You might think marketing has nothing to do with cybersecurity concerns. But if I told you that ignoring cybersecurity is like getting cheap low quality backlinks? Yes, it is absolutely useless and potentially harmful. You know how much we talk about data protection these days. And as a marketer, you have access to customer data. Imagine if you get hacked, and all that sensitive data gets exposed. This isn’t the experience you want.
The Epsilon team can confirm that. Their email data breach was the most expensive yet, costing the company over 4 billion dollars. That time, hackers stole the personal details of 60 million users. But how can you avoid these marketing threats and ensure SEO security? Today, we’ll discover that. And if you want to update yourself with the Latest Technologies in Cybersecurity, get into the HiTech world to get everything you like.
Why Should You Care About Cybersecurity in Marketing?
Many people assume that hackers only target multibillion-dollar corporations and the government. That’s why simple marketers like you and me shouldn’t have cybersecurity concerns. But how wrong that is. In this case, numbers speak louder than words. So take a look at this data:
- A hacker attack happens every 39 seconds.
- Cybercrime cost the global economy around 7 trillion dollars in 2022.
- According to the predictions, cybercrime will cost over 10.5 trillion dollars annually by 2025.
- Identity fraud affected 42 million American adults.
- Human errors cause 82% of data breaches.
What do you think now? Caring more about cybersecurity in marketing isn’t such a bad idea in the end.
Related: SEO Tips- A Toolkit for Increasing Your Conversions
What Are Main Cybersecurity Concerns for Online Marketers?
First, you have to know your ‘enemy’ in the face. So, let’s see what are the main marketing threats to watch out for:
- Phishing and spam emails. Users get around 92% of malware delivered via email. That’s why phishing emails are one of the biggest threats to your SEO security.
- Unlicensed software. If you what to avoid that monthly subscription payment by downloading anything on a shady website, think twice. First, software piracy is illegal. Second of all, this action raises several cybersecurity concerns. Often those apps come with a whole batch of ‘complimentary’ malware.
- Social engineering. By now, attackers know how to use psychology in their tactics. Often cyberattacks have a sense of urgency. If any popup, email, or message convinces you to do something right now, don’t rush and double-check everything.
- Account stealing. If you ignore two-factor authentication (2FA) and your password never gets more exquisite than ‘123456’, you’re in a sweet spot for hackers.
How to Ensure Cybersecurity in Marketing?
You already know some things to watch out for to avoid marketing threats. But let’s go further to discover cybersecurity rules and best practices. This way, you can minimize your cybersecurity concerns and improve your SEO security.
– Tip 1. Educate Your Team to Be Vigilant
We all know that prevention is better than cure. It takes only one minor mistake by an employee to put the business at risk. This is why many companies, such as cloudtweaks.com, teach business owners how to handle customers’ data. To prevent an attack and improve SEO security, you have to keep your cybersecurity hygiene in place:
- Choose strong passwords and change them regularly
- Don’t ignore software updates
- Always share file access only to people that need it
- Back up your data
- Use two-factor authentication (2FA) wherever possible
- Never visit suspicious websites
And a huge one is educating your team about phishing attacks. Anyone, from oil pipelines to YouTubers, can become a victim of malicious emails. So how can you avoid these marketing threats?
- Be careful with unknown senders. If you have never received an email from that person or organization, check it thoughtfully.
- Watch out for the wrong spelling. Attackers might be smarter than you think. Let’s say you emailed a governmental organization to get some details on unemployment. And then, you receive an email from ‘.gcv’ instead of ‘.gov.’ It is easy to miss that, like ‘g00gle’ instead of ‘google’ or ‘microscft’ instead of ‘microsoft’.
- Urgency is a bad sign. If your email urges you to open a link or an attachment, stop and think. Attackers can play with human nature.
- Take care with links and attachments. An email itself can’t hurt you much unless you open a link or a file, so see who sends it first.
– Tip 2. Invest in IT Personnel and Security Software
Let’s face it. When it comes to business, most good things cost money. The initial investment costs for a quality malware scanner and trained IT personnel will pay off many folds. In 2020 alone, businesses lost an estimated $1 trillion to cyber threats. And this number grows every year. If you have a team of professionals, they can adjust your protection to specific marketing threats.
– Tip 3. Customer Awareness for SEO Security
How well do clients recognize your genuine web address and social media pages? Scammers create social media profiles that look real to lure unsuspecting customers. Teach your audience how to identify these marketing threats:
- Send emails to remind customers not to click on strange links.
- Make social media posts to inform your clients not to disclose any personal information online, via email, or by phone.
- Use your blogs to educate your audience on the latest cyber threats in your industry and how to avoid them.
Conclusion
Cybersecurity in marketing can be a challenge. Yet, ignoring it isn’t an option. If you’re only starting your cybersecurity journey, start by integrating simple rules. And always learn more about potential marketing threats. Keep up with the best practices, stay ahead of the attacks, and focus on the safety of your customers.
