With the landscape of cyber-crime changing all the time, building a culture of cybersecurity within an organization is crucial to protecting sensitive information and maintain the trust of customers, partners, and employees.
Cyber security is quickly becoming one of the most highly prioritised activities among businesses around the world. The main reason for this is because cyber crime has become highly industrialised over the last decade, and it is easier than ever for cyber criminals to launch effective and, in many cases, highly sophisticated attacks against businesses.
In order to keep themselves safe from this growing threat, organisations must foster and maintain a strong culture of cyber security. We discussed this with TechQuarters, a provider of IT support London-based companies have been using for over a decade. They confirmed that culture is one of the most important parts of a strong, modern security strategy. The culture of the business helps keep every stakeholder – from c-suite executives to employees – aware of and vigilant against cyber-crime.
So, what are some effectives ways of fostering security culture in an organisation?
Leadership Commitment
Whenever there is a major change in an organisation, it has to be reflected at every level of the organisation in order for the change to stick. This means that commitment to change from leadership is very important – especially when building a culture of security. Some key considerations include:
- Leading by Example: Senior leadership must set a strong example by prioritizing cybersecurity. When leaders take security seriously, it sends a message that security is a top priority.
- Resource Allocation: Allocate the necessary resources, both in terms of budget and personnel, to support cybersecurity initiatives.
Education and Training
Security culture requires all stakeholders to have a clear understanding of cybersecurity – including common risks and threats, best practices, and their own role in upholding security. We asked TechQuarters about how this can be done, and they said that education and training is key. Having provided IT support in London for many years, TechQuarters stated that training was an important added value to their service, as it helped greatly improve the bottom line of security. Some tips around security training include:
- Continuous Training: Regularly educate and train employees about cybersecurity threats, best practices, and the organization’s specific policies and procedures.
- Phishing Awareness: Focus on phishing awareness, as it remains a common attack vector. Teach employees how to recognize and respond to phishing attempts.
Risk Assessment and Management
Risk management is crucial for all businesses, and it forms a central part of the culture of cybersecurity. Businesses should constantly be monitoring and assessing the types of risks that are in their organisation – whether it be simple user error, or something more high-level, such as cloud data attacks. Some key considerations for risk management include:
- Identify and Prioritize Risks: Continuously assess cybersecurity risks to the organization and prioritize them based on potential impact and likelihood.
- Mitigation Strategies: Develop and implement strategies to mitigate identified risks, and regularly review and update these strategies as the threat landscape evolves.
Clear Policies and Procedures
The most effective way to enforce strong security practices is to establish policies and procedures that are inline with the business’ security goals and principles. Some examples of security policies and procedures include:
- Written Policies: Establish and communicate clear cybersecurity policies and procedures. Ensure that employees understand their roles and responsibilities in maintaining security.
- Incident Response: Have a well-defined incident response plan that outlines the steps to take in the event of a security breach.
We asked TechQuarters how digital policies can be enforced. They stated that digital policies can be created in solutions like Microsoft 365 – having provided Microsoft and Office 365 consulting London businesses have used for years, they were able to confirm that policies in the software help restrict harmful or irresponsible practices across the organisation.
User Engagement
Upholding a culture of security cannot be done without the participation of all stakeholders – which includes all employees. If employees feel that they might be reprimanded or penalised for security errors, this might even discourage them from speaking up. Some effective ways of optimizing user engagement for security purposes include:
- Encourage Reporting: Create a culture where employees feel comfortable reporting potential security incidents or concerns without fear of reprisal.
- Reward Positive Behavior: Recognize and reward employees who actively contribute to the organization’s cybersecurity posture.
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