Many successful cyberattacks are caused by human error rather than a problem with technology alone. While outdated operating systems and ineffective firewalls and antivirus may also be to blame for a data breach, there’s no substitute for training your employees and making sure they’re fully aware of the risks facing your company.
You can’t just rely on endpoint protection – you also need to think about proactive care when it comes to keeping corporate data safe from hackers.
Start with an Acceptable Use Policy (AUP)
No business should allow their employees to use its resources without restriction, but there’s not necessarily any need to take draconian measures either. Every company should implement an acceptable use policy that dictates what type of programs and websites employees can use.
Your AUP should set the authentication rules, particularly when it comes to enforcing a strong password policy. You should also make certain that every member of your team understands your AUP.
Create a Culture of Accountability
A cybersecurity strategy should be a collective effort that involves everyone on your team. In other words, everyone from management to sales team staff should play an equal part in ensuring your business is as well protected against attacks as it can be. Since individuals tend to be the weakest link in cybersecurity, it only makes sense that creating a culture of accountability should start on an individual level whereby each member of staff knows what to do and whom to report to in the event of a breach.
Help Employees Identify Phishing Attacks
While antivirus software and firewalls may help guard against malicious software, social engineering scams work on a much more personal level by attempting to dupe their victims rather than relying on malware alone. As such, you should train your employees to look out for suspicious emails and identify common phishing scams.
It’s also wise to regularly publish training materials that include examples of current scams and the signs to look out for.
Implement Proper Device Management
Workforce mobility is now a big thing thanks to the ubiquity of smartphones and tablets in and beyond the workplace. Many companies also allow employees to use their own devices for work by implementing a bring-your-own-device (BYOD) policy.
Mobile device management (MDM) provides a centralized way to monitor and audit your portfolio of mobile computing resources while also enforcing policies pertaining to app whitelisting, jailbreaking devices and multifactor authentication.
Carry Out Regular Cyber Security Drills
A lot of companies find themselves woefully unprepared for a data breach until it’s too late. That’s why you should conduct regular cyber security drills, including ones that are unannounced, to test the capabilities and knowledge of your employees.
Drills provide employees with a hands-on experience that will help them make smarter security decisions in the future. There are also several phishing simulators available to help people better identify the most effective social engineering scams.
Qoverage understands that proactive, real-time protection, combined with a rigid staff training regime, is the only way to protect your business from the multitude of security threats it faces. If you’re ready to take your network security to the next level, talk to our team today.