Marketing professionals and IT departments should have equal urgency when securing their business technologies. For instance, content management systems became immensely safer with encryption. Biztech experts across teams must collaborate to develop a secure strategy to protect digital assets in CMS environments. These are the best practices and methods to follow for implementation. 

The Role of Encryption in CMS Security 

Encryption is like installing an additional, stronger password on digital content. It scrambles plain information, only parsable via a decryption key. It is one of the most tried-and-true strategies of easily deployable yet powerful cybersecurity. 

It is applicable to any digital asset, including information within a CMS. The strategy has transformed over the years to include more advanced methods that are considerate of how versatile digital landscapes have become. They store and send data in many formats, and encryption must facilitate all of them.

Content management systems contain copious amounts of user and client data, including confidential information. Depending on the CMS’s depth, it might have thousands of media files, contracts and communication records. Small and large businesses rely on these systems to automate tedious parts of their operations, making them essential for robust cybersecurity.

Business tech professionals who incorporate CMS encryption into their defenses will gain several advantages. Internal corporate stability is ideal, but it will also maintain the integrity of client relationships. They will know their information is safe from unauthorized access. It will also save organizations money, as the cost of a breach goes up annually. As of 2024, a compromise could cost $4.88 million, which was a 10% boost over 2023.

Encryption Techniques

Experts use several encryption methods to protect their content management systems. Every avenue keeps evolving, and none of them are foolproof. Cybersecurity professionals must revise best practices as new threat variants like quantum computing arise to combat conventional encryption.

In general, there are two categories of encryption methods — symmetric and asymmetric. The former uses one key for each authorized party, whereas the latter employs unique keys. There are many nuances to how they can work when applying different algorithms. 

End-to-End Encryption

E2EE permits approved communicators, or end users, to access encryption keys. Only the sender and receiver can modify or transmit the data within the protected CMS, which excludes hackers and internet service providers. This approach is straightforward and perfect for client-based relationships, where customers can have one-of-a-kind keys unknown to other parties. 

CMS programs that feature internal messaging may benefit from E2EE. Even the third-party host of the software could not extricate communication logs, which is why this method is popular on platforms like WhatsApp, Telegram and Signal. E2EE’s beauty comes from its longevity. The encryption would protect everything in the CMS’s life cycle.

Advanced Encryption Standard

AES is one of the best-known symmetrical cryptographic algorithms. As the closest thing to giving people keys to digital objects, this method protects stored and in-transit data. Companies could allow their workers to access specific documents within a CMS, especially identifiable or financial knowledge.

Rivest Shamir Adleman

This asymmetric strategy gives everyone the ability to lock information behind encryption via a public key, but only the recipient has the secret decryption key. Transactions create digital signatures so people working on content can see who has manipulated information. The RSA algorithm is excellent for cloud-based management systems, especially when sending smaller files or payments.

Other Advanced Options

For companies seeking more resilient and higher-speed solutions across content, look into:

• Triple data encryption standard
• Blowfish
• Twofish
• Format-preserving encryption
• Elliptic curve cryptography
• Hybrid

These offer robust defenses, open-source access and faster processing speeds.

Implementing Encryption in Your CMS

How can companies use these to protect content programs?

Assess Usage

First, evaluate the CMS platform’s built-in encryption features to determine if they’re sufficient. Business managers should speak with their clients, if applicable, about the encryption methods they feel most comfortable incorporating. These conversations will inform a sitewide implementation strategy. 

Talk to Third Parties

Many companies choose to outsource their encryption strategies to third parties. Corporations will want to narrow their list down to options that specialize in content distribution and storage. If using a third party, they should regularly update protocols and validate their compliance adherence to demonstrate how successful long-term partnerships will be. 

Refer to Compliance

It is always best to base these decisions on compliance frameworks from leading cybersecurity agencies. They are responsible for researching and promoting the best-approved practices for effective protection. 

The Cybersecurity Maturity Defense Model has several clauses explaining its role in protecting data and content for the Department of Defense. It covers remote working and who can access encrypted channels to make everything confidential. Many other regulations worldwide recommend encryption as part of standard cybersecurity hygiene, including:

• GDPR
• HIPAA
• CCPA
• NIST

These, among others, outline what businesses must do to comply with the industry’s leading recommendations for safe deployment. In one survey, around 59% of respondents identified credential management as an obstacle to operations. Scheduling regular system health audits is critical for eliminating resistance to consistent use.

Normalizing Cybersecure CMS

Whether choosing E2EE or hybrid techniques, any considerate encryption deployment is better than none. The CMS may only be sending posts to corporate Instagram accounts, or it could automate newsletter distribution. Every avenue is an opportunity for a compromise. As businesses expand their content management systems to cover more channels, they must keep sensitive proprietary and client data behind lock and key.