Social Media Roundup: Ramp Up Your Cybersecurity Protocols

Another day, another data breach.

This time your cybersecurity reminder comes courtesy of U.S. Central Command, after the military organization was hacked by individuals claiming to be sympathetic to the Islamic State. Find out why your association should care in today’s Social Media Roundup.

Keep an Eye Out

We’re back! CENTCOM temporarily suspended its Twitter account after an act of cybervandalism. Read more: http://t.co/hiwvSp3uWt  (opens in a new tab)

— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) January 13, 2015  (opens in a new tab)

The takeover of U.S. Central Command’s Twitter and YouTube accounts  (opens in a new tab) on Monday and the release of purported personal information about U.S. military members drew plenty of headlines and prompted President Obama, that very day, to call for the nation to bolster its cybersecurity.

Though the methods and perpetrators behind the intrusion remain unknown, and as the significance of the breaches and proposed solutions are debated  (opens in a new tab), it is clear that every one of your association’s online outposts needs to be protected.

“Hacking a Twitter is about the equivalent of spray-painting a subway car,” a former senior U.S. intelligence official told Reuters  (opens in a new tab). But for some associations, that subway car may be the most public face of the organization. (A California charity learned that lesson earlier this month.)

We’ve reported before on the importance of following social media best practices and having strong passwords, but there’s a reason this issue keeps popping up: Some organizations still maintain subpar security. Guidance from the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association  (opens in a new tab) can help you ensure that your association is well protected.

The Issues Driving Advocacy in 2015

What issues will see #advocacy  (opens in a new tab) campaigns? Bet on technology and healthcare. http://t.co/GRpHmHPfku  (opens in a new tab) #nonprofit  (opens in a new tab)

— Connectivity (@CQConnectivity) January 14, 2015  (opens in a new tab)

Gerry Gunster, chairman of CQ Roll Call‘s advisory board and CEO of advocacy firm Goddard Gunster, examines the debates that will shape the advocacy world in the coming year. Healthcare will once again be a major issue, Gunster predicts, but other topics will draw attention, as well.

You might think that with oil prices dropping during the past year, energy issues will go to the back burner, but Gunster warns otherwise.

“If advocates choose to ignore the issue, they could be in trouble,” he writes. “We’ve talked about it before: Issues don’t become important to constituents until someone makes them important.”

For the full 2015 preview, click here  (opens in a new tab).

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