--- title: "Friday Buzz: Protect Attendee Data" id: "41947" type: "post" slug: "friday-buzz-protect-attendee-data" published_at: "2018-03-23T20:45:18+00:00" modified_at: "2026-11-09T16:05:51+00:00" url: "https://associationsnow.com/2018/03/23/friday-buzz-protect-attendee-data/" markdown_url: "https://associationsnow.com/2018/03/23/friday-buzz-protect-attendee-data.md" excerpt: "How to keep your attendees’ personal data safe from a cyberattack. Also: Why should always download meeting apps." taxonomy_category: - "Meetings / Events" taxonomy_post_tag: - "AssociationsNow" - "attendee data" - "conference app" - "event security" - "Meetings" taxonomy_content_format: - "Article" taxonomy_role: - "Director" - "Manager" taxonomy_persona: - "Association Professionals" --- [Home](https://associationsnow.com/) » [Articles](https://associationsnow.com/format/article/) » Friday Buzz: Protect Attendee Data Planning a big meeting is complicated, and the security factor of it continues to become more complex. How do you ensure that your attendees’ personal data is also protected? One thing all event pros have to keep in mind is that cybersecurity should be everybody’s job, including vendors and agencies, says a [new post from Event Marketer (opens in a new tab)](http://www.eventmarketer.com/article/unsubscribe-data-security-events-strategy/) . “There are too many players that are part of the conversation, from the brand to the agency to the technology company,” says Scott Sheppard, president and chief technology officer at MoZeus. “We run into so many brands that have some sort of data governance or information-security management system, but those properties aren’t enforced by the agency, so the agencies aren’t forcing that onto the technology providers.” It’s also important to treat all data with the same level of protection, even if you may not think it’s all that sensitive. Take your list of attendee email addresses, for example. “Lists provide hackers with data and a starting point—all they need to do next is guess passwords using sophisticated hacking tools available on the black market,” writes Kait Shea. ### Meeting Apps > 7 Reasons Why You Should Always Download Conference Apps [https://t.co/IbOkKMKNBK (opens in a new tab)](https://t.co/IbOkKMKNBK) > [#meetings (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/hashtag/meetings?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) > [#eventprofs (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/hashtag/eventprofs?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) > [#AMCi (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/hashtag/AMCi?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) > [#assnchat (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/hashtag/assnchat?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) > [#associations (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/hashtag/associations?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) > > — Kris Finger CMM (@KrisFinger) [March 23, 2018 (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/KrisFinger/status/977200863835025409?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) **Many of us in the association space** already know our way around an annual meeting, but downloading the conference app is still worthwhile. “Most apps these days contain an attendee list, enabling you to connect with other conference participants and vendors,” writes Nancy A. Shenker, the founder of TheOnSwitch, [in a post for Inc. (opens in a new tab)](https://www.inc.com/nancy-a-shenker/7-reasons-you-should-always-download-conference-apps.html?cid=landermore) “You can even find like-minded people to meet for meals, exercise, or after-work sightseeing, if you don’t like spending time alone.” Meeting apps will also allow you to view and select the sessions you’d like to attend, stop you from getting lost in big venues, and provide a reference for some of the connections you made once the event is over. ### Other Links of Note **When it come to photography**, nonprofit staffers often rely on their smartphones to take photos at events. *Kivi’s Nonprofit Communications Blog* shares why you should [shell out for a professional photographer (opens in a new tab)](https://www.nonprofitmarketingguide.com/blog/2018/03/22/professional-photography-4-reasons-invest/) . **Are you using member reviews in your social media strategy?** Here’s why and how to [incorporate them into your social marketing (opens in a new tab)](http://www.socialfish.org/2018/03/why-you-should-be-using-customer-reviews-in-your-social-media-marketing-strategy/) content from *SocialFish*. **Bad news, smartphone addicts.** A new reports says just having it near you can mess with your brain, [reports Entrepreneur (opens in a new tab)](https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/310770) . (traffic_analyzer/DigitalVision Vectors/Getty Images Plus) [Raegan Johnson](https://associationsnow.com/author/raegan-johnson/) Raegan Johnson is a contributor to Associations Now. [More articles by this author](https://associationsnow.com/author/raegan-johnson/) Tags: [#attendee data](https://associationsnow.com/tag/attendee-data/) [#conference app](https://associationsnow.com/tag/conference-app/) [#event security](https://associationsnow.com/tag/event-security/) [#Meetings](https://associationsnow.com/tag/meetings/) **Stay Informed** [Subscribe to our free newsletter](https://associationsnow.com/newsletter/) , *Associations Now Daily News*, to find out what’s happening in the association world every business day. ## You Might Like - [VideoConference app video for Annual MeetingJuly 24, 2018](https://associationsnow.com/2018/07/24/conference-app-video-for-annual-meeting/) - [PodcastAssociations Now Presents: Beyond the Contract: Building Stronger Destination PartnershipsSeptember 24, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/09/24/associations-now-presents-beyond-the-contract-building-stronger-destination-partnerships/) - [VideoMelvin Tennant, CAE, President & CEO of Meet Minneapolis, Welcomes You to Great Ideas 2026September 2, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/09/02/melvin-tennant-cae-president-ceo-of-meet-minneapolis-welcomes-you-to-great-ideas-2026/) - [VideoASAE TV Daily Recap: Final Day at the 2026 ASAE Annual Meeting & ExpositionAugust 24, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/08/24/asae-tv-daily-recap-final-day-at-the-2026-asae-annual-meeting-exposition/) ## Comments **Comments are for ASAE members.** [Learn more about comments on this site.](https://associationsnow.com/comments/) [Log in](https://associationsnow.com/login?redirect_to=https%3A%2F%2Fassociationsnow.com%2F2018%2F03%2F23%2Ffriday-buzz-protect-attendee-data%2F%23comments) to your member account or [join ASAE](https://my.asaecenter.org/select-a-membership-type/) !