• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
An official website of the State of North Dakota
Photo of the BND Logo in full color

Bank of North Dakota

Photo of the BND Logo in full color
  • Home
  • About BND
    • The BND Story
    • Leadership
    • Mission, Vision, Core Values
    • BND Operations
    • BND Open Meetings
    • Job Opportunities
    • News
    • Contact Us
  • Education Funding
    • Be Confident with Your Decisions
          • Be Confident with Your Decisions


          • Smart with My Money
          • FAFSA Facts
          • College Cost Guide
          • Student Loan Application Steps
          • Cosigning Student Loans
          • Salary-to-Debt Calculator
          • Earn College Credits During High School
          • North Dakota Dollars for Scholars
          • Scholarships and Grants
          • College SAVE 529
          • Educational Materials
    • Apply for a Student Loan
          • Apply for Student Loan


          • Apply for a DEAL Student Loan
          • Access Your In-progress Loan Application
          • DEAL Student Loan
          • Career Education & Alternative Learning (CEAL) Loan
          • Addiction Counselor Internship Loan (ACIL)
          • Information for Cosigners
          • Information for Financial Aid Offices
          • DEAL Student Loan Calculator
          • Salary-to-Debt Calculator
    • Refinance a Student Loan After College
          • Refinance a Student Loan After College


          • Apply to Refinance Your Loan
          • DEAL One Loan
          • DEAL One Student Loan Calculator
          • Information for Cosigners
    • Repay Your Student Loan
          • Repay Your Student Loan


          • Log in to Your Account
          • Manage Your Student Loan Online
          • Information for Cosigners
          • How to Make a Payment
          • Repayment Plans
          • Difficulty Making Payments
          • Career-based Loan Repayment Options
          • Understand Your Statement
          • Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
          • Repayment Calculator
    • College SAVE
  • Loans
    • Ag Loans
          • Ag Loans


          • 2024 Ag Disaster Relief Loan Program
          • Ag Commodity Export Enhancement Program
          • Agriculture Diversification and Development Fund
          • Ag PACE
          • Beginning Farmer Chattel Loan
          • Beginning Farmer Real Estate Loan
          • Biofuels PACE Program
          • Envest
          • Established Farmer Real Estate Loan
          • Family Farm Loan Program
          • Farm and Ranch Bank Participation Loan Program
          • Farm Operating Loan Program
          • Farm Real Estate Loan Guarantee Program
          • First Time Farmer Finance Program
          • FSA Guaranteed Loan Purchase Program
          • Ag Lending Calculator
    • Business Loans
          • Business Loans


          • Accelerated Growth Loan Program
          • Bank Participation Loan Program
          • Bank Stock Loan
          • Beginning Entrepreneur Loan Guarantee
          • Bulk Propane Storage Tank Revolving Loan Fund
          • Business Development Loan Program
          • Clean Sustainable Energy Authority Loan Fund (CSEA)
          • Export Enhancement Program
          • Flex PACE for Affordable Housing
          • Flex PACE Program
          • Legacy Investment for Technology Loan Fund (LIFT)
          • Match Program
          • PACE Program
          • SBA Guaranteed Loan Purchase Program
          • USDA Guaranteed Loan Purchase Program
          • Value-added Guarantee Loan
          • Venture Capital Fund
    • Infrastructure Loans
          • Infrastructure Loans


          • BND Infrastructure Revolving Loan Fund
          • Critical Financial Need Program for Political Subdivisions
          • Health Information Technology Fund
          • Legacy Infrastructure Loan Fund
          • Medical Infrastructure Loan Fund
          • School Construction Assistance Revolving Loan Fund
          • Water Infrastructure Revolving Loan Fund
    • Education Funding
          • Education Funding


          • Be Confident with Your Decisions
          • Apply for a Student Loan
          • Refinance a Student Loan After College
          • Repay Your Student Loan
  • Bank Services
    • Financial Institutions
          • Financial Institutions


          • Automated Clearing House (ACH)
          • BND Direct Cash Management
          • Bond Accounting
          • Coin & Currency
          • Collateral Valuation Services
          • Deposit Accounts
          • Executive Analytics
          • Fed Activity Settlement
          • Federal Funds
          • Federal Funds Sweep
          • Government Security Purchases
          • Item Processing
          • Letter of Credit Pledge for Public Deposits
          • Loan Payments
          • Pledging Services
          • Repurchase Agreements
          • Safekeeping
          • Stress Testing Model
          • Wire Transfers
    • Government
          • Government


          • Automated Clearing House (ACH)
          • BND Direct/Cash Management
          • Bond Registrar
          • Certificates of Deposit
          • Checking and Savings Accounts
          • Disputed Royalty Payments
          • Escrow Agent
          • Government Security Purchases
          • Merchant Services
          • Oil and Gas Cash Bond
          • Paying Agent
          • Positive Pay
          • Remote Deposit Capture
          • Safekeeping
          • Trustee
          • Wire Transfers
    • Public
          • Public


          • ABLE Plan
          • Certificate of Deposit
          • Checking and Savings Accounts
          • Online and Mobile Banking
          • Electronic Funds Transfer Disclosure
          • Foreign Currency
          • Loan Payments
          • Wire Transfers
  • Account Login
        • Account Login and New User

          Access your Bank of North Dakota (BND) online account anytime, anywhere. If you are a New User, choose your account and follow the steps to open your online account.

