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Why Data Security Is Important in the Media and Entertainment Industry

Cybercrime may seem like a suitable subject for a movie or television show, but for those who work in the media and entertainment industry, it is a real-life threat. Studios hire many different people to write scripts, to direct screenplays, and to manage the production, industry talent, facility operations, and IT networks. There are numerous opportunities for hackers to exploit vulnerabilities. Data security for the media and entertainment industry is, therefore, of utmost importance.

To understand why media data storage security, including encryption, is so important, we will discuss some of the greatest threats and how to prevent them.

Cybersecurity Threats Remain a Persistent Problem

Cybersecurity issues have been prevalent in film, television, print, radio, and sports. There are various ways in which cybercriminals exploit media and entertainment organizations. The top threats include impersonating authorized individuals, counterfeiting tickets, pirating content, issuing threats, and breaching networks to access content and personal data.

Security Risks in the Media and Entertainment Industry

The sheer numbers of vulnerabilities, attack methods, and incidents make it essential for media and entertainment companies to use data encryption systems. Some of the greatest risks they face every day include:

  • Scams: Scammers are reaching a larger audience than ever before. In 2020, hackers exploited WhatsApp, a messaging application run by Facebook. Users were promised free membership to a streaming service if they forwarded a message to 10 contacts and provided their account credentials. This personal data was then sold off by hackers to take over accounts. 1
  • Insider Sabotage: Cyberattacks often originate from within an organization, whether by accident or intentionally by a disgruntled employee. In 2014, confidential data about employees at Sony Pictures was exploited. Hackers also erased computer infrastructure using malware, prompting the media giant to alert others in the industry.2 The attack involved 100 terabytes of data, including details regarding celebrity earnings, employee social security numbers, emails containing internal gossip, and unreleased movies.3
  • Leaked Content: In 2017, HBO faced a cyberattack that leaked an episode of Game of Thrones online. Netflix was hit by a similar type of attack. As a result, 10 episodes of Orange Is The New Black were leaked. An investigation later found a contractor working on the show launched the attack. From internet radio services to online gaming platforms, cybercrime has become a widespread problem. In recent years, Steam revealed that 77,000 accounts are hacked every month.4

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  • Email Hacking: Hackers attacked user accounts of the Disney+ streaming service as soon as it went live in 2019. They were able to log people out and change email and password settings. The stolen accounts were then sold on the deep web. However, a leaked email doesn’t only affect consumers. Communications involving celebrities can be used to fuel tabloids and public scandals. Often, leaked information is manipulated or taken out of context, sparking media frenzies and scandals.6
  • Unauthorized Data Access: From employees who are untrained regarding the risks of information sharing, to third-party vendors who have been granted access, and users exchanging files remotely, your data is often vulnerable. The potential for unauthorized data access can have professional, personal, artistic, and financial consequences that can ruin reputations and shut down productions and businesses.
  • Ransomware Threats: Ransomware attacks are expensive. Entertainment companies have paid extremely large amounts of money to access lost data. The cost also comes in the form of lost credibility and paying fines for non-compliance with regulatory authorities. Data should always be backed up in at least one secure location. Encryption also reduces the risk of sensitive information falling into the wrong hands.

Why Data Security Is So Important in the Media and Entertainment Industry

As we’ve seen in past incidents, data breaches and other cybercrimes put many in the industry at risk. Data security is essential for ensuring the privacy of employees, consumers, creators, and celebrities. Unauthorized access to social security numbers and medical information can lead to identity theft, while internal communications can be used to exploit sensitive information. Leakage of unreleased scripts, TV shows, and other extremely valuable assets can occur internally and externally.

Entertainment companies must always be aware of what’s being said about their brand, content, and talent. Reputation, which is dependent on fan loyalty, can be easily damaged by a data breach. This, in turn, can have devastating effects on reputability and revenue earnings in a business where success is often solely driven by public sentiment. Having the right data security policy and infrastructure in place reduces the risk.

