With 85% of data breaches being caused by social engineering or human error, it's clear that organizations can't afford to neglect the importance of the human element of cybersecurity. Employees have become the de facto attack vector of choice for cybercriminals. Their knowledge, beliefs, values, and behaviors will be the difference between protection and breach within any organization – making the focus on Security Culture so important.
Security culture is more than just an occasional scan or annual security assessment – it's about having a holistic mindset and set of security-related norms, values, attitudes, and assumptions that consider every aspect of your organization's operations. It means taking proactive steps to ensure that security protocols are in place and followed by everyone, from the CEO to the field team member.
Now that we know what a Security Culture is, how do you build one? Develop and achieve a proactive Security Culture with these steps in mind:
Ensure you communicate that security belongs to everyone - not just the IT department. Regularly remind employees of their responsibilities regarding data protection and using strong passwords. Speaking about the importance of cybersecurity from the highest levels of the organization and updating your company vision and objectives help keep the concept top-of-mind.
Invest in cybersecurity training for your organization to understand the risks and take steps to protect themselves and the company. Security issues don't always come from external sources - many potential problems can come from within. When all team members understand their impact on cybersecurity and how to reduce risks, their steps toward proactive safety measures become a part of the day-to-day.
Identifying appropriate software and processes is imperative when implementing cybersecurity standards across the organization. From multi-factor authentication and password management to keeping hardware and software up to date, there are a lot of moving parts to manage for proper, proactive security. Reach out to a trusted Cybersecurity Team (like SeedSpark!) to assess the organization's current security status, implement cybersecurity standards, and provide ongoing support and management.
Recognize and reward team members who take security measures seriously and enhance the company's Security Culture overall. Create incentives for employees who follow security protocols and processes, and offer rewards to those that adopt and understand secure practices – such as proper password storage or passing a phishing test with flying colors!
Security teams must work together and create an environment of collaboration and support for themselves and the organizations they help protect. Cybersecurity professionals can help with ongoing organizational training to instill a community of support and collaborate with other professionals to stay up-to-date on the latest threats and trends.
Finally, make security fun and engaging for your staff! Security doesn't have to be boring – use gamification techniques or online courses to lighten the mood and make security more accessible. Everyone will benefit from having a better understanding of security, both in the workplace and at home.
SeedSpark is proud to support our clients with industry-leading tools and knowledge that help protect their networks. By building a complete cybersecurity strategy, we ensure that businesses of every size have the enterprise-level cybersecurity needed to protect their data in today's ever-changing cybersecurity landscape. Get in touch today to get the proactive IT support you need to succeed.