8 Robust Brand Protection Software to Safeguard Your Business in 2023

Protecting your brand has become increasingly difficult with newer forms of cyber attacks that lead to counterfeiting, online fraud, and intellectual property theft. As a business owner, you need robust brand protection measures more than ever before.

This guide will explore the 8 leading brand protection software helping companies safeguard their brands. I have analyzed their key capabilities, real-world examples of protection, and advantages to help you pick the right solution.

With over a decade of experience in online privacy and cybersecurity, I have seen brands face severe consequences from unchecked external usage. Proactive software is crucial today.

Here are some of the major stats that highlight the need:

  • Counterfeits account for 3.3% of world trade reaching $464 billion
  • 78% marketers faced trademark infringements just in 2022
  • Phishing attacks increased by 90% in 2021 with over $11 billion in losses

This article will provide an in-depth look at software that can automate monitoring and takedowns across digital channels. We‘ll assess features, use cases, customers and more across top platforms. I‘ll also share tips on choosing software aligned to your environment.

Let‘s get started!

Why Should Brand Protection Be a Priority?

The open and interconnected online ecosystem offers immense opportunities for brands. However, it also leads to continuous external threats that can erode brand value.

Some major threats include:

Rampant Counterfeits

Counterfeits accounted for ~3.3% of world trade in 2019 alone, worth $464 billion as per OECD estimates. This is expected to cross a whopping $4.2 trillion by 2026!

Shockingly, 39% consumers purchased counterfeit goods online unknowingly during 2021. 23% of them also ended up dissatisfied after their experience.

Such alarming instances showcase how counterfeits can erode revenues as well as customer loyalty.

Trademark and Copyright Infringements

78% marketers have already faced surging trademark infringements in 2022 across search engines and ecommerce sites. Violations encompass anything from using your brand names, copying logos or images, and more.

Left unchecked, continued usage can also lead brands to lose ownership of their intellectual property rights.

Affiliate Fraud and Policy Breaches

21% marketers saw an increase in affiliate marketing fraud like trademark bidding, ad hijacking etc. during 2022 compared to 2021.

Such activities amount to major policy violations that tarnish brand reputation and cause customer data theft.

Increasing Account Hacks

Phishing attacks that steal user credentials increased by a shocking 90% in 2021. Currently, 33 million user records are under threat from these attacks, leading to major financial losses.

Account takeover attacks also witnessed a 131% surge in 2022 compared to early 2021. Brand credentials are sold on the dark web to perpetrate further fraud.

Revenue and Trust Impacts

Continued brand threats lead to tangible impacts:

  • Up to 10% revenue loss through counterfeiting and policy abuse as per MarkMonitor
  • Around 65% consumers lose trust in brands facing threats as per Opsec Security
  • Nearly 33% customers end up dissatisfied after unknowingly buying fake goods

This data highlights why brands need dedicated software to monitor external usage, enforce policies and eliminate threats.

Brand protection technology enables:

✅ Maintaining brand integrity by securing assets
✅ Retaining higher customer trust and loyalty
✅ Driving more conversions by combating fake goods
✅ Protecting revenue streams by monitoring compliance
✅ Taking both preventive and corrective action against threats across digital channels

Now let‘s analyze the top software in this space.

Top 8 Brand Protection Software of 2023

I‘ve compiled the list of leading brand protection platforms that offer robust capabilities to counter various online threats:

1. ZeroFox

ZeroFox provides industry-leading digital risk protection combining AI-powered social media security, domain surveillance and surface web monitoring.

It protects over 10,000 prominent brands across high-risk sectors like retail, financial services, healthcare and more.

Key Features

  • Detects impersonation accounts, fake products/listings, creative misuse, unauthorized promotions and other threats at scale
  • Provides playbooks for automated response to threats like account lockdowns, content takedowns etc.
  • Includes human reconnaissance specialists along with cutting-edge ML technology
  • Delivers out-of-the-box integrations with Slack, Splunk, Palo Alto Networks and other security tools
  • Complies with data security and privacy standards like ISO and NIST

Powering Brands Like: Burberry, Buzzfeed, Doordash

2. BrandVerity

BrandVerity is a specialist vendor focusing on affiliate marketing compliance. Their advanced software is trusted by leading retail, lending and finance brands.

It lets you set up guardrails like trademark filters, landing page checks and other policy safeguards to prevent ambush marketing.

Key Features

  • Monitors major affiliate networks including Google, Amazon, Rakuten, CJ and more
  • Auto-detects high-risk affiliates flouting brand guidelines through shady tactics
  • Provides pre-built notification templates and bulk policy violation reporting to enable quick action
  • Offers intuitive dashboards showcasing overall affiliate compliance health
  • Enables quick integration with your in-house affiliate programs as well

Powering Brands Like: Lenovo, LendingTree

3. Red Points

Red Points provides comprehensive protection against counterfeits, social media impersonators and copyright violators. It‘s trusted by leading apparel, entertainment and toy brands like Guess, Turner and Bandai.

