Staying Ahead in the Fight Against Cyberattacks
Why Data Security is Crucial in the Audiovisual Industry
The audiovisual industry faces a critical challenge: protecting content before its release. In an environment where script leaks, footage theft, or ransomware attacks can cost huge amounts of money and compromise years of work, cybersecurity has become a strategic pillar for any production.
Every project—whether it’s a feature film, a TV series, a commercial, or even a short film—generates a massive amount of sensitive data: unpublished scripts, unfinished footage, ongoing VFX work, audio mixing files, and more. Their exposure, whether intentional or accidental, can damage the project’s creative process and have significant repercussions on a studio, leading to major financial losses or even legal disputes.
Major Risks in the Sector
Here are the most common threats studios and service providers must deal with:
- Script leaks: hacking or unauthorized distribution of in-development documents.
- Theft of footage or unfinished versions: compromise of servers or external drives.
- Ransomware attacks: encryption of editing workstations or post-production servers.
- Intrusions via poorly secured cloud or NAS systems.
- Insider leaks: negligence or malicious actions by team members.
- Errors during copy management, whether due to human oversight—without malicious intent—or unforeseen technical incidents such as power outages.
Recommended Security Measures
- Encryption of sensitive files (local and cloud storage).
- Strict access control with strong authentication (MFA) and least-privilege policies.
- Regular cybersecurity training for technical and creative staff.
- Isolated and automated backups, regularly tested.
- Professional EDR/antivirus solutions on all workstations.
- Regular IT infrastructure audits and risk mapping.
- Active access monitoring with real-time alerts.
TPN: The Benchmark in Audiovisual Cybersecurity
Le Trusted Partner Network (TPN) est une initiative pilotée par la Motion Picture Association (MPA). Elle établit une norme rigoureuse de sécurité informatique destinée aux studios, prestataires de postproduction, laboratoires de VFX et autres intervenants de la chaîne de production audiovisuelle.
The Trusted Partner Network (TPN) is an initiative led by the Motion Picture Association (MPA). It sets rigorous cybersecurity standards for studios, post-production vendors, VFX labs, and other players in the audiovisual production chain.
What TPN certification ensures:
- Annual assessment of physical and digital systems.
- Strengthened access controls, risk management, and privacy policies.
- Alignment with international standards such as ISO 27001.
- Secure communication with major studios (Netflix, Disney, Warner Bros, etc.).
Why get TPN certified?
- A contractual requirement for certain international projects.
- Industry recognition and increased trust from clients.
- Reduced vulnerabilities through independent audits and corrective action plans.
Risks & Solutions: A Visual Approach
Risks -------------------> Recommended Solutions
Script leak --------------> Encryption, NDAs, limited copies
Footage theft -----------> Segregated storage, secure cloud
Ransomware in post ----> Backups + EDR + network segmentation
NAS intrusion -----------> Firewall, MFA, regular audits
Pre-release leak --------> Monitoring, logging, security awareness
A Continuous Process
Cybersecurity in audiovisual production is not a one-off project but an ongoing improvement process. It relies on:
- Collaboration between technical and creative teams,
- Constant monitoring of emerging threats,
- Alignment with industry best practices, such as TPN or equivalent frameworks.
🎬 Conclusion
In an industry where exclusivity defines value, protecting production data means protecting the very heart of creation. Through certifications like TPN, regular audits, and a strong cybersecurity culture, studios can mitigate risks and earn the trust of increasingly demanding partners.