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How your employees can mitigate cybersecurity risks

How your employees can mitigate cybersecurity risks

With the start of 2020, it’s time to put into place best practices to mitigate cybersecurity risks. Some aspects are out of our hands, but sadly we are in an environment where cybersecurity risks are major concerns. Being conscious of possible human error could be the difference between being hacked and avoiding a world of pain. The team at Interfor will discuss how an organization can work with employees to help stop a cyber-attack from happening in the first place.

Be aware that you’re vulnerable and that you can be attacked

Many employees believe that a small or medium sized business won’t be attacked. Not only is this incorrect, but many smaller businesses lack the resources large organizations spend to protect themselves. According to this article“a report from ISACA and CMMI Institute found that only 34% of employees know what their role is concerning cyber security. This would indicate that the cyber security culture that is supposed to be all-inclusive is not hitting the mark.”

Awareness is the first step, but internalizing the damage from an attack is as important as any other kind of training which takes place in an organization. A “new National Cyber Security Alliance research found that after experiencing a data breach, 25 percent of SMBs filed for bankruptcy and 10 percent went out of business.” It’s hard enough to make it in business without the added threat of being hacked.

Offer employees cybersecurity training

If an organization is not offering training to all their employees on cybersecurity best practices, they have no one to blame if they get hacked. Organizations need to make sure cybersecurity training is as important as any other. As stated in this piece “develop a policy for the employees that contains the best cybersecurity practices. It should have proper instructions on how to store customer and employee information. Also, make sure that all the employees have separate logins and passwords. Give them clear instructions on what to do in case of any data breach. A trained employee can help you avoid a lot of hassle.”

Create a culture of inclusivity

Employees at all levels need to feel they are part of the organization’s security and longevity. Creating a culture of inclusivity, from hourly workers to the C suite, protects against potential threats and helps strengthen the organization, which is only as strong as its weakest link. As this Forbes piece states “many networks and systems are only as strong as their weakest employee because it often takes a single point of entry for hackers to gain a foothold. This is why cybersecurity awareness isn’t just crucial for your IT team and employees who regularly handle sensitive information — it’s crucial for everyone in the organization.”

Cyber-security may not be at the top of your New Year’s resolutions, but it can defend your organization from small mistakes which could cause serious harm. For additional resources and guidance, the Interfor team is here to help in 2020 and beyond.