems to their original state, thus cutting down on time and the amount of loss that occurs.
Scheduling can be a good method to ensure backups are performed every day without the need for human intervention. The backup process can be scheduled to run at specified dates like every week, daily, or at any point based on the preferences of the user. It is important to perform a regular check on backups to check whether they can be restored.
Another key aspect of the backup is the storage of backups in a safe place. Offsite storage is advantageous because backups are not subject to physical risks that could occur to your office such as flooding or fire. Backups offsite can be efficiently and securely created with cloud storage solutions because they are accessible and scale easily.
Use Virtual Private Networks (VPNs)
The Virtual Private Network (VPN) is an essential security measure to protect Internet connections, particularly when it is an unsecured or public network. The entire internet traffic is secured within VPNs therefore it’s difficult for hackers to break into the data. VPNs are particularly beneficial for those who work at home and require the company’s network across multiple locations.
VPNs create a secure pathway connecting the gadget and the web, which ensures that any data that is exchanged is protected. This makes it impossible for hackers to steal and access the data being transferred. It is advised to utilize a VPN like Surfshark particularly when working from coffee shops or airports with free Wi-Fi since they are easily hackable.
For digital marketing companies, a VPN can also be beneficial in securing the identity of clients as well as their personal information. It is possible to ensure every connection to the Internet is secure and thus protect the reputation of the agency and earn the trust of customers.
Employ Anti-virus and Anti-malware Software
Anti-virus and anti-malware programs are essential as they can scan and eliminate malware and viruses before they run their program. They act as protectors of your computers since they are constantly looking for dangers and removing them.
Updates are crucial to the effective performance of your anti-virus as well as anti-malware programs. Schedule the scans to be carried out at specific times so that your system is protected always. Also, make sure to update your software to ward off the new threats. The threat of malware is evolving frequently and only with the aid of current software can your computer be secure.
It is essential to choose a reputable software provider. Downloading software for free from untrusted sources can be risky since it can install additional programs alongside the desired software like adware. By purchasing well-known antivirus and anti-malware software ensures that your systems are protected with effective software.
In addition to real-time scanning and detection of threats, It is beneficial to select software with additional options, such as firewalls or email filtering and security for websites. These options can help to prevent threats from coming to your system at all which is an all-in-one solution to various types of cyber security threats.
Limit Access to Sensitive Information
Certain employees of your company don’t require access to all of the information. Access restrictions depending on roles can significantly reduce the risk to internal security. By using RBAC, which is a role-based control of access (RBAC) the ability is there to give employees access to the data they require to perform their duties and prevent misuse of information or leakage.
RBAC is the procedure of granting permissions according to the duties of employees and the positions they hold. For example, Graphic designers require a creative library and tools for design, whereas an administrator for projects will require the interaction of clients and tracking tools for projects. With access permissions that may be allocated to certain roles, you can reduce the chance of data leakage.
Another essential aspect is to check and modify access levels regularly. In every company, there will be changes in the roles of employees and this should be included in the permissions settings of the agency. This ensures that employees have the appropriate degree of access, to ensure that ex-contractors or employees remain blocked completely from any system.
Additionally, it is suggested to follow this principle called the most privilege (PoLP) in addition to RBAC. This means that users are granted the least access to operate on the system. You may also reduce the access rights, and consequently enhance the protection of the data being processed.
Read more: