The best ways businesses can get all team members invested in cybersecurity practices
In today’s connected world, cybersecurity is increasingly important, not just to technology companies, but to businesses across the business world.
With reports showing that there’s a rise in cybersecurity attacks on connected products like cars, it’s evident that cyber criminals are becoming increasingly sophisticated, and this means that all businesses need to be doing the same.
It’s not just IT teams that need to understand and implement cybersecurity procedures: every member of staff in your organisation should be striving towards keeping customer data and information safe.
To help business owners who want to help staff to understand the importance of cybersecurity, here are a selection of practical tips.
Instil the importance of cybersecurity into your company’s internal culture
Cybersecurity needs to be a top priority for every member of your team, so you should make it a part of your firm’s culture. Discuss why cybersecurity is important with every new hire and show them how vital it is that they play their part. Make it clear that every member of your workforce has a role to play in keeping your company’s networks secure so that everyone on your team fully understands what they have to do to keep your firm safe.
Provide a cybersecurity policy to all staff
Start as you mean to go on by providing every new staff member with a cybersecurity policy. This will allow them to see the importance of online safety and make all staff aware of the expectations you have for them. Staff who are unaware of your firm’s cybersecurity policy will be unable to implement it, so make sure that they read it and make it clear that if they have any questions then they should come to you for guidance and support.
Incorporate cybersecurity into all corporate communications
Maintaining an ongoing dialogue on cybersecurity is important if you want to keep the issue at the forefront of every team member’s mind. It’s also important that you keep them all up to date on the latest developments in the cybersecurity market, and as such you should mention cybersecurity in every communication you have with your team. From monthly meetings to appraisals, corporate newsletters to email signatures, you should mention cybersecurity and your firm’s policies every time you talk to your staff. Whenever there is an update to your policy, make sure that they’re notified so that they can educate themselves and prepare to implement every part of your procedure for the benefit of your firm.
Earn cybersecurity certification
Proving to your clients that your firm is doing its best to keep their information secure is of vital importance, so consider earning official certification such as Cyber Essentials, a Government, GCHQ and industry-backed standard. This certification will prove to your clients that your firm is doing everything it can to keep up with the latest developments in the cybersecurity space. To achieve this certification your team needs to be operating to a specific standard, so you should work with an experienced outsourced IT team to get Cyber Essentials support and make sure you pass with flying colours.
Secure hardware as well as software
Cybersecurity often brings to mind faceless criminals operating remotely to steal data, but these criminals can also exploit vulnerabilities in physical technologies as well as online security lapses. As such, it’s vital that your firm makes its staff aware of the importance of securing hardware as well as software. This might involve not leaving your office unlocked at any time, or it may revolve around keeping your server room safe from intruders and checking the ID of anyone who comes to inspect or maintain it. Reinforce the importance of keeping physical technically secure alongside promoting good online practices.
Create a separate cybersecurity policy for remote devices
With connectivity now a key part of the business market, many staff have access to sensitive information through their mobile phones or laptops. This offers many major benefits to businesses, such as the ability for staff to work whilst offsite, but it is also a serious security risk. Open Wi-Fi networks are less secure than private ones, and portable technology is prone to being stolen or lost. Therefore, it’s important that your firm adopts a cybersecurity policy for all remote devices that link to any aspect of its network. Monitor the use of remote devices so that you’re constantly aware of who is using them and can make sure that they’re kept up to date with the latest software updates. Restrict the use of personal devices if possible, as this will reduce your firm’s risk and increase the control it has over the devices that access its network.
Offer ongoing cybersecurity training
As part of your staff development process you should offer all team members cybersecurity training if they want it. This will make them feel involved in the cybersecurity process and more able to implement your organisation’s cybersecurity policy. There are many different areas of cybersecurity, so making team members knowledgeable in each of these areas will increase your firm’s overall expertise.
