Is WhatsApp Business really safe for organizations?

WhatsApp is a widely used tool in communication of organizations, because it offers practicality and speed.

While the app has end-to-end encryption and features such as two-step authentication, scams such as account takeover, social engineering, and data leakage remain real risks.

In addition, the inappropriate use of the tool can expose sensitive information and compromise the security of the institution.

To ensure secure corporate communication, it is essential to adopt good practices, after all, data protection and communication integrity are critical factors for any organization.

But how can organizations minimize risks and use WhatsApp more securely? Keep reading this text, as we will explore this topic below.

What is the importance of security in communication on WhatsApp?

WhatsApp Business has been consolidated as an essential tool for companies in Brazil.

It is estimated that 95% of Brazilian institutions use WhatsApp to communicate with customers, which represents approximately 5 million small and medium-sized companies adopting WhatsApp Business as a service and sales channel.

These data highlight the relevance of the application in the Brazilian corporate scenario, highlighting its importance as one of the main communication and sales channels for companies in various segments.

As we see, WhatsApp helps in corporate communication, which is essential for business efficiency. However, when it is not properly protected, it can become a great risk.

It is necessary to understand that companies deal daily with sensitive information, strategic exchanges, and customer data that, if leaked, can generate a series of losses.

In today's digital landscape, ensuring that these interactions take place in a secure manner should be a priority, especially in the face of increased cyberattacks and social engineering attempts.

With this, it is important to understand that, as much as WhatsApp is an important and practical tool, it is necessary to pay attention to its risks and create defense mechanisms to protect yourself from attacks.

After all, this application offers significant challenges in terms of security for organizations.

For example, the use of personal devices makes it difficult to control information, facilitating data leakage and the occurrence of scams, such as account cloning and phishing attacks.

In addition, the lack of corporate monitoring prevents the auditing of messages exchanged, exposing the company to risks such as improper file sharing and the difficulty of tracking internal communications in case of incidents.

What are the main security risks when using WhatsApp Business?

The widespread adoption of WhatsApp has brought with it a number of challenges when it comes to security terms.

This is because the lack of advanced protection mechanisms and the dependence on mobile devices make business accounts frequent targets of cyberattacks.

Among the main risks, data leakage by social engineering, scams targeting corporate accounts, and the vulnerability of the devices used to access the application stand out.

Data leak

Social engineering is one of the main threats to organizations that use WhatsApp Business, because cybercriminals exploit the lack of awareness of employees to gain access to sensitive information.

In these actions, scammers often pose as superiors, customers or suppliers.

To deceive these people, they use techniques such as phishing and pretexting, inducing employees to provide access credentials or sensitive details about the organization.

Because communications on WhatsApp take place in a poorly monitored environment, it is difficult to detect these attacks in a timely manner.

In addition, the exposure of corporate data can occur involuntarily, either by sharing information in unauthorized groups or by third parties accessing devices without the proper protections.

The risk increases when employees use the app on their personal cell phones, without clear information security policies.

Scams and fraud in business accounts

WhatsApp Business is also an exploited channel for scams targeting organizations.

One of the most common attacks is account cloning, where criminals hijack a business number to deceive customers and suppliers, requesting payments or confidential information.

This technique has become increasingly sophisticated, making it difficult to immediately identify fraud.

The risks are even greater for organizations that do not adopt two-factor authentication or that share access credentials among multiple employees.

Another risk is the creation of fake profiles that pose as legitimate companies to apply scams.

Many consumers trust WhatsApp as an official service channel, and criminals exploit this trust to collect personal data, send malicious links, and carry out financial fraud.

Without an effective verification and reporting mechanism within the platform, these fake accounts can operate for a considerable period before being deactivated, generating losses for both customers and the institution.

Risk of Endpoint Attacks

Unlike corporate platforms that have advanced security controls, WhatsApp Business relies exclusively on mobile devices for its operation.

This means that the security of communication is directly linked to the protection of the device used.

As a result, if a corporate cell phone is lost, stolen or infected by malware, the entire account and its messages can be compromised.

After all, without an efficient device management system, many organizations are unable to remotely track or wipe data stored in the app.

In addition, attacks on endpoints are increasingly common and with a simple carelessness, such as clicking on a link or downloading an infected file, it can compromise smartphone security.

Since WhatsApp Business does not have a controlled environment like corporate communication solutions, the chances of exploitation by criminals increase significantly.

How to apply good security practices on WhatsApp Business?

The main solution to the risks linked to WhatsApp would be to create a communication channel focused only on customer service, so that organizations would have greater control over these communications.

But we know that this solution is not always possible, so it is important to implement security measures to minimize risks and ensure the integrity of information.

Access control and devices

Ensuring that only authorized people have access to the institution's WhatsApp is one of the most important steps to prevent fraud and information leaks.

In addition, the use of two-factor authentication (2FA) should be mandatory to hinder account takeover attempts.

Also, it is essential that the company has clear rules about which devices can be used to access the corporate account, preferring, whenever possible, institutional equipment with greater security control.

The management of devices that access WhatsApp Business should also be monitored.

If a corporate cell phone is lost or stolen, the account can be vulnerable to unauthorized access. Therefore, it is important that the company has mechanisms to remotely track, block, and erase the data from these devices.

Another important factor is the restriction of the use of WhatsApp Web on personal computers without supervision, this prevents improper access by third parties.

Scam training

Many attacks targeting WhatsApp exploit employees' lack of knowledge about scams and social engineering techniques.

In this way, scammers often impersonate suppliers, customers, or even superiors to obtain sensitive information or apply financial fraud.

In view of this, the continuous training of employees is essential so that they know how to identify threats and especially how to act when receiving suspicious messages.

Therefore, awareness should include practices such as verifying identity before sharing information, being careful when clicking on unknown links, and adopting secure passwords.

In addition, employees should be instructed never to disclose authentication codes or access WhatsApp over public Wi-Fi networks without the use of a VPN.

Creating a culture of security within the company considerably reduces the chances of successful attacks.

Use of data protection solutions

WhatsApp Business, by itself, does not offer an adequate level of security to protect sensitive information from organizations.

Therefore, it is necessary to complement its use with other solutions that ensure data protection and monitoring of corporate communication.

Cybersecurity platforms, such as firewalls and threat detection systems, help identify suspicious access and prevent attacks.

In addition, the adoption of message archiving and backup tools allows the company to maintain a secure history of communications, preventing loss of important information and facilitating audits when necessary.

PhishX helps organizations protect themselves

WhatsApp Business is a practical tool for corporate communication, but it also poses significant security risks.

To minimize these threats, PhishX offers awareness campaigns and personalized training that help employees identify fraud attempts and adopt good practices in the use of the platform.

With realistic simulations, our trainings teach you how to prevent phishing attacks, protect credentials, and recognize fake profiles, making employees the first line of defense against digital threats.

In addition, PhishX utilizes a microlearning-based approach, ensuring that learning is seamless and easily applicable in everyday life.

We offer dynamic content, such as explanatory videos and interactive tests, which reinforce information security without compromising team productivity.

By investing in awareness and training, your company strengthens the protection of WhatsApp Business and reduces the risks of cyberattacks, ensuring safer and more reliable communication.

Contact our experts and learn more!