Mastering Social Media Safety: Shielding your Business from Cyber Threats

At this point, social media is a part of our daily routine. And what’s even more common is businesses using social media to promote, sell, and have an easier time engaging with their customers. No matter their size, relying on social media is an intricate part of getting their name out there. 

But, as quickly as we can appreciate the convenience social media platforms can bring, security threats enter the chat. Due to the popularity of social media dependency, hackers and scammers take advantage of this need and will use their malicious tactics, like phishing and social engineering tactics, as a means of tricking both users and page visitors alike to provide personal and financial information. 

But no need to worry! We’ll dive into the risks and correct paths you should take when it comes to keeping social media safe in the workplace. 

Understanding the Risks

Cybercriminals have only one goal in mind; stealing data. Trust us when we say they’re not looking for a like or follow. You may not realize it, but if scammers are able to enter any of your social media platforms, they have a high chance of exploiting your company and even user data, making it a goldmine for malicious activities.

Key Risks Include:

1. Phishing Attacks: Fraudsters can masquerade as trusted entities to extract confidential information.
2. Malware Distribution: Clicking on malicious links can infect your system with harmful software.
3. Brand Hijacking: Imposters can create fake profiles to damage your reputation or defraud your customers.
   
   
   via GIPHY

Establishing an In-House Social Media Policy

Having a few rules set for social media usage should lay some pretty solid groundwork for being social media aware.

Acceptable Use: Have a guideline on what is acceptable and what is not when it comes to sharing company-related information on any platform.

Security Guidelines: If employees are receiving emails or notifications from the company or their own profile that look suspect, it’s time to call in IT.

Privacy Settings: Ensure profiles, both personal and professional, have the highest privacy settings enabled. And that means 2FA and posting/response regulations, as scammers love to interact and see who is active through the comments.

Maintain Access to Who Needs It

Role-Based Access: Assign roles and permissions based on job requirements. This means setting levels and restrictions on who actually has access to your accounts.

Two-Factor Authentication (2FA): Add an extra layer of security by requiring a second form of verification. Anyone who has access will need to follow these steps via the 2FA settings (I.E. if your number is not connected, you will not have proper access).

Regular Audits: Periodically review access logs to ensure that no unauthorized changes or logins have occurred. This isn’t a “who can we trust” exercise, but a good way to determine if there’s too many cooks in the social media access kitchen.

Promoting a Culture of Cyber Awareness

Awareness Campaigns: Run internal campaigns (we love a good motivational poster!) to highlight the importance of social media security.

Share Success Stories: Celebrate and share instances where employees successfully thwarted potential threats.

Becoming Social Media Superstars

By keeping up with a social media safety playbook, you and your team can stay informed, and take proactive steps to turn social media into a safe and powerful asset for your organization. Keep these tips handy, share them with your team, and make cybersecurity a top priority. After all, a secure business is a successful business. 

Keep gaining those likes, keeping those digital comments happy, and most importantly, stay social media safe!