Facebook isn’t just a social networking tool. It’s a social phenomenon which poses a real dilemma for businesses. Allow employees access…and risk opening a potential Pandora’s box of problems? Go for a blanket ban…and lose a valuable channel of communication and collaboration? Opt for a compromise, with use permitted but limited in some way?

Symantec.cloud web security and filtering service helps protect your business against the risks and security threats, enabling you to enjoy the benefits of collaboration and potential lead generation facebook can offer.

Facebook- security threats for business

Facebook can be addictive, leaving some companies to rue giving their employees access during work hours – and to count the cost in dented productivity. However the dangers don’t end there. The possible scenarios are endless. But the following examples give a flavour of the problems your business could experience:

1. A cyber-criminal sets up a ‘ghost’ account, becomes a ‘friend’ of one of your employees and posts a weblink on their wall. The employee clicks on the link and a data-stealing trojan downloads onto their PC.

2. An employee inadvertently installs a rogue application, which harvests their friends’ Facebook data and sends them all a message with a weblink. One of these friends – another employee – clicks on the link, a virus downloads and their PC joins a botnet.

3. An email apparently from Facebook asks one of your employees to update their password and login details. But the email was ‘phish’ sent by cyber-criminals who use the details to send out spam and to gather information about the victim and their friends – information used to launch a targeted trojan attack on your business.

4. An employee receives an email apparently containing a harmless-looking Facebook weblink. Accessing Facebook from work, they click on the link but it takes them to a pornographic site. The employee makes a claim against your business on the grounds that they weren’t adequately protected from such material.

First Step: Create a Facebook Policy- your policy needs to reflect the nature of your business, weighing up pros and cons.

Second Step- Implement the Right Web Security Solution- There are many options available, but the industry best practice for web security and filtering technology is through the cloud, so malicious content and cyber attacks are detected and blocked in the cloud, in real time, before they reach your network.

Symantec Web Security is a cloud-based service which helps safeguard your business by providing;

• Web Antivirus & Spyware Protection-blocking web-borne virus; spyware and phishing threats, all web page requests are scanned before delivery to your network.
• Web URL Filtering- allows you to control and restrict web access by URL, category, users, time of day, or file type. While also business to create and enforce acceptable web usage policies.
• Remote & Mobile User Support- is available and extends protection, policies and quota limits to employees who are outside the corporate network.

Resources

Whitepaper: Networking or Notworking- Facing up to the Facebook Delemma

Next Steps

Take advantage of our Web Security service Free Trial Today, or Contact Sales