          Agriculture
          Loans
          Business
          Loans
          Home
          Loans
          Student
          Loans
          Checking/
          Savings
        • Business, Government, and Financial Institutions Login

          Businesses, Government agencies and Financial Institutions access your BND online account anytime, anywhere.

          BND
          Direct
          Secure
          Transfer
          Investment
          Portal
          Infrastructure
          Loan
  • Show Search
Hide Search

Social Media Websites Can Cause Big Threat To IT Departments

website-url
Home » News » Social Media Websites Can Cause Big Threat To IT Departments

March 27, 2019 Security & Fraud

As if fighting outside hack attacks are not enough, IT departments everywhere are combating another foe: company social media websites. These websites and the content employees post to them pose a challenge to keep that information from harming cybersecurity efforts. Most companies have social media sites that post information about the company, including plenty of pictures and comments about social gatherings. Employees are welcome to post business-oriented content, as well as their own pictures and comments. It all sounds innocent enough, but hackers who troll these sites are only interested in what they can glean from them and then use it to hack employees and company data systems. IT departments should be on high alert for their websites and do what they can to prevent TMI (Too Much Information) from being posted.

Hackers easily take advantage of TMI to launch email phishing, smishing (texting) and vishing (phone) attacks. The information they get from a company social media website is unusually valuable, allowing them to specifically target employees, known as spearphishing. Hackers use names and any vendor information posted on a company social media website to look like something they are not; legitimate. They try to phish, smish, and vish their way into an organization. Some of their goals are compromising data systems by using malicious attachments and bogus websites. They also make voice calls aimed at getting sensitive information by claiming to be vendors or some other connection to the company. IT personnel have their work cut out for them with all of the outside–and inside–threats to cybersecurity. Proofpoint offers tips to help keep IT departments in the driver’s seat and secure a tight lid on their company social media websites.

Create strict guidelines. Policies, restrictions, and processes for social media are necessary official guidelines about what should never be posted by employees. Continually review and update guidelines to mitigate risks posed by ever-changing hacking trends and risks.

  • Secure devices. Especially in a BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) environment, all devices need to be secured with updated anti-malware security software. Any and all personal devices used for work need this security and employees should never use a device not approved and secured by IT. Devices should also be able to have content remotely erased should they be lost or stolen.
  • Keep everyone in-the-loop. Make sure that any outside vendors and cybersecurity providers are also aware of the company guidelines and policies for social media use. Always keep them informed of any adjustments and changes in policy so they know what to be aware of.
  • Limit access to social media. Make sure that only approved vendors and employees have access to accounts. Should an employee or vendor cut ties with the company, immediately delete their access to company websites.
  • Educate everyone. Ongoing employee cybersecurity education is a necessary part of keeping themselves and company data systems secure. Hackers never stop–and neither should employee education.

© Copyright 2018 Stickley on Security Inc.

Categories: Security & Fraud

Footer

Photo of the BND Logo in white

Bank of North Dakota

PO Box 5509
1200 Memorial Hwy
Bismarck, ND 58506-5509
E:Email BND: bnd@nd.gov
TF:Toll-Free Phone Number: (800) 472-2166 P:Local Phone Number: (701) 328-5600 TTY:TTY: (800) 366-6888

About BND

  • Contact Us
  • BND Operations
  • Job Opportunities
  • Mission, Vision, Core Values
  • The BND Story

Resources

  • College Cost Guide
  • College SAVE 529
  • Forms
  • Smart with My Money
  • ND Dollars for Scholars

Financials

  • Annual Reports
  • Credit Rating
  • Financing Reports
  • Interest Rates
  • Quarterly Reports

Securities & Policies

  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • Security & Fraud
  • USA Patriot Act
  • Whistleblower Hotline

Connect with BND on social media

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • YouTube
  • X (Twitter)

Copyright © 2025 Bank of North Dakota. All right reserved.
The documents on bnd.nd.gov require Adobe Acrobat Reader to view and print.

  • Accessibility Statement
  • Privacy Policy