How SocioConnect Helps Multi-Location Businesses Address Security Challenges

Online security is a top concern for multi-location brands and franchises. With multiple staff members accessing logins, high employee turnover, and the growing risk of cyber threats, managing security across locations can be complex. Many SocioLocal clients have turned to SocioConnect to help tackle these challenges, ensuring their businesses remain secure and compliant.

Due to the onslaught of phishing attempts in recent years, protecting sensitive information is more critical than ever. As we increasingly rely on apps for banking, shopping, communicating, and even managing our personal health, the need for robust security measures is essential. Passwords alone are no longer enough to protect against sophisticated cyberattacks. Even if users create strong passwords, data breaches from other services can expose those passwords to the wrong hands. We understand why security is important on a personal level; but why is online security important for multi-location businesses? Well, here are a few reasons:

Why Online Security Matters for Multi-Location Brands

1. Protecting Sensitive Data
   Franchises handle vast amounts of customer information, including payment details and transaction histories. A breach could lead to identity theft or financial fraud, damaging the brand's reputation.
   
2. Consistent Brand Reputation
   If one franchise location experiences a cyberattack, it affects the reputation of the entire brand. Customers trust that each franchise location follows the same standards of security. A data breach at one location can result in widespread mistrust. A recent survey of 7,000 shoppers by cyber security company F-Secure claims that “cybercrime has never been more prevalent,” with 85% having received a Digital Scam attempt in the past 12 months. It's important to look out for these scams to protect your business's reputation and keep your customers' trust! Our Implementation Manager, Daniel Malone, spoke with Gaelle Walker in the Scottish Local Retailer about what to do when fake pages misrepresent your business on social media. One of SocioLocal’s customers, Oxfam, an international charity with 45 stores across Ireland, uses SocioConnect to have an overview of everything the stores are posting on their social media pages to ensure compliance across the brand.
   
3. Maintaining Compliance
   Many regions have strict data protection laws (like GDPR in Europe). Franchisees must comply with these regulations, or the entire brand can face legal penalties.
   
4. Preventing Operational Disruptions
   Cyberattacks can disrupt operations, halting business transactions or causing technical issues. Franchises depend on smooth daily operations, and any downtime can result in financial losses. Village Vets, a veterinary clinic with 18 locations, utilized SocioConnect to prevent operational disruptions from happening again in the future. Before joining SocioLocal, Village Vets had gone through a massive security breach on their Instagram account - and lost access to it completely. Their Marketing Manager had spent the previous 10 years building the Instagram account to over 4,000 followers and gaining loyal advocates online. Losing it was heartbreaking and ensuring that it never happened again was a key objective of the Village Vets marketing team coming into 2023. Read more about what they did to tackle security and governance here.
   
5. Protecting Proprietary Information
   Franchises often have valuable proprietary information, such as recipes, business strategies, or trade secrets. A security breach could expose these assets to competitors or malicious entities.
   
6. Reducing Financial Risk
   The cost of dealing with a cyberattack (eg. data recovery, legal fees, compensation, fines) can be significant. For franchises, which operate on tight margins, these expenses can cause huge financial strain.

How SocioConnect Helps Secure Your Business

1. Social Media Governance
   SocioConnect allows businesses to manage all social media pages from a single platform. For example, Village Vets uses this tool to restrict store staff access, ensuring that if a team member leaves, the brand retains ownership of the social media accounts without disruption.
2. Encouraging Strong Passwords
   SocioConnect encourages the use of strong, unique passwords across locations and integrates seamlessly with password management systems for added protection.
3. Implementing Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)
   2FA is a critical feature for businesses managing sensitive information. SocioConnect’s 2FA options, such as SMS codes and authentication apps, provide an extra layer of security for social media accounts.
4. Overview of Entire Estate
   SocioConnect gives brands a bird's-eye view of all of the content that is being posted on local social media pages and all of the messages that each location is receiving. This allows a brand to catch any potential threats before they happen and stop hacks in their tracks. By integrating SocioConnect into their operations, multi-location brands like Oxfam have taken proactive steps to safeguard their businesses against cyber threats. 
5. Employee Training and Awareness
   Tools like SocioConnect are complemented by regular staff training and audits to ensure employees recognize potential threats. Customers like Caremark, a leading Care Home franchise operating with 130 locations across the UK, have regular training with their store managers to ensure awareness of social media trends and security. This will improve the likelihood of franchisees stopping in their tracks before allowing a hack. 

From securing sensitive data to maintaining a consistent brand reputation, SocioConnect empowers franchises to navigate the evolving digital landscape with confidence. If you have 100 physical locations with 200 social media pages, this shouldn’t mean that you need a team to stay on top of this. Having them all brought into one simple interface like SocioLocal means that this can just become part of your daily routine. 

If you would like to read more about the governance and security challenges that brands can address by signing up for SocioCommand, take a look at our Challenges to Supporting Social Media for Franchisees blog from our CEO, Michael Nolan.

Ready to enhance your brand’s security? Discover how SocioConnect can protect your multi-location business and elevate your operational efficiency. Book in a call if you'd like more information.

‍