Why Marketers Need to Understand Cybersecurity: A Journey into My First Cybersecurity Course

There are moments in our professional lives that push us into unexpected territories. This happened when I signed up for a LinkedIn course on cybersecurity fundamentals. It wasn’t a decision I made lightly. I’ve always been comfortable with marketing tools, crafting campaigns, and understanding my audience—but cybersecurity? That felt like an entirely different world. Yet, as I’ve navigated through this course, something unexpected started to click.

At first, it felt like I was learning a language from scratch. Words like “frameworks,” “ISACA’s control objectives,” and “NIST cybersecurity” filled my screen, and I found myself taking more notes than I had in years. But here’s what surprised me: I wanted to learn more. The more I dug in, the more I realized that this wasn’t just an IT issue. As a marketer, I handle sensitive customer data, manage digital platforms, and rely on an interconnected web of online tools—all vulnerable. That vulnerability matters deeply.

The Wake-Up Call: Cybersecurity is for Everyone

One statement from the course hit me like a lightning bolt: the internet is as essential as electricity or water. Cybersecurity is equally crucial. That was when I knew this wasn’t just some technical jargon I could ignore. We lock the doors to our homes every night. Why should we treat our marketing data any differently? Customer trust is fragile; one breach could unravel years of hard work building that relationship.

The revelation wasn’t just sobering; it was grounding. With that shift in mindset, I knew I had to return and take the course again—this time, with intention. I realized that cybersecurity isn’t just about preventing a worst-case scenario. It’s about creating a safe space for the work we do every day, protecting the integrity of the stories we tell, and safeguarding the trust we’ve built with our audience.

A Marketer’s First Cybersecurity Lesson: Digesting the Frameworks

When I started the course, concepts like cybersecurity frameworks and standards seemed foreign. Malcolm Shore, the instructor, spoke about ISACA’s control objectives and NIST’s cybersecurity framework with the ease of a professional who lives and breathes this stuff. But for me? I had to stop, breathe, and break it down slowly—like deciphering a new code.

Here’s what these frameworks taught me:

1. ISACA’s Control Objectives for IT: This framework provides best practices for managing IT processes. For us as marketers, this means understanding that the tools we use daily—our CRM systems, email marketing software, and even our website—are potential points of vulnerability. It’s like the unseen architecture behind our campaigns. Knowing how these systems can be compromised helps us ask the right questions and make more informed decisions. (I found this fascinating!)
2. NIST Cybersecurity Framework: NIST, a name that kept coming up in the course, provides a widely recognized approach to cybersecurity, focusing on identifying, protecting, detecting, and responding to threats. It’s the blueprint. Understanding this framework helps marketers think about security as a core part of our digital campaigns—just as vital as our messaging or design choices. It forces us to see the bigger picture: how every digital move is connected to our audience’s data safety.

Why This Matters for Marketers

Initially, I questioned why marketers like me should care about cybersecurity. Isn’t that IT’s job? But the truth is, in today’s digital world, it’s everyone’s responsibility.

Here’s why:

1. Customer Trust is Built on Privacy: Trust is at the heart of marketing. Our customers share personal information with us because they believe we’ll protect it. If their data is compromised, the fallout isn’t just a technical issue—it’s a brand crisis. Cybersecurity knowledge equips us to safeguard that trust and ensure that our promises of protection aren’t just words on a privacy policy but actions we take daily.
2. The Integrity of Our Campaigns: Imagine sending out a beautifully crafted email campaign, only to have it hijacked by a cyber attack. One moment, you’re delivering value to your audience; the next, your credibility is in pieces because of something beyond your control. Understanding cybersecurity gives us the foresight to prevent these disasters before they begin.
3. The Growing Role of Technology in Marketing: As marketing becomes more sophisticated, we lean on tools powered by automation, AI, and big data. But with this reliance on technology comes a vulnerability. The more connected we are, the more exposed we become. Cybersecurity knowledge helps us navigate these risks with confidence.

The Power of Silence and Reflection: Lessons Beyond the Screen

There’s something to be said for the space between learning and understanding—the quiet that happens when you let new information settle in. After completing my first course round, I I didn’t rush ahead. I paused. I reflected. Cybersecurity isn’t about memorizing frameworks or ticking boxes. It’s about listening to the risks that surround our digital world and absorbing the impact they could have.

It’s in this silence that the real insights emerge. For marketers, it’s about recognizing that data privacy and campaign integrity aren’t just IT’s domain—they’re part of our creative responsibility. In the pause between lessons, I realized that understanding cybersecurity isn’t just a necessity; it’s a way to ensure that what we create is protected.

Where This Journey is Taking Me Next

I’ve decided to take the course again—not because I didn’t get it the first time, but because I want to get it better. Learning cybersecurity isn’t a one-time thing. It’s an ongoing process, a skill set that evolves as quickly as the digital landscape we work in. And for marketers, this isn’t just an optional detour—it’s becoming part of the journey itself.

So, to my fellow marketers, here’s where I leave you: If you haven’t yet dipped your toes into cybersecurity, now is the time. Start small, start slow, but start somewhere. It’s not about becoming an expert—it’s about recognizing that in today’s world, protecting your audience is as important as reaching them.

Let this be your call to pause, reflect, and listen to the digital world you work in. Your campaigns—and your customers—deserve that kind of protection.