Protecting your company from hackers and other computer-based assailants is a full-team undertaking. It’s not enough for you to have a vigilant IT team, or even an officer in charge of cybersecurity. Ultimately, every employee who accesses your network or brings their own device to work can play a role in making the business more (or less) secure.

As such, one of the first steps toward enhanced data security is simply raising awareness. If you want your employees to step up their own cybersecurity efforts, you first need to make them aware of how pervasive cyberattacks are… and how much their own actions can affect the organization as a whole.

Top Tips for Improving Cybersecurity Awareness

It is impossible to overstate the human element in cybersecurity. Employees are often the weak link in a business’ cybersecurity practices, usually because of unintentional errors and occasionally through active malice. Roughly 90 percent of the cyberattacks that harm small businesses can be linked to employee error.

As such, it’s important to do everything you can to educate employees about how they can avoid unintended mistakes, and how they can be alert to active threats from inside the company. Raising awareness in this way isn’t going to happen overnight, but there are a few steps small businesses can take to move in the right direction.

  1. Provide an interactive learning experience. Having your IT team send out a memo, or even provide a cybersecurity lecture, can certainly be helpful. To make the information “stick,” however, it’s important to offer some opportunities for interactive training. Partner with your IT vendor to create role playing games and simulations, allowing your employees to feel for themselves what it is like to discern and thwart an attempted hack.
  2. Create channels for consistent communication. Keep data security top-of-mind for your employees. Create channels devoted to regular updates, reminders, and cybersecurity tips. This may mean a dedicated Slack channel or a newsletter, created by your IT team. Getting IT in the habit of sending out regular reminder videos can also be effective.
  3. Highlight the stakes. As you discuss the threat of ransomware, malware, and other forms of cyberattack, be sure you make it relevant to your employees. Underscore that an online security breach can actually result in employee information, including sensitive or confidential information, being aired in public. Also clarify that a data breach can potentially result in significant litigation and reputational damage, leading to friction in the workplace and potentially to the need for cost-saving layoffs.
  4. Practice positive reinforcement. Raising cybersecurity awareness calls for both stick and carrot. As far as the latter goes, get into the habit of publicly recognizing employees or teams who practice really good online hygiene. A good pat on the back can go a long way toward reinforcing desired behaviors.

Build a Culture of Cybersecurity Awareness

The bottom line: Every business faces cybersecurity risks. Awareness-raising is one of your strongest avenues of defense. Follow these tips to start creating a culture where cybersecurity is taken seriously, and with any questions reach out to our team at BlueArmor.