When thinking about a cybersecurity risk, we often think of viruses, hackers, and the need for firewalls and passwords. But have you thought about what actually creates the biggest cybersecurity risk to your business?
What is Your Biggest Cybersecurity Risk?
It might surprise you to learn that your employees are your biggest risk when it comes to cybersecurity.
According to Cybersecurity Intelligence, 90% of cybersecurity breaches in 2019 were caused by user error. And Chubb’s Third Annual Cyber Report reveals that over two thirds of respondents don’t receive regular, company-wide training on cybersecurity best practices.
Your employees can make or break your organization. And leaving your security to chance definitely raises the stakes.
5 Tips to Manage Employee Risk
So what’s the best way to handle employee risk? Even though you can’t eliminate this risk completely, there are several steps you can take to train your employees and minimize the risk.
1. Identify potential security risks at your organization.
In order to address cybersecurity problems within your organization, you first need to understand what these problems are.
Some of the most common employee risks include:
- Phishing scams
- Weak passwords
- Inappropriate device use
- Connecting to an unsecure network
- Inappropriate sharing of information
Before you begin addressing cybersecurity risks, find out which problems are specifically affecting your company. This will help you move forward with establishing a plan and training your employees.
2. Evaluate these risks and how they could affect the business as a whole.
In addition to identifying potential risks, it’s important to determine how these risks could negatively affect your business.
For example, if multiple employees are clicking suspicious links on a regular basis, this increases the likelihood that your network will fall prey to a phishing attack.
At CR-T, we offer tools like phishing campaigns to help you monitor employee behavior and determine the risk for your organization.
3. Set precautions in place to reduce and manage risks.
Once you have identified the key obstacles to your business’s security, create a plan to address these risks, one by one.
Require frequently changed passwords, and implement two-factor authentication. Create policies for remote work, storage, and Bring Your Own Device (BYOD). Provide a virtual private network (VPN) for employees who need to work outside of the office.
4. Train your employees on cybersecurity best practices.
Now it’s time to get your employees on board.
Hold regular training meetings that address the most prevalent cybersecurity risks. You can teach your employees how to recognize phishing emails, discuss effective ways to create secure passwords, and introduce the cybersecurity policies you have put in place.
5. Review and update your plan as necessary.
So now you’ve identified the major security risks within your business, you’ve created policies to address these risks, and you’ve trained your employees on the new plan. That means you’re done, right?
Well, not exactly.
As your organization grows and you bring on new employees, it’s important to update your cybersecurity policies to reflect these new changes.
24 by 7 Security recommends reviewing your policies annually and every time there are any major changes, like new cybersecurity laws, new management, or a data breach at the company.
Establish Airtight Security for Your Business
Your employees may be your biggest cybersecurity risk, but they don’t have to be your downfall. By creating strong security policies and training your employees, you can mitigate employee risk and create a strong cybersecurity framework for your business.
Here at CR-T, we take pride in providing enterprise-level IT services at prices that work for small businesses. Our team of experts can become your IT support department, responding to issues quickly, often before you even know about them. Covering everything from your servers and network infrastructure to your computers, workstations and mobile devices, we provide end-to-end solutions for all your technology needs.
Time and experience have helped us develop best practices and workflow procedures designed to keep your focus on your business, not your technology.
