Social media security tips to protect your business

Social Media Security Tips to Protect your Business

As a business owner, you know that social media is an important part of your marketing strategy. But what you may not know is that social media can also be a major security risk. It’s important to be aware of the social media security threats that could affect your business to be safe. By being proactive about social media security, you can help protect your business from cybercrime. In this blog post, our cybersecurity team in Perth will help you do just that. Read on for common social media issues and tips to prevent them.

Common social media security issues faced by businesses

Let us start off with the most common issues that pose social media security risks for businesses.

1. Inactive social media accounts

When a social media platform slowly gains popularity among the masses, most renowned businesses create their handles on these platforms so that no one else gets to use the name. However, many of these accounts then remain inactive or rarely used. Hackers tend to target unattended social media accounts and use them to post fraudulent messages that can tarnish the name of the brand.

2. The human factor

It is not uncommon for employees to accidentally share information or to expose the business to cyber threats. Even simple acts such as clicking on a malicious link or downloading files from a dubious source can create social media security risks for businesses.

3. Vulnerable third-party apps

Even if you have secured your social media accounts, there is still the risk of hackers gaining access through third party apps connected to your account.

4. Phishing scams

Cybercriminals who use this technique glean personal information such as passwords or banking details from your employees. Hackers may offer fake coupons of well-known brands to sound more convincing. If an offer seems too good to be true and if you are asked to fill in personal information to avail of the offer, it is probably a phishing attack.

5. Imposter accounts

By creating an account that looks similar to your company account and uploading similar pictures and content, imposters can work in many ways to damage your reputation. They can contact your customers with fake offers. They can target job seekers and request personal information in exchange for jobs. They can also get in touch with your employees and convince them to share login details of the internal systems. Sometimes, imposters may contact a company posing as a reputed social media influencer and ask for free products.

Tips to safeguard your business from social media threats

Now here are some tips that will help you stay safe from social media risks:

1. Implement a social media policy

Using social media responsibly is a priority to ensure social media security for businesses. Create a social media policy outlining how employees are expected to use social media, the kind of corporate image to be maintained, what kind of posts are to be uploaded, how to prevent scams, who will be responsible for maintaining corporate account handles and so on.

2. Provide training on social media issues 

Training your employees will help ensure that your social media policies are effectively implemented. It will bring more clarity to guidelines and offer employees opportunities to share their concerns. Training sessions also familiarise employees with the latest social media threats and how to safely use social media for professional growth.

3. Enforce a system of multi-level approval for social media posts

Not everyone is a pro when it comes to posting corporate content. Handpick employees capable of managing the task and set up a multi-level system of approvals so that any discrepancies in content or tone can be corrected before it goes live.

4. Ensure a strong password policy

One way to help keep your social media accounts secure is to ensure that you have a good password policy in place. This means using strong passwords that are difficult to guess and changing them on a regular basis. Additionally, it’s important to be aware of the dangers of social engineering, which is when someone uses social media to trick you into revealing sensitive information. Also, ensure that only designated employees have access to corporate accounts. Employees must also be encouraged to use strong passwords for their individual accounts.

Businesses simply cannot ignore the limitless marketing and branding potential of social media. However, it is also true that cybercrimes are on the rise. Social media is a hotbed for hackers who can potentially harm businesses in different ways ranging from data theft and vandalism to compliance violations. The trick lies in utilizing the benefits of social media while staying safe from potential risks. Don’t let your business become a victim of social media cyberattacks.

Social media security threats are a real danger to businesses of all sizes. However, by being proactive and following some simple tips, you can help protect your business from cybercrime. Our team of cybersecurity experts in Perth is here to help. Contact us today for more information on how we can help keep your business safe online.

Jargon Buster

Phishing – A type of social engineering where the victim is tricked into opening a fraudulent email or message which looks like being sent by a legitimate person or business.
Third-party apps – An app that is developed and sold by a person other than the device manufacturer.