Digital marketers at increasing risk of cyberattack – NordVPN Teams

The worldwide digital marketing industry is now worth $305 billion (€220 billion) and is forecast to reach $807 billion ($581 billion) in 2026, with an anticipated CAGR of 17.6%

Cybercriminals tend to fight for a slice of the cake in such a rising industry. Hundreds of marketing companies are attacked every day, some of them always fall victim to such attempts. Moreover, not just the large companies are at risk. Insurer Hiscox says that 23% of SMEs in last year suffered cyber assaults, with 1 out of 6 victims feeling threatened about their business existence.

“The marketing industry is handling a lot of data on a daily basis,” said Juta Gurinaviciute, CTO at NordVPN Teams. “With that comes increased risk of that data being leaked or intercepted. The industry is so fast-paced, data protection often becomes an afterthought when it should rather be a foundation.”

The chances of the data they use being exposed also increases because the variety of third party solutions, platforms and APIs which marketers are using continues to expand.

“It is impossible to be completely sure that partners are taking good care of your data,” continued Gurinaviciute.

“This is why choosing partners that have extensive data protection policies in place should be a top priority for every marketer. A breach on a third-party vendor’s side can be as costly, financially or reputationally.”

Besides data stored third-party suppliers needing proper levels of security, NordVPN teams think that marketers should maintain that their employees are conscious of any cyberthreats and that they are educated to respond properly.

“Data suggests that more than 80% of successful data breaches involve human error,” said Gurinaviciute. “This is why organizations must invest in cybersecurity training. For businesses to stay safe, the employees must be able to recognize threats and follow safe online practices.”

SiGMA iGathering

Join us for the next SiGMA iGathering networking event in Amsterdam on the 29th of September at 19:00. Indulge in a delicious dinner at the Persijn Restaurant in QO Amsterdam Hotel while interacting with like-minded individuals as well as the region’s top industry leaders.

For more information on the event please contact Emily on [email protected] or visit our website to find out more about upcoming iGathering events on the SiGMA calendar.