How many times have you stopped and thought about what the biggest obstacles and threats facing your company are? Often it can seem like there is no shortage of problems out there just waiting to take your company down, but few can compete with the seriousness of cyber security. At one point, “cyber security firm” sounded like nothing more than a buzzword, but today it is a very real thing and businesses are making it a top priority.
Because companies have grown more and more reliant on technology, it opens the door to potential issues such as cyberattacks. All you have to do is scan the news and you’ll see almost daily stories about businesses who have suffered security and data breaches thanks to a cyberattack. These kinds of attacks can shake the trust of customers and clients, and can also cause serious legal issues if personal information ends up in the wrong hands.
Now, if you think that you’re safe because your business is small, and these cyberattacks only happen to the big businesses, it’s time to think again. Statistics show that 43% of these attacks actually happen to small businesses.
So, what can you do as a business owner to ensure that cyber security is a top priority within your company, and ensure that the company doesn’t become a victim? A great place to start is with educating your employees on cyber security. Here’s how you can do just that.
Conduct Regular Meetings on the Topic
One thing to remember about cyber security is that it isn’t static. In other words, what hackers are working on and trying today won’t be the same tomorrow. They are constantly evolving so they can catch people off-guard, so that means you always need to be in a state of alertness.
This is exactly why it’s important to have regular meetings discussing cybersecurity training and protocols with employees. This is also an opportunity to drive home just how dangerous these hackers can be. Make sure that in your meeting you discuss each person’s role in the process and what is expected of them.
Each Employee Should Know the Signs to Watch for
You will also want to go over all the red flags with employees, meaning the signs that show an attack may occur or is occurring. The faster this threat can be identified, the more chance the company will have at limiting or even stopping the damage all together.
With that in mind, you’ll want to have a process in place that employees must follow should they suspect there is a threat. It needs to go through the proper channels accurately and quickly so the information can be acted on. Let your employees know it’s better to be safe and look into anything that looks even remotely fishy. Employees shouldn’t be punished if it ends up being a false alarm, as that will make them second-guess themselves moving forward.
Alert Employees When Attacks Do Occur
It’s also important to alert the full staff if a cyberattack has happened. You don’t need to go into all the details, just the basics, so that people are aware and also know what to look for moving forward. Direct them to the appropriate staff member or department if they have any follow-up questions regarding the attack and how that may affect their own work.
Put Rules in Place for Mobile Use and Internet Use
Finally, you want to put some very specific rules in place for the safe and secure use of mobile devices, personal email, social networks, and browsing the internet while at work. This is especially true if they are doing any of these things on company computers. It’s not about trying to punish employees, rather it is about trying to keep things as safe and secure as possible.
Enroll in CISSP Training
One of the best ways to educate your employees is to ensure you have proper CISSP training (Certified Information Systems Security Professional) credentials. If you don’t want to go through the training yourself, then you can hire on a staff member who either has the training or will go through it. Once certified, that person will be able to take their skills and information that they have learned, and create a security protocol that works for the business.
You can visit findcourses.com for some CISSP training options such as the CISSP Certification Prep Course, Information Security Boot Camp, and the Certified Information Systems Security Professional course that leads to certification.
Get Control of Your Company’s Cyber Security
By educating your employees, holding regular discussions, and ensuring that the work environment allows for early dedication of potential security threats, you will be taking control of your company’s cyber security and decreasing your company’s odds of becoming a victim of crime.
