How to build a security-first culture that empowers your hybrid workforce
Devise a comprehensive cybersecurity strategy that involves and empowers your hybrid workforce.
onPlatinum It’s important to define and implement essential security controls and tools, but it needs to be backed up by workforce buy-in and participation. A survey of IT security leaders revealed that 62% of remote employees do not follow security protocols closely.1 Think of all the challenges posed by hybrid working environments. With employees working from various locations, building a security-first culture in this new era is a massive undertaking.
You need to devise a comprehensive cybersecurity strategy that involves and empowers your hybrid workforce. Here are the critical components of this strategy:
Perimeter-less technology
In a hybrid work model, you have employees spread over multiple locations, working together online. Some may use less secure home internet connections for work while others may use personal devices. That’s why it is critical to upgrade your security systems, tools, and controls to make sure they match the demands of a hybrid environment.
This means going truly perimeter-less and investing in cloud-based applications, secure VPNs, identity and access management tools, patch management applications, unified endpoint management systems, and backup and recovery solutions.
Documented policies and procedures
If your security policies and procedures are not documented, you will struggle to enforce them. Your staff may not know what steps are involved or what the purpose of the whole process is. Start by identifying critical IT policies and procedures like change management, remote access, and incident response. Then, have all of them documented and shared with the concerned teams and members of your staff.
Remember to keep the files up to date and in an easily accessible, central location. This will make it easier to enforce policies. Employees will know what is expected of them and why. Finally, make sure policies are reviewed periodically and make changes if needed.
Security awareness training programs
Aim to make your employees the first line of defence against cyberattacks. Although this approach has been around for years, it is even more relevant in a hybrid work environment. Deploy engaging training programs that will help reduce human errors, develop good security habits and create awareness about the current threat landscape. Create training videos and a knowledge base covering security best practices.
Along with that, you should set up interactive training programs that help employees learn how to defend against phishing, ransomware, brute-force password attacks, and social engineering. After training, reinforce what they learned by conducting routine tests and simulations.
Communication and support channels
When communication and support channels are clearly defined and easily accessible, you can handle threats more effectively. Every staff member will know how to raise the alarm, whom to contact and what to do after reporting it. This will help to detect threats early, thereby minimising their impact.
You should also clearly define what tools can be used for communication and collaboration. For instance, employees should be discouraged from using personal apps like WhatsApp and Facebook for official communication and file transfer. Not only does it put company data in danger, it might also hurt your chances of achieving compliance.
Friction-free systems and strategies
When it comes to devising new security strategies or evaluating new systems, ensure that you give due importance to user experience and efficiency. For instance, if your company’s antivirus solution slows down employee workstations, they may resort to disabling it to get work done.
Although security is critical, it shouldn’t come at the cost of efficiency and user experience. Following security measures and policies shouldn’t feel like extra work, otherwise employees could grow weary and abandon security best practices altogether. Ensure your security systems and strategies fit together with their workflow.
Next steps
Building a security-first culture is challenging. The hybrid work model has only made it more complicated by adding dozens of new layers and steps to the process. You need skilled staff, 24/7 support and specialised tools if you want to implement a security-first culture within a hybrid work environment.
onPlatinum can help ensure proper implementation and ongoing management of necessary IT, cybersecurity and data controls. Get in touch with our team today.
Sources:
- 2021 Data Exposure Report Insider Risk, Ponemon
onPlatinum can help ensure proper implementation and ongoing management of necessary IT, cybersecurity and data controls. Get in touch with our team today.
