The Importance of Cybersecurity When Running a Digital Agency
Cybersecurity is a hot topic at the moment. With reports of cyberattacks across the globe being reported almost daily, the need to secure your business has never been more important.
Digital agencies are companies which focus on marketing by utilising the Internet. Traditionally, marketing was formed of ad placements in newspapers or TV commercials. Whilst they are both still relevant marketing strategies, the vast majority are now digital.
With that in mind, securing your digital agency against cyber threats is imperative. Here is why it is so important and how you can protect your assets.
The growing need for cybersecurity
Cyberattacks are becoming more of a common occurrence across every industry. In 2024 there have been over 9,000 publicly disclosed incidents so far. This is an average of 23,70 incidents per month.
Companies across a multitude of industries have been victims of such attacks. The NHS, Meta and Microsoft have all been subject to hacking and data breaches recently. If companies as large as these can be targeted, smaller ones can be too.
The damage caused by a cyberattack can cause irreparable consequences for a digital agency. Digital agencies often collect and store personal client information as well as payment details. If a breach occurs, these clients or customers will no longer be able to trust your company to keep their information safe.
Trust is an important business commodity, as it helps to retain customers as well as gain new ones through recommendations. Not only would a data breach ruin relationships with your clients, but it would also put doubts in any partnerships or business relationships. This can lead to lost revenue and even the failure of your business.
There are laws in the UK which are specifically designed to deal with data protection. GDPR and CCPR contain strict guidelines on data security and privacy. By failing to adhere to these, not only is all your data at risk, but you may face legal consequences and financial penalties.
Data breaches can severely disrupt your company’s daily business. This can result in lost revenue, wasted manhours and financial outgoings to resolve the issue. These issues will be costly and stressful to deal with, so protecting yourself adequately can help to prevent disruption.
What you can do to protect your company’s data
If social media is a platform that your business uses regularly, then make sure it is as locked down as possible. Turn on additional security features such as two-factor authentication for new log-ins and change passwords regularly.
Staff training is essential when it comes to managing data. Your workforce should be regularly reminded of the importance of handling data correctly. Making training mandatory yearly, for example, is a good way to ensure everyone is on the same page.
If you are still worried that your data is at risk then think about external advice. Speak to data protection lawyers to help assess your situation and work to improve it. They will be able to help you create data policies and procedures to safeguard your information.
