Overcoming Cybersecurity Threats Within the Digital Marketing Sector

Most articles that focus on the topic of digital marketing highlight metrics such as SEO, targeting the right demographic, and appreciating the power of social media platforms.

While these are all certainly valid observations, we also need to remember that cybersecurity has become an increasingly relevant concern.

According to a recent report, cybersecurity threats (and the associated damages) are expected to cost the global business community a staggering six trillion dollars by the end of 2021. Unfortunately, smaller organizations are just as in danger as multinational firms. This is why knowing how to overcome these attacks is essential.

What do the experts have to say? Are there any marketing strategies that can be employed at an early stage? These are a handful of the topics that will be covered throughout this article.

Learning to Appreciate the Different Types of Cyberattacks

To be able to thwart a problem, it is first necessary to appreciate how it may come to pass. Here are some of the most common types of cyberattacks which can lead to grave consequences:

• Malware infections
• Phishing scams
• Identity theft
• Sensitive data being leaked to a third party
• Browser hijackings

However, cybersecurity should play an equal role. Let’s remember that protecting sensitive client information will reflect positively upon the brand in question.

Furthermore, adopting a more proactive stance might enable a firm to avoid potentially disastrous situations that would ultimately destroy public confidence.

This is why the advantages of curating an effective strategy involve much more than technical concerns alone. Let’s now examine some professional recommendations.

Obtaining Peace of Mind Within the Digital Age: Professional Steps to Take

The most successful digital marketing campaigns may be able to reach countless prospects from around the world. Unfortunately, this also increases the risk that a data breach will occur.

Marketing specialists should therefore learn to appreciate how to mitigate some of the most common risks. What areas are involved?

Email Marketing

Email marketing is one of the most traditional means to reach an audience and yet, these very same tactics are just appropriate in this day and age. However, mass marketing campaigns are prone to phishing attacks. This is even more relevant if emails are associated with client accounts or payment instructions.

Employees should be taught how to identify a phishing scam. It is also prudent to inform customers if a potential threat is present.

They can therefore avoid potentially serious consequences by keeping their details private until a solution has been found.

Sites Powered by WordPress

WordPress is an excellent website hosting service; particularly for small- to medium-sized businesses.

Unfortunately, hackers will often target specific vulnerabilities associated with plugins (especially third-party plugins). This could have a direct impact on an ongoing marketing campaign.

Password phishing, DDoS (distributed denial-of-service) attacks and surreptitiously accessing website databases are not uncommon.

So, marketing teams need to keep a close eye on the status of any site powered by WordPress. The best approach is to ensure that updates are performed as soon as they are available. Strong passwords and multiple-factor encryption will likewise protect a site against attacks.

Social Media Campaigns

This article has rightfully observed that 75 percent of all marketing specialists rate social media as one of their most powerful tools.

Considering the sheer scope of these platforms, this should not come as a great surprise. There are still some risks to highlight.

Hackers will often target social media accounts to steal information and to gain access to personal details.

The issue here is that larger marketing teams will normally be dealing with multiple accounts simultaneously. Therefore, the risks naturally increase.

Third-party social media management platforms and multifactor authentication are two ways to avoid an account being hijacked for nefarious purposes.

It is also wise to stress the dangers of cybercrime to an in-house social media marketing team. They will be much more likely to spot a suspicious situation ahead of time.

CRM Packages

It is estimated that up to 97 percent of all businesses now employ some type of customer relationship management (CRM) system. While highly efficient, these bundles can still lead to security issues on occasion.

This is why creating a strong password is no longer sufficient. Access should be limited to only those employees who have been given official clearance.

Passwords must never be shared. Third-party tracking tools are often useful, as they will monitor who has logged into the system and what changes have been made.

If marketing managers can embrace a more hands-on approach, the potential of a security breach will be vastly reduced.

E-Commerce Platforms

E-commerce software is crucial within the world of digital marketing, as these systems can convert a prospect into a paying customer.

There are numerous platforms on the market, and each offers its unique attributes. Still, the associated cybersecurity threats are very real.

It is essential to determine whether or not the system in question is equipped with SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) protection.

Also, marketing managers should speak with a representative to better appreciate the steps that the provider is taking to ensure that sensitive information is kept behind closed doors.

This is why it is always better to work with well-known brands which have developed a solid and transparent reputation.

Cybersecurity in the Age of Digital Marketing: A Growing Concern

Let us briefly summarise some of the primary cybersecurity variables which digital marketing professionals must address:

• Email campaigns
• WordPress platforms
• Social media
• CRM systems
• E-commerce providers

Although the suggestions outlined above may seem clear at first glance, they can sometimes be challenging to implement.

This is why a growing number of businesses are choosing to outsource their concerns to third-party cybersecurity firms, and invest in services such as data destruction or IT Asset Disposition.

Cybersecurity represents an ever-evolving concept. Strategies that could have worked in the past might very well be outdated shortly.

 Remaining ahead of the curve is the best way to ensure a productive and successful marketing campaign.