Improving Cybersecurity In The Film And TV Production Industry

Keeping Things Safe

The film and TV production industry is a multi-billion dollar sector that relies hugely on digital technology for numerous parts, including editing, scriptwriting, distribution and marketing. Yes, it is true that technology has streamlined various aspects and improved overall efficiency, but it has also opened the doors to cybersecurity vulnerabilities. Cybersecurity has become a vital concern in this industry, especially because lately, we heard a lot of news about movie-making companies that were hacked. Going through a cyber attack leads to several problems legally and financially, and it can also affect the reputation of companies. 

In this article, we will explore the cybersecurity elements of the film and TV production industry…

How does a cyber attack impact the film and TV production industry?

Cyber-attacks have huge impacts on the companies attacked, and the consequences can last for years. Here are some ways in which cyberattacks can impact these industries:

• Loss of intellectual property. All the companies in the entertainment industry rely on numerous intellectual properties, including storyboards and scripts. However, when a cyber attack happens, hackers can steal these properties, which could be later used by competitors. This will cause many damages and financial losses for those who have created the property. 
• Legal penalties. The TV production and film industry needs to follow various regulations and laws to store and handle data. If these data are stolen and exposed, then these companies can go through legal and regulatory penalties. For example, suppose a company experiences a data breach, which occurs when data is lost, disclosed, changed or destroyed without a lawful reason or the permission of the owner. In that case, the victims of this event can claim data breach compensation. These apply to any sector and can also occur in the film industry, where the details and data about actors, employees and even customers can be exposed in this type of event. More information can be found at https://www.databreachclaims.org.uk. 
• Financial losses. Cyber-attacks can also lead to huge financial losses both for individuals and companies in the film industry. 
• Damage to reputation. Cyber attacks can also hurt a company’s reputation, especially when the data of clients, actors or employees is exposed. This can lead to a loss of trust from partners and clients and have a long-lasting effect on a business. 

The most famous cases of data breaches in the film and TV production industry

Sony Pictures Hack (2014)

One of the most famous hacks in the entertainment industry is the one that Sony Pictures went through. The cybercriminals stole unreleased films, confidential data and internal emails and leaked them online. The hack had a direct impact on the reputation of Sony, and it pointed out why it is essential to have strong security measures. This negative event happened in November 2014, and the cybercriminals of the hack were a group of people known under the pseudonym of the Guardians of Peace. They are thought to be working with North Korea and were the ones responsible for stealing great information from Sony Pictures Entertainment. First, they leaked information about all the embarrassing things that Sony employees said to one another, but this was just the beginning, as things complicated later when the hackers threatened to commit acts of terrorism if Sony would release The Interview, a comedy whose storyline is about two Americans who plan to assassinate Kim Jong Un, the North Korean leader. 

The Leak of the Game of Thrones from HBO (2017)

HBO also experienced a leak in 2017, when cyber criminals stole episodes from one of the most beloved popular TV shows of all time, Game of Thrones, and also their internal data. This event had a direct impact on HBO’s revenues and affected the entire value chain, including the downstream platforms and advertisers. 

Disney+ account hack (2019)

When Disney launched its online service, their Disney+ accounts got hacked, which emphasised the importance of cybersecurity once again and showed how ill-prepared companies are for these types of events. Disney wasn’t prepared for that vast number of people to be interested in the new service, and also, it didn’t expect that many data breaches to happen. In this event, the passwords of users were stolen, or they were offered accounts for free on the dark web. This event was very criticised on social media and harmed the company a lot, having long-lasting effects on the company. 

Tips to prevent cyber attacks

Secure the physical workplace

Yes, cybercrimes happen virtually, but the physical environment should also be secured, as most hacks occur due to unauthorised access to the hardware. This is why it is important to pay attention and secure all the crucial elements, including network routers or devices associated with pre- or post-production. 

Don’t forget about the virtual environment

Companies from every industry should ensure that the devices and networks that are involved in the production of content have anti-virus software, up-to-date firewalls and anti-malware solutions. Additionally, if the production sites rely on shared networks, then they should use a restricted network to secure information and keep bad scenarios away. Furthermore, all the important sources must be kept private by passwords and multifactor authentication. 

Limit access

Companies should also reduce data access, as this will significantly diminish the chances of data breaches. Only the people who work on some specific task should have access to these resources, and these parts must have strong password protection to restrict access to only authorised crew members. 

Stay alert

Businesses must also stay alert and look constantly for irregularities. Additionally, it will be a good idea for the companies in the film and TV production industry to have a specialised tech dedicated team, who will keep track of what happens on the main channels. 

The bottom line

Cybersecurity has become an essential component of each company, as we live in a digital age where most operations of businesses happen online. Businesses should always adopt good cybersecurity measures to ensure that they keep all their data safe and reduce the cases of data breaches.