Cyber crime continues to rise, and experts agree that the forecast is looking more ominous than ever. As fast as the good guys figure out ways to combat a threat, the bad guys come up with a new way to hack into private and corporate data. As studies show that individuals think having their data stolen is inevitable, and corporations are looking for ways to make data public before it can be used for ransom – the future, as one journal stated, looks bleak when it comes to cyber crime.
For all their sophistication, many cyber criminals still manage to make their way in to networks through the individual user – weak passwords, old versions of software, phishing scams, and non-installed security patches being a few of the culprits. But rather than give up the fight, your company can vow to fight back. One of the most meaningful ways to do so is to create a cyber-aware workforce, accomplished by training employees in cyber security measures.
Effectively training employees in cyber security requires a change in corporate culture. As the owner of the business or the IT manager, you may have cyber crime on your mind – but it is important that the entire organization, from top to bottom, is thinking about it too. Giving everyone a sense of ownership and responsibility in this area will go a long way to making your data and networks safer, especially if they see commitment from their bosses and management. Here are a few tips to get you moving in the right direction.
- Begin Regular Awareness Briefings: Depending on your organization’s structure and vulnerability, you may need this meeting once a quarter; others may only need an annual refresher. Inform your employees about the huge potential impact of the threats you are facing, and describe recent attacks to them so they understand real-world application. Have brief sessions as new threats emerge, in order to keep everyone aware of what to look out for – not only the IT department.
- Talk about it: Training employees doesn’t always take place in a classroom. New employees should learn about your commitment to cyber security a part of their onboarding process. Managers should be integrating best practices into their daily communications with their subordinates, and make sure that cyber security awareness is a part of everyday business practices.
- Emphasis on Passwords: One of the quickest way to breach a network is through a vulnerable user account which is utilizing an easy-to-crack password, or who hasn’t changed their password in more than three months. Experts agree that strong passwords should be comprised of at least seven characters, containing both numeric and alphabetic characters. Employees should also be encouraged to use different passwords for personal and business accounts, as personal accounts are typically far less protected and more easily compromised.
- Be Alert for Phishing Expeditions: Phishing attacks are possibly the most common method cyber criminals use to infiltrate networks. Training employees to recognize phishing attempts may keep a malicious attack at bay. Phishing attacks typically utilize emails which appear to be legitimate communication from within the organization, or from a trusted partner or entity (like a bank). Spotting a phishing attack is one of the most important things you can do to protect your organization, and it can be managed with diligent awareness.
- Report any Incident: Understanding how to escalate a cyber security incident to the appropriate channels (and in a timely manner) can significantly limit the possible damage. Not only should your employees know how to spot the scam, but to report it rapidly and alert other employees to the imminent threat.Training employees will become more and more important as cyber criminals get more inventive.
If you need help with identifying threats and protecting your organization from cyber crime, call Alliance IT. Our team can provide monitoring, training, and help with protective measures. Don’t go it alone – call in the professionals.