Ways to Improve Data Security in the Media and Entertainment Industry

Prioritizing assets, controlling access, and having an incident response plan are some effective practices, but improving data security requires specific practices that involve everyone within your organization. If you’re wondering how to keep your data secure, here are some of the most effective strategies:

  • Employee Training: Employees should be trained in the latest threats and how to recognize the signs of an attack. A training program that incorporates your company’s policies and procedures is most effective and should also instruct personnel on what to do if they suspect an attack is occurring. Your staff needs to know what to report, who to report it to, and in what manner.
  • Properly Classify Data: Information should be classified continually, accounting for its attributes and how its importance changes over time. You can then classify data accurately, which is important, but classifying every last bit of information isn’t the goal. The goal is to increase accuracy over time and adapt your security posture to constantly changing conditions.
  • Create Backups: Secure data backup can prevent the loss of confidential information, especially when encryption is used. This ensures only authorized users can exchange files or access them, saves time, and allows IT personnel to dedicate their time to tracking and auditing files, keeping them secure, and concentrating on production data management. All the while, users can safely share and transfer files using mobile devices.
  • Use Secure Encrypted Systems: Encryption, in software or hardware form, makes data unreadable by converting them into codes. Only someone with an encryption key can make the data readable again. Otherwise, a hacker could read or maliciously use information that’s available to them. Encryption systems provide peace of mind because only the intended recipients can decrypt and see what you have sent.
  • Share Data Using Quick-Link® Technology: At Ciphertex®, we offer hardware and software data security solutions. Our SecureNAS® servers provide AES-256 bit encryption and military-grade durability. With Ciphertex Quick-Link® cables, you can quickly and easily network your SecureNAS to up to ten Windows-, Mac-, and/or Linux-based computers for secure information sharing via a USB 3 interface. It is available in seven and twenty-foot lengths to accommodate a wide range of applications.

Trust Ciphertex® for Secure Media and Entertainment Data and Content Storage

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Data security products from Ciphertex® leverage the latest technology to minimize cybersecurity threats, protect company data, and increase productivity. Our portable NAS servers, portable RAID systems, single drives, rackmount servers, and Quick-Link® cables and other accessories are perfectly suited for media and entertainment, as well as other industries.

Additionally, we provide customizable encryption software that optimizes data management, secures data sharing, provides data migration and includes a state-of-the-art back-up solution. To learn more, call Ciphertex Data Security® at 818-773-8989 today!

Sources:

  1. https://medium.com/hackernoon/the-media-entertainment-industry-is-under-cyber-attack-and-this-is-why-9a55b4b21eb4
  2. https://money.cnn.com/2014/12/04/technology/security/sony-hack/
  3. https://medium.com/hackernoon/the-media-entertainment-industry-is-under-cyber-attack-and-this-is-why-9a55b4b21eb4
  4. https://onlinedegrees.und.edu/blog/cyber-security-entertainment-industry/

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MARYMAN
“Ciphertex has been our go-to company for encrypted storage for nearly two decades . . . Jerry Kaner and the Ciphertex team were able to get us the equipment needed in a very short amount of time.”

Joseph Greenfield, Ph.D VP and Chief Forensic Examiner, Maryman

Anonymous Forensics Project
"We perform large-scale e-discovery and forensics work for classified government agency projects. We’ve used several Ciphertex SecureNAS CX-160KSSD-X 480TB servers recently to great success for an ongoing project."

Large Enterprise Government contractor

Anonymous Forensics Project
"We were assigned the monumental task of handling a staggering 960 Terabytes of data across four locations, alongside an additional 175 Terabytes spread across three more locations, seemed like an insurmountable challenge. The urgency to transfer this vast amount of data to our forensic lab within a tight timeframe was daunting, especially considering the necessity for multiple examiners to analyze the data concurrently.

