No matter how much money is poured into IT security infrastructure, businesses that allow social media are targeted because every employee is viewed as a new avenue for hackers to exploit. Everyone from CEO to secretary is susceptible to hackers via social networks because they all come with different levels of security experience. It only takes one person to fall for a phishing attack to cause companywide cybersecurity exposure. For example, if a worker browsing Facebook at work unknowingly clicks on a malicious link or photo in his or her news feed, he or she is opening up the company-owned computer to attack. Once infected, the computer will operate as a bot designed to steal passwords and log keystrokes, and act as a proxy server to conceal the attacker’s identity.
The dangers outweigh the benefits when it comes to social media in the workplace, at least for now. The cost of even a single cybersecurity incident is extremely high, whether it’s in loss of financial data or loss of faith from your customers. Until social networks evolve to address the specific security needs of businesses, their usage should be restricted in the workplace.
Frank Fanzilli serves as a technology adviser and sits on the board of directors for Calypso Technology, CommVault, GFI Group, and Asset Control. During his previous career with Credit Suisse First Boston (CSFB) and Credit Suisse, he worked in IT strategy, operations, and organization as the first global chief information officer of that enterprise.