???? October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month – Let’s Protect Our Music Studios! ????

As composers, producers, and artists, we pour our creativity into our studios daily, but are we taking the same care with our cybersecurity? The modern music studio is filled with sensitive data, from unreleased tracks to valuable client information, and it’s crucial to safeguard it all.

Is your studio ready for a cyber attack? All it takes is one click on a link that contains malicious code or takes you to a website that initiates the attack. Take a couple of minutes to learn about 10 techniques you can use to improve your music studio's cybersecurity. Plus, I've included a bonus tip that is based on my experience in cybersecurity. ????

?? Here are 10 essential tips to improve your studio’s cybersecurity posture this October:

1. Use Strong, Unique Passwords – Secure all devices, software, and cloud services with unique passwords that mix letters, numbers, and symbols. If a website or service allows for passphrases, use passphrases with the same tips mentioned above. Also, avoid using common phrases related to music, your personal life, birthdates, children's names, or production.

2. Enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) – Add an extra layer of security by requiring a second step when logging in to important accounts, like your digital audio workstation (DAW) or cloud storage. This is still one of the most effective lines of defense when it comes to protecting your accounts. Can hackers bypass MFA? Yes, but it requires you to click on a link that takes you through a proxy.

3. Keep Software Updated – Make sure your DAWs, plugins, and operating systems (Windows, MacOS, iOS, Android, Linux) on all of your devices are always up to date to patch vulnerabilities that hackers could exploit. This is essential and is one part of an effective vulnerability program that you should have at your studio.

4. Back Up Your Data – Regularly back up your files to an external hard drive, network attached storage (NAS) or encrypted cloud service to ensure your compositions, projects, and client data are never lost.

5. Secure Your Wi-Fi – Use a strong, unique password for your studio's Wi-Fi network and enable WPA3 encryption to protect your connection from unauthorized access. It is recommended that you do not use WEP for your Wi-Fi encryption. Also, change the default password on each device in your network.

6. Be Cautious with Email Links – Phishing attempts often arrive via email. Be wary of clicking on any unsolicited links or attachments, even from known contacts.

7. Limit Access to Critical Files – Only allow necessary personnel access to sensitive data, and ensure all team members understand the importance of digital security.

8. Use NexGen EDR Software – Using programs that are just anti-virus and anti-malware is a thing of the past. Cyber threats are too complex today, and it is recommended that you use an EDR solution that incorporates AI/ML for your endpoint (desktop, laptop, and device) protection. Regularly scan your studio devices for threats. This can help protect your projects from viruses and ransomware.

9. Encrypt Sensitive Data—Encrypt your device's hard drive, which contains your most valuable files, such as released and unreleased music or contracts. The software included in your smartphone, tablet, and laptop hard drives can encrypt the device's hard drive. Make sure you save your recovery key somewhere outside of your computer in a secure location. If you store the encryption key on your hard drive, you can't access it when your studio's computer is down.

10. Train Yourself, Train Your Team – Ensure everyone working in or with your studio understands basic cybersecurity practices. Awareness is key to avoiding costly breaches. It may seem silly and pointless, but I highly recommend spending the time training yourself and others on your team on how to spot the red flags in a phishing email. You and your team are in many ways, the first line of defense for your studio.

Let’s make sure that while we create, we also protect! ???? Let's Goooo! ??????????

Bonus Tip ??

Implement DNS Security – Use a secure DNS service to block access to malicious websites, phishing sites, and harmful online content that can compromise your studio's network.

#CybersecurityMonth #StudioSecurity #MusicProtection #ComposersSafety #StaySecure