
With the help of security experts at WideOrbit, we've pulled together some best practices to help radio broadcasters reduce the risk of a ransomware attack and to minimize the impact should one occur.
The specific radio automation system a station is using does not impact the likelihood of an attack, since the most common methods hackers use to gain access are phishing emails or malicious websites sent to staff. If employees click the links in those emails or visit those sites, which system you're using is irrelevant.
In addition to educating staff about such tactics - more on that later - an on-premise system that is well insulated from the internet is the best defense. This includes:
Putting your radio automation system on its own network, independent of your corporate domain
Making sure your radio automation system does not have internet access
Preventing access to radio automation through mapped drives
It's extremely important to make sure your employees complete training in cybersecurity. This includes things like how to recognize a phishing email, how to recognize and avoid clicking suspicious links, and the risks associated with writing passwords or client credit card numbers on post-it notes. It should also include training on how to recognize and avoid falling prey to social engineering.
Centralizing Radio Station OperationsThe elimination of the main studio rule combined with improved technology have allowed broadcasters to centralize operations. In addition to the cost savings of centralization, an additional benefit is improved security. A centralized automation system can be run in a private cloud, hosted in a station group's own datacenter. A private cloud has fewer connections to other systems and is maintained centrally, adding an additional layer of security.
An added bonus of centralized automation is that it allows for better programming. With automation centralized in a private cloud, a single staff member can simultaneously manage many stations from one location, even from a mobile device. A single voice track can be recorded once and shared across multiple stations, and custom voice tracks can be recorded on-the-fly and inserted for specific stations as needed.
Plan for Disaster RecoveryPrevention is always better than the cure but it's also extremely important to be ready should the unthinkable happen. That means making sure you have a disaster recovery plan in place.
A good plan will include:
Log monitoring and alerts, so you'll know immediately if a spot fails to air or if there is other suspicious activity.
Regular back-ups - real-time back-ups, if possible. It's important to make sure at least one, up-to-date copy of your organization's data is always stored off-site and offline, in a secure location that is fully isolated from both the internet and your LAN.
Patch management - make sure all system patches and updates are installed to minimize vulnerabilities.
Annual or semi-annual penetration and intrusion detection scans.
Identification of critical applications and a defined process for restoring them.
In addition to making sure you can quickly identify when you're under attack, a solid disaster recovery plan will allow you to recover faster and at less expense. While prevention is key, you should also have a plan in place that will allow you to restore normal operations as quickly as possible.
Contact us to find out how WO Automation for Radio can help centralize station operations.
Most recent headlines
05/01/2027
Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be ...
01/06/2026
January 6 2026, 05:30 (PST) Dolby Sets the New Standard for Premium Entertainment at CES 2026
Throughout the week, Dolby brings to life the latest innovatio...
01/05/2026
January 5 2026, 18:30 (PST) NBCUniversal's Peacock to Be First Streamer to ...
01/04/2026
January 4 2026, 18:00 (PST) DOLBY AND DOUYIN EMPOWER THE NEXT GENERATON OF CREATORS WITH DOLBY VISION
Douyin Users Can Now Create And Share Videos With Stun...
29/01/2026
The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF), in collaboration with a distribut...
29/01/2026
Michele Fracchiolla Succeeds Andrew Barr as President of EMEA region from April 1, 2026
London, January 29, 2026
Hitachi Europe Ltd. today announces the appoi...
29/01/2026
MELBOURNE, Fla., January 29, 2026 - L3Harris Technologies (NYSE: LHX) reports fu...
29/01/2026
Bluey' Wins Second Consecutive Top Streaming Title of the Year with 45 Billi...
29/01/2026
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
29/01/2026
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
29/01/2026
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
29/01/2026
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
29/01/2026
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
29/01/2026
Boston Conservatory Orchestra Presents East Coast Premiere of Peter and Leonardo...
29/01/2026
X-Rite Pantone Appoints Cindy Cooperman as Vice President and General Manager of...
29/01/2026
New two-part true crime documentary, OUTBACK TERROR: THE FALCONIO MURDER, aims to shed new light on a case that continues to intrigue on both sides of the world...
29/01/2026
Back to All News
Love is Blind: Sweden Returns for a Third Season - Premiering ...
