How to Tell Your Agency is Going to Be Hacked Soon?

Digital marketers are always busy with deadlines, campaigns, and the latest updates. Unfortunately, this can cause them to overlook crucial cybersecurity practices. If you or your colleagues exhibit any of these practices, your agency may be in danger of cyberattack.  

Everyone Skips Cybersecurity Training 

Often, employees do not take security training seriously. Sometimes, managers do not even bother to arrange it because cybersecurity falls under secondary needs. However, reality shows the opposite: cybercrimes are on the rise, and they target companies of all sizes. 

The next time you click on a legitimate-looking link, you might find yourself a phishing scam victim. Now, your credentials and the company’s data are in the hands of malicious actors. These incidents might have serious consequences, so don’t skip the cybersecurity training. Tricks and scams are constantly evolving, and knowing how to recognize threats aids prevention.

You Use a BYOD Policy

Companies that implement BYOD policies are potentially exposing themselves to significant risks. When employees use their own devices for work, the potential for security breaches increases. It especially applies if they work from different locations and use public hotspots. 

Because of this, cybercriminals usually target remote workers. But if you bring your own devices to work, you might just make the hacking easier. Firstly, a private device doesn’t always have the best cybersecurity tools installed, and the company shouldn’t take this vulnerability lightly.

Second, your colleagues could be browsing all sorts of things online and visiting malicious websites. It takes just one click to spread the malware throughout the network and compromise all devices and company data. All devices must be properly patched and protected.

You are Storing Sensitive Client Data Wrong

Many digital marketers work with extensive client data. Some store this sensitive data in Excel spreadsheets or other unreliable software, which makes the data highly vulnerable.

Your agency should use a customer data management system to store information accurately and securely. 

You Don’t Use a VPN 

If a colleague asks you, “What is my IP address on my computer?” either run or guide them back to security training. Your IP is like a digital address with which cybercriminals can directly target you for attacks. If your company doesn’t take care of data encryption, it is highly vulnerable to cyber threats.

Consider using a VPN or proxy to mask your IP address. A VPN will hide your virtual location and help you browse the web anonymously. If you encounter geo-restrictions in your marketing efforts or don’t want to expose yourself while checking the competition, a VPN can also help you.

Two-Factor Authentication Skip

Two-factor authentication, or 2FA, is meant to act as an additional layer of protection if the first one fails. It’s like having a double lock on your digital door. Even if a cybercriminal has your credentials, they will need access to your phone or email to take action. If no one uses 2FA in your agency, you will easily get hacked by bad actors.

You Create Your Password

Many people use the same password on multiple platforms. Some use very primitive passwords such as their birth date, dog name, or other easy-to-guess combinations. Unfortunately, it means that if one of your accounts gets compromised, others will fall consecutively. 

To stay safe, you should consider opting for strong and different passwords for various platforms. To avoid forgetting your unique passwords, consider using a password manager. This way, you will access all your credentials by memorizing just one strong password. 

The Key Takeaway 

Digital marketing agencies process lots of private information, so they are extremely susceptible to cyberattacks. Don’t wait until your corporate or your client’s data will suffer a breach. Organize that long delayed security training, install reliable tools and start to practice a proper cybersecurity routine. It may seem like a lot of hassle at first, but it will repay itself with high reputation and customer trust.