Drew Bartkiewicz has a thought provoking post over at ZDNet that looks at the new risks brands and companies are facing in the information explosion of Web 2.0. The piece is well written and worth a read. He mentions data security and risks posed by hackers and intellectual property thieves in the digital age, and also touches on ReputationDefender’s core competency, Online Reputation Mangement.

Unlike past risks, which have been easier to identify and less fluid, online Data Privacy and Reputation liability changes day to day. This nascent area offers the insurance industry the opportunity to step up and lead the effort to protect businesses from the unseen liability associated with social media and networking so that clients can explore these new business opportunities without falling victim to the hidden risks.

Bartkiewicz mentions the insurance industry here, and ReputationDefender offers a form of Business Insurance for the Web ^TM. The author correctly notes that many businesses are unprepared to manage their brand online and have inadequate strategies to manage the risk associated with connective technology, from a security and reputation stand point.

Over the past several years, companies have been focused on e-commerce data-breach risks, such as the inadvertent or criminal disclosure of credit card and Social Security numbers. To be sure, those risks are real and continue to grow.

But Web 2.0 liability is emerging as an equal if not greater risk.

Forward thinking and agile companies will identify the need to manage their brand, and not just their data and security, online. Online Reputation Management is key for companies seeking to manage their message and connect with customers in the interactive arena.

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