Cybersecurity in the film industry: How to better protect data before a movie premiere

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Hackers are attempting to steal data from numerous industries worldwide, often prioritizing the most prominent sectors that can yield a substantial amount of money. Unfortunately, the film industry is subject to this scenario. This is especially true when we are talking about large productions, where fans worldwide have been waiting for years for them to be released.

And most of the biggest fans will do anything to see their awaited movies sooner. Hackers have understood this fact, which is why they are trying to exploit the movie’s emails or websites to steal information or scenes.

The best solutions for the film industry to better protect against these hacks are to embrace the best cybersecurity practices, which will keep danger at bay. In this article, we will explore the most common online threats that are present before the launch of a movie premiere and why cybersecurity is vital in the film industry. Keep reading to understand more.

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Identifying the most common cyber threats in the film sector

Filmmakers are the most vulnerable group in the eyes of hackers, as hacking them can bring high profits. Filmmakers need to be aware of this and try to protect themselves in the best way while taking a proactive approach. So, the first thing they need to consider is the most common types of cyber threats they can encounter. Ransomware attacks are one of them, where hackers encrypt some of the files and then ask for a considerable amount of money to return them to the owners.

This outcome can have a disastrous effect on a movie, as scenes may be published on the market, and the film’s release can be delayed. In the most extreme scenarios, ransomware attacks can permanently delete that data, and the movie may never be released to the market.

Another very possible cyber threat present in the film industry is phishing campaigns. In this type of attack, cyber criminals are sending emails pretending they are part of the production behind a movie. The subjects of this attack are employees, who might fall prey to these deceiving emails and reveal sensitive information or offer them access to important files.

Cybersecurity practices for the film industry to consider

The good news is that several cybersecurity practices can significantly reduce the chances that hackers will steal movie data. To start, the safest and best idea is to conduct regular cybersecurity audits, which will identify the security weaknesses a business has and offer it the chance to look for solutions.

Then, employees should also go through a security awareness training, so that they know the best practices to reduce the chances of hackers becoming successful in their journey of stealing information. In most cases, employees are the ones who click on certain links that compromise the data of the entire film. So, offering them an initial training can be a great idea.

Then, the film industry must also ensure it protects its emails, as a lot of hackers are stealing information through this means of communication. Businesses should emphasize the importance of a private email that is encrypted and uses the highest standards of privacy. Only the trusted members who need access to this file should be able to open it, and multi-factor authentication can help in this regard. In this way, they can truly safeguard sensitive data, which is plentiful in the case of the film industry, as they contain financial information, as well as the personal data of the cast, crew, and other employees.

Additionally, depending on the location of a business, it needs to comply with specific rules, such as the CCPA or GDPR. If companies comply with these regulations, they will be able to safeguard their data and avoid incurring high fees. This is an essential step that will impact the success of a business, as a data breach will end up harming its reputation.

The benefits of a robust cybersecurity

A robust cybersecurity will highly benefit the success of a business. One of the best advantages of this approach is that it protects the sensitive information that is centered in all the main parts of a company, such as distribution, production, or marketing. Additionally, this removes the chance of dealing with unauthorized content release before the movie premiere, and there will be no chance of leaked spoilers.

Because of this approach, the audience will have more confidence in the movie production, and they won’t fear the risk of becoming the victims of cyber threats. Because of this, fans will want to purchase tickets to these movie premieres, which, in the end, will have a significant impact on the film’s future, as it will lead to positive word-of-mouth.

Then, with the help of robust cybersecurity, the businesses from the film industry will also be able to protect their intellectual property rights. With this approach, they will defend the movie’s reputation and positively impact its revenue potential.

What will cybersecurity practices in the film industry look like in the future?

With advancements in technology, businesses can now benefit from more advanced tools designed to protect their data. And the film industry can also start adopting these practices to equip itself with what it needs to safeguard information. Some technologies that can help this industry are blockchain-based content protection and AI-driven threat detection, which will protect businesses against online dangers.

Last remarks

Now, hackers are after the data of plenty of businesses out there, and they also want to steal information from companies in the film industry. This is why it is more important than ever to adopt all the practices to stay safe against these threats, as it is always better to take a proactive approach and protect from the start, before a business faces the reality of losing its information.