Training Is Still The Best Security Tactic

As the magnitude of cyber threat is revealed – thanks to the recent ransomware attacks – so is the general lack of preparedness in businesses, even those that spend millions of dollars on IT consulting services.

Allotting a huge budget on security technology may make you feel safe. But the major cause of cyber threats is not the cybercriminals themselves. Usually, the major cause is our lack of awareness and our neglect. Truly, the best line of defense is being prepared.

Be Prepared to Safeguard Against Threats

To be ready to fight cyberattacks in the future, businesses need to balance technological advancements with agile, staff-centric defenses. These vigilant, staff-level efforts must include a proactive approach from management, with quick and strong decision making. As the dangers increase exponentially, heightened risk management is now a top focus.

The major risk comes in thinking that these dangers can be perfectly controlled through some sort of advanced defense system. It’s better to think that your defenses will be infiltrated and to educate your staff on what to do when that happens. An aware company arms all organizational layers with decision procedures. All staff should not only know what is expected of them about company policy and online regulations but also be trained to weed out suspicious activity. The main feature, specifically when it relates to threats, is the notion to do something once a problem has been located.

Employees Should be Agile in Handling Risks

Everyone in the organization should be ready for risks. The company must not only spend money on training for their company’s staff but also consider how to check and notify the third parties upon whom their businesses rely such as suppliers, partners, and BPOs. Such third parties who can access the company’s networks may enable high-profile breaches, as shown by the recent incidents experienced by big firms, such as Target and Home Depot.

An unwise executive could push back on this idea: do we really spend a lot of money? The fact is, cybersecurity education is quite undercapitalized. And, the lack of focus on quality cyber education programs shows through the huge volume of breaches that continue to happen because of neglect. Sadly, the amount of hacks is quite underreported – even those that are detected early – because companies hesitate to amplify reputation risk.

Companies and Government Agencies Should Begin Educating Their Organizations on Cyber Threats

Also, businesses that have not started adopting heightened security measures may see themselves obliged by regulators to do so. In the United States, the latest regulations promoted by the New York State Department of Financial Services require companies to give cybersecurity education to all of their staff. This is just the beginning of what will most likely happen to most government agencies across the globe. Company bosses must be wise to know that the future of cybersecurity lies not in a single-minded approach or high tech tools, but in methods that recognize the importance of human awareness on top of high-tech defenses.