October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month, and it’s a prime opportunity to teach your team about staying safe online.
“Cybersecurity awareness is information that your employees need to protect themselves and your company’s information systems against cyber threats,” says Scott Chaverri, CEO of Mito Red Light, a company that specializes in red light therapy devices. “This education includes learning how to identify the threats, proactive measures to combat them, and steps to take if cybercrime rears its ugly head.”
This article will provide eleven ways to empower your team this October so they are ready to respond to cyber threats and improve your company’s overall security.
1. Raise Awareness About Cybersecurity
The first step towards encouraging a culture of cybersecurity at your company is to raise awareness about what it is and why it’s important.
Host informative workshops and tutorials about cybersecurity so that everyone understands the basics.
“Don’t make the mistake of assuming that everyone on your team knows the foundational elements of cybersecurity. Especially for older team members or those with less tech literacy, cybersecurity may be a concept they have never come across,” notes Jack Savage, Chief Executive Officer of Everyday Dose, a company known for their mushroom coffee.
Offer further learning for employees who express an interest in cybersecurity.
Having a well-informed workforce is the quickest way to build a digitally fortified company.
2. Implement Robust Safety Measures
Once everyone has a thorough understanding of cybersecurity, you can implement robust safety measures.
These measures may include encryption protocols, intrusion detection systems, and firewalls.
“As a company, one of the most valuable assets you have is your data. Put as much effort into protecting your data as you would into protecting a brick-and-mortar store with merchandise,” says Maggie Brown, Founder and CEO of Recess Pickleball, a company that specializes in pickleball paddles.
Include information about your safety protocol in your onboarding material. Integrating cybersecurity into employees’ initial learning about your business will demonstrate its importance to your company.
3. Have Your Employees Sign a Security Policy
It is important to make sure that employees feel that they are active participants in your team’s cybersecurity strategy.
One way to demonstrate the importance of their role is to have them sign a cybersecurity policy.
Justin Soleimani, Co-Founder of Tumble, a company known for their washable rugs, notes, “Put time and effort into crafting your security policy. It should clearly outline what information is sensitive and what is not, and how to go about protecting the sensitive information, and how to report suspicious incidents.”
This type of demonstrated commitment will make your employees more likely to follow through on the policy’s promises.
It will also provide them with a written record that they can refer to when they have questions.
4. Encourage Regular Software and Security Updates
Everyone knows how easy it is to ignore those update messages your computer sends when you have a packed schedule. However, it’s crucial that your team gets into the habit of carving out a few minutes to update their software.
“Tech updates are essential because they usually contain updates to security software. These updates will protect all of the company’s devices against the newest threats and address vulnerabilities,” says Cody Candee, Founder and CEO of Bounce.
The other aspect of this policy is that your employees should never use unauthorized software. Frequently remind your team that they need your approval before adding software to their laptop or company device.
5. Create Strong Passwords
One of the most basic measures to promote cybersecurity is creating strong passwords. A strong password is one that features a combination of letters, numbers, and characters and is not easy to guess.
“You can promote the practice of creating strong passwords by implementing complexity requirements for all company passwords,” suggests Emily Greenfield, Director of Ecommerce at Mac Duggal, a company known for their evening gowns. “This is a simple way to guarantee that your team is putting effort into creating distinct passwords.”
Additionally, consider adopting a two-factor authentication system to fortify your company’s passwords.
These systems require text or email verification from your employees when they try to sign in anywhere.
6. Use A VPN
Another easy way to ensure your company’s overall cybersecurity is to use a VPN. Make sure that everyone on your team has access to detailed information on how to use the VPN.
Dana Miranda, founder of Healthy Rich, says, “A VPN, or virtual private network, is a service that encrypts your activity on the internet and keeps your identity hidden while browsing. Choose a VPN for your business, and encourage or require employees to use it for online work.”
Another benefit of using a VPN, especially if you have a remote workforce, is that it can make using public Wi-Fi safer.
Public Wi-Fi networks (like those in libraries, coffee shops, airports, etc.) can be insecure, but using a VPN can lower your team’s risk of falling victim to cyber threats.
7. Host Team-Wide Data Backups
One of many companies’ biggest cybercrime fears is losing their data in a ransomware attack.
For this reason, hosting team-wide data backups is an effective way to promote peace of mind and keep important information safe.
“Rely on your developers and data scientists to map out a data backup system that will work for your team. Make sure that this system would allow all vital information to be restored if it was ever lost or put at risk,” adds Natalia Kuvelas, Marketing Manager of Custom Goods.
To enforce this practice of taking regular backups seriously, make sure you communicate to your team that the data they create and work with is the property of the company.
Setting time aside to do intentional, manual backups can showcase their importance to your business’ security practice.
8. Manage Information Privilege Closely
In terms of protecting your company’s system, you can make cybersecurity easier for yourself and your team by closely managing information privilege.
Simply put, every team member does not need access to everything.
“Following the rule of ‘least privilege’ will keep your information secure and streamline the cybersecurity protocol,” says Mike McNamara, CEO of Samara, a company that specializes in backyard homes. “This rule states that you should only give each employee access to the information that they need to do their job successfully.”
As a leader, make sure you are consistently monitoring employees’ access privileges. When someone departs the company, make sure to revoke those privileges.
9. Make Sure Devices Are Used by Authorized Individuals
Several companies issue devices to employees, including laptops, tablets, desktops, and smartphones.
You can help your team stay safe online by clearly stating that they are the only people who should use their specific devices.
Dr. Manjula Jegasothy, Co-Founder of MiamiMD, adds, “Try to foster a culture where your team sees their devices as specific to them. While it can be tempting to borrow a coworker’s device, especially while traveling or out of the office, stress the importance of only using devices they have been issued or authorized to use.”
This practice should also extend to your team’s friends and family members. Remind your team frequently that company devices should only be used by company employees. All non-work-related online activity should be limited to personal devices.
10. Lead by Example
Regardless of what policy you are trying to implement, the best way to ensure that employees adopt it is to follow it yourself. This principle undoubtedly holds true for cybersecurity protocols.
“Senior leaders, therefore, should lead by example and promote best-practice behavior. For instance, they should emphasize the importance of security behaviors like not leaving one’s PC unlocked, not holding open doors at company site to people without verifying their legitimacy, and not exposing company documents, be they physical or digital, in public spaces,” says Fabian Muhly, co-founder of Leo & Muhly Cyber Advisory LLC.
When your team sees you following the company’s security policy, they will be inspired to do so as well.
Also, consider hosting cybersecurity info sessions where they can ask any questions they may have in a supportive environment.
11. Be Accepting Of Mistakes
When it comes to maintaining cybersecurity, you and your team members are bound to make mistakes.
Work to create a culture where your team feels safe admitting to mistakes and doesn’t fear a punitive reaction.
“It may be beneficial to share with your team incidents where you made a mistake regarding cybersecurity and what you learned as a result,” advises Adam Lasky, Head of Marketing at Teach Me To, a company that provides local golf lessons. “This will provide them with valuable practical information and prove to them that cybersecurity accidents can be remedied and will not be met with shame.”
Mentioning your own cybersecurity mistakes will also contribute to a company culture of understanding.
This will improve your team’s ability to work collaboratively and the business overall.
Keeping Your Team and Your Business Safe
Keeping your team safe online starts with providing ample information regarding cybersecurity and ensuring that everyone is on the same page regarding your company’s cybersecurity policy.
Remember to lead by example and be accepting of mistakes as you work to keep your team safe and they work to protect the business at large from cyber threats.
Good luck!