Cyber security awareness training is a critical element that every business should take seriously. The digital landscape provides commercial enterprises with an efficient approach to conduct business. Unfortunately, it also exposes companies to threats that business owners and their employees didn't have to worry about before. Today, enterprises have to protect themselves against cyber threats such as DDOS attacks, ransomware and data theft, among many others. According to Juniper Research, losses to businesses due to cybercrimes amounted to over $2 trillion in 2019. It is imperative that companies are aware of the vulnerabilities they face when operating online so that they can implement the right safeguards. We all need to start somewhere, even with cybersecurity. The following tips will help your business get on track on matters of security awareness.
One common mistake among small and medium enterprises is to think that they don't matter enough to warrant cybersecurity. About half of cybercrimes target small businesses, and yet, these enterprises contribute less than £500 million to cybersecurity. It's not that small businesses are entirely oblivious to cyber threats; they don't give the issues the deserving concern. Don't make that judgement error with your security awareness training. No business is too small to be a target. As long as you have vital data on an online network, invest in solid cybersecurity.
The effectiveness of security awareness training and safety measures will depend on how they serve the company needs. No two enterprises have identical cybersecurity requirements. Therefore, business owners and managers have to find solutions that meet the demands of the company. A cybersecurity audit paints a picture of where the organisation lies. Which policies are already in place? How many employees underwent security awareness training? Are the current measures working? This information makes it easy to formulate protocols that safeguard the company.
Once you identify vulnerabilities, set up policies to protect them and strengthen other network elements. Security protocols should include methods of handling sensitive data. Employees must know how to protect personally identifiable information. Also, include provisions on the use of IT disaster recovery services in the case of an incident. Take feedback from all the relevant players to guarantee that security policies cater to the whole company. Ensure that every staff member understands the consequences of violating the laid down cybersecurity policies.
Security awareness is about the presence of the appropriate expertise to deal with cyber threats. Most small businesses lack the financial means to sustain in-house IT teams. However, they can settle for the compromise of outsourcing various IT roles. Take the time to find professionals whose values align with those of your company. Put together an IT team that satisfies the goals of the organisation. An IT service provider like Fifosys offers comprehensive services beyond security.
If your company has a bring-your-own-device program, you have to establish effective security protocols. BYOD means that employees have permission to use their tablets, smartphones and laptops for work duties. Identify acceptable devices and inform all employees about them. Personal and work data should be separate. Make certain that employees know and implement personal security on devices. Learn the liability concerns that come with a BYOD program.
Cybersecurity awareness training goes a long way in protecting your company and its online resources. Some of the activities that cyber criminals carry out don't require sophisticated skills. A simple phishing email in a vulnerable mailbox can cause significant harm. This is why companies should train workers properly. 22% of UK companiesdon't offer awareness training for email. Employees in such organisations can leave systems vulnerable because they might not understand even the most basic security measures.
Restrict information access by instilling strict protection measures. Put in place a robust authentication mechanism for your entire business infrastructure. Create separate accounts for employees and be careful about who has administrative privileges. Doing that allows you to monitor who uses the network. Ensure that devices have protection, including passwords. Smartphones and tablets can fall into the wrong hands easily.
If your small business is to stay ready for cyberattacks, it needs an incident response strategy. This plan outlines what to do in the event an attack occurs. The IT team can conduct tests to show the response to different cyber attacks. A good plan should also include IT disaster recovery services. Communicate the strategy to the staff so that they know how to react if the time comes.
Cybercrimes such as hacks can leave a business vulnerable. UK enterprises lose approximately£3.8 per data breach. Besides monetary losses, a company has to consider the value of the information it holds. Cyber insurance can help mitigate some of the damage that your business might suffer after a cybercrime. Regular business insurance doesn't typically include data loss. Find a suitable policy to protect your venture and customer information. However insurance is not an alternative to putting the correct security measures in place. Check the small print carefully as your policy could be invalidated if you don’t take certain steps to secure your environment.
Organisations have to adhere to various regulations when dealing with data. A UK company, for example, has to be GDPR compliant. Note that some rules are industry-specific, such as PCI DSS for payments. Your company should provide the necessary protections depending on the data it holds. Security awareness requires that an organisation stays up to date on regulations regarding collection, dissemination and storage of data.
Small and medium-sized enterprises should invest in cyber security awareness training. Employees must learn what to do to maintain secure and safe networks. At Fifosys, you can find security specialists who will tailor cybersecurity solutions for your business requirements.
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