29/01/2026
Back to All News
Unmask Bridgerton' Season 4 With Our Complete Coverage Guide
Yerin Ha as Sophie Baek and Luke Thompson as Benedict Bridgerton in Season ...
29/01/2026
Back to All News
Extraordinary Crime Mysteries, Mythical Worlds and High-Stakes...
29/01/2026
FOX Sports Unveils Historic FIFA World Cup 2026 Broadcast Schedule Monumental Slate Features 340 Hours of Live First-Run Programming Across FOX Sports Platfo...
29/01/2026
AI Assistants Head into 2026 on a High Note: Comscore Reports Triple-Digit Growt...
29/01/2026
Broadcom Confirms Arvato Systems' Status as a VCSP Partner
Broadcom Partner Program Update
Arvato Systems confirmed as authorized VMware Cloud Service Pr...
29/01/2026
Editor's note: This post is part of Into the Omniverse, a series focused on ...
29/01/2026
RT has today announced that Annette Malone has been appointed to the role of Chief People Officer, RT following a public competition.
As Chief People Officer...
29/01/2026
Get ready to game - the native GeForce NOW app for Linux PCs is now available in beta, letting Linux desktops tap directly into GeForce RTX performance from the...
28/01/2026
Top L-R: The Liars, Jazz Infernal, Living with a Visionary
Second Row L-R: Paper Trail, The Baddest Speechwriter of All, Crisis Actor
Third Row: The Boys and ...
28/01/2026
Music discovery should feel intuitive and personal. That's why we're continuing to give you more control, so you can ask for what you want, shape what y...
28/01/2026
Today, Charlie Hellman, Spotify's Head of Music, shared the following note on the Spotify for Artists blog that the company paid out more than $11 billion t...
28/01/2026
The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF), in partnership with the Oudtshoorn Municipality, invites aspiring and emerging filmmakers to apply for the Sediba...
28/01/2026
As demand for more complex live sports coverage grows, Balkan broadcast specialist MVP has upgraded its flagship HD1 progressive OB truck with the installation ...
28/01/2026
Airlines, cruise and tour operators double down on ad spend as Australians' prioritise travel
Sydney January 28, 2026 - New Nielsen Ad Intel data shows a...
28/01/2026
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
28/01/2026
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
28/01/2026
Marshall Electronics launches the CV420-27X, its next-generation ultra-high-definition (UHD) IP camera, at ISE 2026 (Stand 4N900). Engineered for modern IP-base...
28/01/2026
Grass Valley has announced that Television Mobiles Ltd. (TVM), one of Europe's leading independent outside broadcast providers, has carried out a major refu...
28/01/2026
AI, graphics and virtual software power new production capabilities
FOR-A is bringing remarkable new technologies to FOMEX, the Future of Media Exhibition (ex...
28/01/2026
Continuing a longstanding collaboration, Riedel Communications and Nordic media technology company Media Tailor have once again joined forces to deliver a state...
28/01/2026
Pebble has appointed Paul Nagle-Smith as vice president for customer fulfilment, strengthening its senior leadership focus on customer delivery and operational ...
28/01/2026
Cloud playout solutions provider, Veset has announced that leading Mexican broadcaster, TV Azteca is using Veset Nimbus on AWS as a disaster recovery (DR) playo...
28/01/2026
Ensuring it can keep pace with a rapidly evolving live sports market, Balkan broadcast facility provider MVP Most Valuable Production has upgraded its flags...
28/01/2026
Akamai Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: AKAM), the cloud solutions provider that powers and protects life online, and Yospace, the leader in dynamic ad insertion tec...
28/01/2026
The renowned Reykjavik City Theatre (RCT) recently underwent a major intercom system upgrade using Clear-Com solutions. This milestone project utilizes Clear-C...
28/01/2026
Luxembourg, January 26, 2026 - SES S.A. ( SES or the Company ), a leading space solutions company, acknowledges the credit rating action announced by Fitch to...
28/01/2026
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
28/01/2026
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
28/01/2026
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
28/01/2026
28 01 2026 - Media release Screen Australia refreshes Market & Audience approach...
28/01/2026
Boston Conservatory Orchestra Premieres a New Piano Concerto by Peter and Leonar...
28/01/2026
Back to All News
Netflix's Kohrra Season 2 Unveils A Thrilling Whodunnit Tr...
28/01/2026
Back to All News
What Next? Netflix Presents the Latest German-Speaking Series,...