Security is an incredibly important part of running a business, but it’s extremely easy for busy employees to fall short of the security expectations you might place on them. This is why it is so important to train your employees on the many facets of cybersecurity. By training them, you are preparing them to tackle the plethora of challenges they will encounter throughout the workday.

One look at the statistics is all it takes to understand the breadth of cybersecurity issues facing the world today. According to Accenture’s Cost of Cybercrime Study, 43 percent of all cyberattacks were aimed at small businesses and only a fraction of those businesses were ready to defend themselves. 

This is why it is so important to have a dedicated network and cybersecurity strategy. If you neglect this part of your business, particularly in regards to training your staff on procedures and policies you might put in place, you are hindering their ability to go about their tasks in a secure and productive way. Here are four tips you can use to get your staff on-board with cybersecurity practices.

#1 - Get Them to Relate

Network security is not the most interesting topic in the world, especially for people who might not understand how it directly ties into their lives. You might have to get a little creative with this, but generally speaking, it is easier for someone to relate to the content of a security training session if they can see themselves or others they care about as the victims. Use real-life examples, like identity theft or data leaks due to negligent behavior, to reinforce why they need to take security seriously. Ultimately, their adherence to these policies is what will keep themselves and others safe from hackers.

#2 - Always Promote Security

People are impressionable, so if they are surrounded by a specific message, they will be more likely to pick up on it. You can leverage this trait with your cybersecurity messaging. If you are promoting cybersecurity and best practices in the workplace, you can create a culture surrounding it, one that sticks long-term.

#3 - Consistent Training

While pushing security might get you so far, consistent training will be the key to ensuring everyone remains aware of how important it is. You should hold training sessions on a regular basis which encompass the following topics:

• How to avoid becoming a victim of phishing
• What network resources they have access to
• The importance their role has in protecting company and customer data
• Solid password management and best practices
• What to do if they make a security mistake

If every employee you have has a good handle on these five concepts, there is a great chance that there won’t be a network security disaster coming from your staff.

#4 - Lead By Example

If you want your team to take security seriously, you can start by taking it seriously yourself. If you implement policies and procedures, then you need to stick to those policies and procedures so employees know that it’s not just them who are responsible for sticking to them. If you implement security measures like firewalls, antivirus, multi-factor authentication, and others, you should be prepared to advocate for their use. People often look at these solutions as methods to protect the business from themselves rather than a means to protect the business from external forces, so be sure to foster the latter mindset.

Remember that being a security mentor is something that involves listening to people and supporting them rather than demanding specific actions from them. It’s unlikely that everyone will understand the importance of cybersecurity policies at first, so take time to educate them so they learn to understand it, and be sure to build out appropriate documentation that supports your stances and policies. It’s not about understanding how these complex systems work, but rather how individual action can make all the difference in the overall security of the infrastructure and business.

Apex Technology can help your business implement security measures designed to protect your organization, a process which includes training your team. To learn more about what we can do for your business, reach out to us at (704) 895-0010.