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With the drastic increase in social media use worldwide over recent years, small business owners must now take on a new role for their company. Social media isn't just for big brands anymore – it's just as important for small business owners. By building a presence on social media, small business owners can grow their reputation and expand their customer base.
Despite all its merits, however, social media does present a new security threat to small businesses. As with any other important aspect of their business, social media security is crucial for small business owners and big companies alike.
Consequences of not securing your small business's social media
Social media has taken over consumers' lives, with the average user spending approximately 2 hours and 25 minutes on social media every day. Therefore, it’s no surprise that small businesses are trying to take advantage of social media as well.
However, these platforms are more at risk than ever as cybercriminals attempt to wreak havoc for consumers and businesses. In 2019, social media crimes reportedly compromised almost 4.1 billion records in the first half of the year alone, and ultimately tampered with 9.6 billion records in total by the end of the year.
These security attacks did not only target consumers, but small and large businesses as well.
Businesses that are hit by social media cyber crimes may face many consequences, including:
- Lost or stolen data
- Increased costs for data recovery services
- Reputational damage
- Potential legal issues
- Disgruntled customers
- Revenue losses, etc.
The security of your small business's social media accounts is essential for maintaining an excellent online reputation. Here are six simple steps you can take to secure your small business's social media accounts.
1. Be mindful of passwords
Passwords are the most common form of security for social media accounts, but using the same password across every social platform is a bad idea. Passwords need to be unique for each account.
It's also a good idea to avoid using passwords that are easy to guess. For example, using your first name or your mother’s maiden name may make it easier for hackers to gain access to your account. Instead, use a password that follows these guidelines:
- Minimum 8-10 characters in length
- Must include at least 1 uppercase and 1 lowercase letter
- Must include at least 1 number
- Must include at least 1 special character
2. Limit access to your accounts to only necessary staff members
It's crucial that you limit access to your social media accounts to only the most necessary staff members. This will help prevent unauthorized parties from accessing your account and potentially locking you out.
3. Enforce two-factor authentication on social media accounts
Two-factor authentication is a security measure that helps prevent unauthorized parties from accessing your social media accounts. When you log in to your account, you will be asked to provide a second authentication factor, such as a numeric code sent to your email or phone, in addition to the usual password.
This means that even if someone gets hold of your password, they won’t be able to access your account without your phone or email.
4. Regularly change your passwords
It's a good idea to change your passwords regularly to help prevent security breaches. This can be a complex process, but it's essential to protect you from unauthorized activity.
You can use a password manager to help you with this process. These programs will help you generate strong, unique passwords for each of your social media accounts, and then store them in one place.
5. Use strong encryption tools
Social media platforms such as Facebook use encryption to keep your data safe and secure. These encryption tools are not foolproof, however, so it's a good idea to use additional encryption tools on top of the ones provided by social media platforms.
6. Monitor your accounts for suspicious activity
It's a good idea to regularly monitor your social media accounts to make sure there isn’t any suspicious activity. If you do spot any unauthorized activity, you can report it before the hackers have a chance to damage your account.
Security breaches are not always catastrophic right off the bat. Sometimes, they take the form of a simple post trying to lure your audience into giving information to a false representation of your business. Monitoring your accounts daily will help you spot unauthorized posts immediately, which will help you protect your audience.
Get more social media tips from the BBB
Social media is a wonderful tool for small businesses, but it can easily become a potential risk for your brand without the right precautions in place. With these tips in mind, you'll be able to properly secure your social media accounts and keep both your brand and your consumers safe.
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