In the world of digital marketing, affiliate tracking plays a pivotal role in measuring the success of online partner marketing campaigns, driving sales, and fostering partnerships of trust between brands and publishers. However, as the digital landscape evolves, so do the threats to data security. Operators that prioritize security and implement robust security measures for their partners to benefit from, such as implementing secure 2-Factor Authentication (2FA) access into their platform tracking and dashboard accesses, can foster resilience and trust with affiliates and publishers, safeguarding their sensitive data, and also help to build their reputation for being a secure and reliable partner to work with.
In this article, we will explore what 2FA is, why it is crucial to have it enabled in affiliate tracking solutions, and the risks associated with using insecure affiliate tracking platforms and the impacts to your affiliate program growth.
- Understanding 2-Factor Authentication:
2-Factor Authentication (2FA) is an additional layer of security that goes beyond the traditional username and password combination. It requires users to provide a second piece of information to verify their identity, typically through a separate device or application. This second factor can be something you know (like a password), something you have (like a smartphone or hardware token), or something you are (like biometric data).
- Enhancing Security within your Affiliate Tracking Solution:
Implementing 2FA in affiliate tracking solutions offers several significant benefits (as shown below) and is a key reason why Cellxpert has prioritized security as a feature upgrade to our platform.
- Protection against unauthorized access to data: By requiring a second form of authentication, 2FA significantly reduces the risk of unauthorized individuals gaining access to affiliate accounts and sensitive program data.
- Strengthening account security: With 2FA, even if a password is compromised, a potential hacker would still need the second factor to gain initial access, making it significantly more challenging for unauthorized individuals to breach affiliate access accounts.
c) Mitigating the risk of credential theft: Many security breaches occur due to weak or stolen passwords. By implementing 2FA, brands can fortify their affiliate tracking platforms and mitigate the risk of affiliate credentials theft.
d) Safeguarding sensitive data: Affiliate tracking platforms often store valuable data, from contact information through to payment information, transaction details, and campaign performance metrics. 2FA acts as a protective shield, ensuring that only authorized individuals can access this sensitive data.
- Fostering Trust and Better Collaboration:
Affiliates and publishers prioritize the security of their own data and the platforms they work with just as much as Operators do. By having high-security standards, including 2FA, brands can attract more affiliates and publishers to work with them.
Here’s why:
a) Demonstrating commitment to security: Implementing 2FA showcases a brand’s commitment to data protection and security. This commitment is highly valued by affiliates and publishers who are more likely to choose brands that prioritize secure platforms.
b) Protecting affiliate and program data: Affiliates and publishers entrust their valuable data to affiliate tracking platforms that are provided by the Operators. By using secure platforms with 2FA in place, brands can earn the trust of their partners and assure them that their data is always protected from unauthorized access.
c) Reputation and credibility: Brands that prioritize security in their infrastructure tend to build a reputation for being trustworthy and reliable from the first touch point when an affiliate is looking to work with a new program. This reputation attracts top affiliates and publishers who seek to work with brands that take their business and security seriously.
- Risks of working with Insecure Tracking Platforms:
Failing to prioritize security in affiliate programs and working with inferior platforms can lead to various problems, including:
a) Data breaches: Insecure platforms are vulnerable to hacking attempts and data breaches. If a platform is compromised, the personal data of affiliates and customers, transaction details, and campaign strategies can be exposed, leading to severe consequences for both affiliates and the brand.
b) Loss of trust: A security breach can severely damage the trust between a brand, affiliates, and publishers. Affiliates may hesitate to continue working with a brand that has a history of security vulnerabilities, potentially resulting in the loss of valuable partnerships.
c) Legal and regulatory consequences: Data breaches can result in legal and regulatory consequences.
Security measures need to be monitored and adjusted regularly, so that your partners maintain a sense of security in working with your brand longer-term. As the industry changes, and we develop better ways to prevent security breaches and improve accessibility and user experience, it’s important to understand the impact of these changes to your business and your partnerships, too.
If you’d like to learn more about how Cellxpert can help you manage your affiliate program safely and securely, get in touch with our sales team today and book a DEMO with our sales team to discover what our 2-Factor Authentication service offers.
Further Reading:
