The Rio 2016 Summer Olympic Games are right around the corner. From the lighting of the torch to the closing ceremonies, excited fans will be engaging on social media from August 5 to August 21. The Games also provide enterprises with a newsworthy opportunity to kick off social media marketing programs. However, with its huge social media draw, the Olympics attract hackers and scammers who use it as an opportunity to take advantage of brands and their unsuspecting fans.
Based on Proofpoint research of the Sochi Games, organizations looking to engage on social media related to the 2016 Rio Games will experience one security incident for every 10 pieces of content (posts, comments, etc.) during the games. Is your company prepared for the security challenges that come with engaging on social media? Before you launch into your “Project Social Games” engagement planning, follow these eight social media best practices:
- Close the Knowledge Gap
Most social media activity takes place outside the corporate network—and IT usually has little visibility into the risks. Marketing and IT need to collaborate to ensure the company remains social and secure. Start by documenting your list of branded social media accounts and the types of engagement you facilitate. Develop measurable metrics to hold stakeholders accountable for the readiness and effectiveness to deal with the social risks. - Develop a Response Plan
Work with your risk management or security teams to proactively develop a crisis response plan. In addition to spam and malware, it should include details on what to do if you experience a social media account takeover or crowdsourced protest attack against your accounts. The plan should incorporate staff escalation procedures and pre-determined criteria under which you would shut down an account. Check out this sample plan to help you get started. - Refresh Your Corporate Policy
Chances are it’s probably time to dust off your corporate policy and give it an update. Most companies still need to incorporate guidelines for newer social networks, such as Periscope and Instagram. Likewise, determine if your account profile needs an update to include disclaimer links or disclosure statements. For some ideas, take a look at Intel’s robust user policy published here. - Limit Social Media Sprawl
Account sprawl can run rampant and lead to fake and unmanaged accounts that damage your brand reputation and customer experience. You can only protect what you know. Use an automated solution to efficiently find, categorize, and track your company’s accounts across all social networks. Follow up with social networks to take down fraudulent accounts. - Adopt Two-Factor Authentication
Boost your security settings on your Twitter account. Turn on two-factor authentication that requires phone verification each time you log in. You should also update your settings to require a password each time you log in from a mobile device. Eliminating automatic authentication provides stronger protection against account hijacking. - Use Strong Passwords
Make sure you’re implementing a good password policy for your social accounts. Construct strong passwords that are unique for each of your social media accounts. Avoid writing them down and don’t share your passwords with others. Security guidelines recommend frequent password changes— an update every 60 days maximum is good best practice to follow. - Limit Connected Apps
Apps connected to your social media accounts, such as Tweetdeck and Feedient, are also like back doors for hackers to gain access and take over your social presence. Disconnect apps you are not using and be careful about linking new apps to your accounts. - Enable Encryption
Make sure your encryption settings are turned on when you’re using social media. Encryption is usually enabled by default, but it’s good to check your account privacy settings to ensure it hasn’t been deactivated.
Follow these social media security best practices, and your 2016 Summer Olympics social engagement will be a big win for everyone. For more information on 2016 Summer Olympics social media risks, click here to see our recent CBS This Morning interview and click here for more information on how to secure your social channels.
