Just like any small business, PR agencies aren’t immune to the rising threat of cybersecurity attacks or data breaches. In b2b tech PR, we’re especially vulnerable due to our work with many of the industry’s leading b2b technology companies. We could find ourselves the target of threat actors trying to expose sensitive and confidential information about clients as well as a victim to the disruption of communication efforts during times of product or company launches. In fact, a Nordpass study found that the media and marketing industries accounted for the sixth-most breached sector of all those researched.
With limited IT departments or entirely outsourced IT support, it can be challenging for small businesses to find the time and budget to prioritise investing in backup and disaster recovery solutions as much as we should. So, what can we do? What we do best — plan and prepare — because it’s not a question of if it happens; it’s when it happens.
Your best source of protection is your own employees. Arm them with cybersecurity best practices to help them avoid falling prey to a phishing attack or ransomware. They are often the first point of contact for cyber threat actors and they need to know how to keep themselves and your organisation safe.
Another great and easy thing to do is to set up multi-factor authentication for all employees. This will safeguard login credentials and provide an extra layer of defence in the case of a cybersecurity breach.
Next, put in place a communication plan. In the event of a cyberattack, establish how you will reach out to clients to inform them of the disruption to your business, what you will do to ensure clients are not impacted and how you will assure them that their data will remain safe and confidential.
Consider a SaaS backup solution. Working with our client Datto, a Kaseya Company has put this top of mind for us. With more reliance on cloud-based applications due to remote working, our data is more vulnerable. This can be dangerous when cyberattacks are on the rise. Reliable backup like Datto SaaS Defense can quickly recover and restore all of your data in the event of a data breach.
It’s time for the PR industry to recognise the need for tighter cybersecurity measures that can help us avoid disruption while protecting valuable business data. We’d be happy to share how we’re addressing the rising threat of cybercrime in our industry. Please contact TechComms, a b2b tech marketing and communications agency on + 44 (0) 203 322 8928