Navigating through various network environments, some of which demanded heightened security measures in a different data center, only added to the complexity. After multiple meetings and investigations in search of the most efficient and cost-effective solution, our team turned to Ciphertex Data Security, a reputable U.S.-based company headquartered in DC."

Large Enterprise Government contractor

Anonymous Government Contractor Project
"In our consultations with Ciphertex, their technical team proved invaluable, offering insightful advice that preemptively addressed potential delays. Within a mere week, we had the product in our possession. With swift implementation, our system was soon operational, requiring just a few additional days for software fine-tuning and setup adjustments before deployment.

Thanks to Ciphertex’s solution, our mission was accomplished seamlessly, meeting our deadlines and significantly reducing costs. Moreover, the versatility of their product allowed for immediate reuse in subsequent assignments through Ciphertex Instant Secure Erase feature. Ever since, Ciphertex has been a dependable ally whenever we’ve required their expertise and support."

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Government Agency Project
"Our experience with Ciphertex was nothing short of exceptional. Entrusted with the critical task of relocating a substantial volume of data (480TB) from disparate locations to a highly secure data center boasting a distinct network environment, the stakes couldn’t have been higher. The data we handled was of utmost sensitivity, demanding foolproof protection throughout its journey.

Utilizing Ciphertex’s SecureNAS systems across three separate locations, we were equipped with encrypted solutions tailored to safeguard our valuable data. What’s more, with the flexibility to operate seamlessly across both 10G and 40G copper and fiber networks, Ciphertex’s technology proved adaptable to our diverse needs.Thanks to Ciphertex’s robust encryption protocols and efficient systems, the transfer of our encrypted data was executed flawlessly, without encountering any hiccups along the way. With peace of mind knowing our data was secure, we successfully completed our mission."

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Anonymous Forensic Accounting Project
"Our team encountered a significant challenge relocating a vast amount of forensic accounting data from one state to Washington DC, requiring several machines each with a capacity of 275TB useable data. The scale of this task demanded a resilient and highly secure solution. We opted for Ciphertex’s SecureNAS systems to tackle this challenge. With their advanced encryption technology, these systems offered the perfect protection for our sensitive data. Transported via aircraft in durable travel cases, all our data arrived safely at its destination. Upon receiving the SecureNAS units, we were eager to put them to the test.

Once plugged in, they operated flawlessly, seamlessly integrating into our workflow without any issues. Thanks to Ciphertex’s dependable technology, our encrypted data transfer was executed smoothly, contributing to the successful completion of our forensic accounting project."

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APA (American Photographers Association)
"I’ve been using the SecureNAS CX-40KSSD with 120TB storage for more than 8 years, and it’s incredibly convenient and user-friendly. I handle numerous high-res images and videos while constantly moving between studios. The SecureNAS is my go-to data backup and archive, offering top-notch security and encryption that gives my high-profile clients peace of mind. Because of the piracy issue in our industry, protecting digital video and photos is essential. The portability is also a nice touch as I frequently move from one studio to another.

I’ve also worked with the SecureNAS CX-80KSSD-X with 240TB of space. It’s been smooth, fast, and secure, saving me both time and money. Thanks, Ciphertex for providing such an excellent solution!"

Brooks Ayola Professional Photographer, APA

Ciphertex was able to deliver a very secure and robust portable NAS solution that met the United States Air Forces stringent requirements and everything was accomplished. Not an easy task. The USAF has very high security standards with regards to encryption and the need for a very customizable Portable Storage solution. From initial consultation with the USAF to make sure all of their needs were met, to sending evaluation NAS devices and hosting support calls, there was a very open and good exchange of ideas. Our partnership on this Storage project resulted in a volume order with the USAF and a successful deployment. Thanks very much to you and your staff for always being available for support and your professional courtesy. It was a pleasure working with you and we look forward to future projects!

Gary Mosso ATPGOV & Ace Technology Partners

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