Online social networks risks to organisations: a literature review

Abstract

The use of online social networks (OSNs) is increasing exponentially - leading to soaring risks for organisations. Organisations need to regulate employees' use of OSNs to minimise the impacts of OSNs related threats. The aim of this paper is to identify organisational security risks emanating from the use of OSNs by employees. A review and analysis of existing literature on OSNs was done to develop a taxonomy of OSNs' organisational risks. The review revealed that OSNs and employees are the current weakest security links in organisations and engender dreadful information security risks. In addressing OSNs security threats, there are challenges that organisations might encounter. For organisations to implement effective security management programs, it is recommended that future research should look at identifying critical success and failure factors for implementing OSNs security control mechanisms.