Key Features

  • Actively monitors and detects fake products, unauthorized sellers, design copyright violations at scale
  • Includes automated actions like DMCA snippet removal across sites, social account reporting
  • Maps relationships between threats and brand offenders to uncover larger networks
  • Centralized case management dashboard for cross-team brand protection workflows
  • Packs intelligent reporting templates to demonstrate risk categories, trends etc.

Powering Brands Like: Guess, Puma, Mattel

4. Hunter

Hunter minimizes counterfeit risk exposure through AI-based detection, end to end takedown coordination and monitoring seller networks.

It has protected leading consumer brands like Dyson, Skullcandy, Yeti and more from online fakes.

Key Features

  • Actively crawls through product listings, websites, social media and more to identify copyright violations and unauthorized usage
  • Hunter experts handle the end-to-end brand delisting process across online channels
  • Provides an intuitive risk exposure assessment based on your sector’s fake product climate and brand popularity
  • Includes data-driven dashboards to track trends in fake product listings, at-risk markets and more
  • Enables streamlined workflow management through centralized collaboration and bulk actions

Powering Brands Like: Skullcandy, LifeProof, Anker

5. Adthena

Adthena stops advertisement abuse and brand hijacks with industry-leading AI. Its ad compliance features help combat trademark violations and secure brand equity.

Key Features

  • Detects and reports unauthorized usage of brand trademarks, names and assets in ads
  • Auto-generates ad policy violation takedown requests to Google, Bing and other networks
  • Uncovers ad networks repeatedly running non-compliant advertisements to enable policy actions
  • Provides visually intuitive tracking dashboards to analyze ad threat history and patterns
  • Integrates via API easily with marketing analytics stacks and data warehouses

Powering Brands Like: L’oreal, Topps, Buzzfeed

6. MarkMonitor

MarkMonitor provides leading brand protection technologies covering domains, social media, mobile apps and popular online marketplaces.

It uses powerful automation and analytics to safeguard brand reputation across risk-prone sectors like finance, pharmaceutical etc.

Key Features

  • Offers global coverage spanning North America, Europe, Asia and other high-risk markets
  • Minimizes manual effort via auto-takedowns of fake products, unauthorized sellers and more
  • Integrates with internal tech stacks like ecommerce platforms, CRM and other marketing tools
  • Provides role-based dashboards tailored to legal, marketing and abuse remediation teams
  • Delivers intelligent reporting templates to demonstrate risk categories, trends etc.

Powering Brands Like: Visa, American Express, GSK

7. Rescue

Rescue provides specialized brand security capabilities for D2C retailers, online stores and manufacturers.

It eliminates counterfeits, fakes, unauthorized sellers to retain control on brand communication and product experiences.

Key Features

  • Detects fake product listings and infringing sellers leveraging AI across channels
  • Offers one-click brand delistings from eBay, Walmart, Amazon and other leading online marketplaces
  • Includes intuitive workflow management for in-house brand protection teams
  • Provides comparison tools to quickly distinguish threats vs authorized seller listings
  • Integrates real-time alerts and key reports with tools like chat apps, CRMs etc.

Powering Brands Like: GNC, Joseph Joseph

8. Pointer Brand Protection

Pointer Brand Protection offers AI-driven 24/7 monitoring coupled with online brand protection analysts.

It safeguards brands against threats around affiliate programs, search engine advertising and social media channels.

Key Features

  • Identifies unauthorized usage of trademarks, copyrights and creative assets across digital channels
  • Removes infringing ads by directly partnering with Google, Bing, Facebook and other advertising platforms
  • Maps connections between repeat offenders to enable legal action against persistent abusers
  • Provides real-time global visibility into emerging or ongoing threats and violations
  • Extensive coverage spanning threats around local sites in Asian and European languages

Powering Brands Like: Thomson Reuters, Expedia, NHL

This compilation of specialized brand protection software equips you to tackle every major threat scenario online. But how do you pick the right one?

How to Select Software Aligned for Your Brand?

With diverse capabilities across solutions, you need an objective process to choose what meets your needs best.

Here are 5 key pointers:

1. Map Your Unique Threat Landscape

Study current and expected threats around your products, partners, users and business model. This helps determine the types of monitoring and enforcement you need.

For example, a retailer with an affiliate program needs more focus on policy compliance versus trademark violations.

2. Define Channel Protection Priorities

Determine key channels like search engines, marketplaces, websites and social media platforms that require active tracking based on threat history.

3. Evaluate Internal Workflows

Assess existing team structures, case handling processes that need integration with the software through alerts, case assignments etc.

4. Estimate Potential Losses

Analyze tangible revenue losses you face from current gaps in brand protection. This helps determine the ROI you can achieve.

5. Shortlist Best-Fit Vendors

Finally, match software coverage, features and budgets to your specific environment and priorities.

The Way Forward

Brand threats can arise from any corner of the complex digital environment today – causing tangible impacts on revenues and customer experiences.

Being proactive with brand protection software provides the layered security you need to thrive online. Choosing the right solution tailored to your environment helps maximize value.

I hope this guide to top software capabilities and selection tips helps you take the first step towards future-proofing your brand. Feel free to reach out for any other questions!