When it comes to an influencer, the typical images that spring to mind tend to be a mixture of make-up gurus, fashion icons or fitness fanatics that we all often see on Instagram and other social media apps. This, however, completely misses out entire industries and the remarkable minds and talent that work in them. In fact, the cybersecurity industry is full of incredible people that push for trends and provide valuable insight and tips into what’s going on in the sector, how to better protect yourself and which products are worth your time.
Cybersecurity isn’t just about hacking and incomprehensible technology. Something that I think many people fail to consider is all the work done by creatives in the industry, including journalists, PR people, and, of course, influencers.
These days particularly, influencers have proven themselves to be incredibly valuable to the industries they operate in. They have significant capital when it comes to helping people make decisions, which can be used as a great tool for businesses hoping to sell their products or promote their brand. As a matter of fact, for example, 80% of all internet’s users are on Facebook, making it a fantastic platform to reach many people quickly. And this is only one of many social media applications that can foster a close-knit community and help spread awareness and information quickly.
Additionally, people tend to listen when it comes to product reviews , even more so if there is already an established sense of trust. Using the right approach, cybersecurity influencers can become respected thought-leaders, whose word is taken seriously by online users, and whose business is valued by well-known organisations.
Why are cybersecurity influencers important?
There are a variety of different ways for influencers to share their knowledge, be it through podcasts, blogs, articles, or other avenues. Each will reach a different type of audience, meaning influencers have to know who to cater their content to. For example, their collaborations may differ depending on whether they are addressing consumers or businesses.
As it stands, when it comes to the cybersecurity industry, there is a plethora of different topics and trends that are vital to both consumers and businesses. The world is an increasingly connected place, the majority of people own phones, and as a result spend a vast amount of time on various social media platforms. This means that cybersecurity threats extend beyond the walls of large businesses and threaten individuals as well.
Unfortunately, many people don’t see cybersecurity as an issue, and consequently don’t understand enough about it. This is one area where cybersecurity influencers can be helpful. Just like everyone, cybersecurity influencers had to start somewhere – some don’t even come from a technical background. As such, they are fully aware of how difficult it can be to understand certain information and are able to ‘re-package’ it – per se – into a way that is easier for others to digest. This can be in the form of infographics on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn. Even short videos can be incredibly helpful, and if kept short and sweet, they have a higher chance of being interacted with.
By making these issues more accessible, more people may start paying attention to cybersecurity threats and trends, which can even lead them to make more secure choices in their personal and business lives.
For businesses, cybersecurity influencers can also play a crucial role. They can work together with the marketing or PR teams to create brand awareness and promote certain products. Being trusted figures in the public eye, consumers often take their favourite influencers’ words quite seriously, meaning it can hold a lot of weight; you might say they can influence the purchasing decisions of others. Business leaders can then leverage this to insert themselves into the conversation through an influencer’s channel. This could be in the form of paid product promotion or mutually beneficial collaboration, such as joint podcasts, comments on trending stories or blogs. All they have to do is find a cybersecurity influencer who agrees with their product and image and find a way in which they can work together to spread awareness that benefits both parties.
Some great examples of cybersecurity influencers in this industry include:
- Javvad Malik, KnowBe4
- Jessica Barker, CyNam
- Sophia McCall, NCC Group
- Jenny Radcliffe – “The People Hacker”
- Graham Cluely, Security Blogger
Of course, there are many more individuals who are worth keeping your eye on – whether that is to stay up to date with trending news stories or learning more about the industry and how to become a part of it! There are so many niches within our industry, making it an incredible space to learn and work in.
Ultimately, the with the evolution of social media and the internet, organisations should do everything in their power to keep up with popular trends and conversations. Recognising the value of cybersecurity influencers is a vital part of doing so, as it can help them be a part of conversations within their space and increase their recognition and brand awareness.
