Among C-suite executives and CEOs, there is growing concern about cyber defence. With an increasing trend towards remote working and cloud-based technologies, organizations are more vulnerable than ever to cyber threats. Executives and security managers look to take the lead on cybersecurity by building resilient and multi-level security plans. But the essential question is, how can an organization still benefit from all the latest technological advances while mitigating the risks that come along with it? Here are some tips on how to integrate security-minded business practices from the top level down.
So how can management direct this conversation? How can you build better security practices into your existing organizational structure? This is where company leaders need to pay close attention.
Rethink the Way You Do Business
First, think about the technologies your company currently employs. Can they be scaled to work for an increasingly remote workforce, while still remaining secure?
Consider shifting your mindset from an enterprise structure to a cloud environment. If more workers are going virtual, does your IT infrastructure have the necessary security to protect resources and information when it’s no longer located in a centralized office?
Here are some other elements to consider, that if not addressed, could leave gaps in your cybersecurity:
Secure Network Access – Who has access to what? You might want to review what levels of access are granted, and to which employees or managers. Consider restricting access to only those who need it. That way, if a security breach occurs, it’s also much easier to trace the source, which can be internal just as much as it can be external.
Secure Work Environments – Are all your devices and users protected? Is your network traffic? You need to ensure that security measures have the same degree of effectiveness, no matter where your employees work. And don’t worry. Antivirus and firewall security should not impact the speed or performance of your devices.
Secure Collaboration – Collaborate with your management team to ensure they are on the same page when it comes to cyber defence. Make sure they have a uniform IT policy to reference, and are well-versed in it, so they can properly advise employees, and promote solutions for workers.
Secure Culture – Are your employees aware of known vulnerabilities? Do they know how to prevent and detect cyber threats? Remote employees may even need specialized training around proper security protocols when working from home. Have systems in place to assess and improve their threat intelligence.
By ensuring business continuity and stable operations with proper security controls in place, you will eliminate uncertainties and help to close any security gaps in your organizational structure.
And once you create a secure place to work, you want to focus on supporting your management staff.
Protect and Support Your Staff
Unfortunately, senior executives and management are 12 times more likely to be targeted by cybercriminals. Attackers know they have the highest levels of access to the most sensitive documents and are using ever more creative ways to invade personal accounts.
Unprotected accounts provide an entry point to company resources and weak personal passwords provide little defence. The best way to minimize these security gaps is to create a level of awareness through:
- Ongoing training on how to identify threats in personal accounts
- Develop an account takeover prevention strategy for key executives, but without making it too invasive. Respect the privacy of personal accounts but have a way to take over and lock down that account if a major threat is encountered.
- Open communication between your IT security provider or team, so they can alert managers when new threats emerge, who can then communicate those threats to employees.
- Better layers of protection on all company devices and logins, such as user authorizations and ID-based logins, to protect staff wherever they work. Check out some of our other tips to protect your business when executives and employees work from home.
Be a “Leading Force” in Cyber Defence
Remember, when initiating change within your organization, be calm and confident about your choices. Be the catalyst for change. However, use compassion and empathy to listen to the needs of your supporting management team.
Make any new security measures as easy and simple to implement as you can, and create the resources necessary for communicating those changes, such as a revised company-wide IT security policy. By creating a company-wide defence strategy, it will become clear to all employees what to do in case an emergency strikes and how best to avoid the need for crisis intervention.
That may mean a bigger investment in cybersecurity than you initially thought. But think of cybersecurity as simply another investment in the wellness of your staff, your management team, and your company’s overall efficiency and productivity.
Managed IT and print services may offer a way to bolster your existing protections and to automate certain security measures. Business solution providers like Com Pro can also help you build a stronger and more resilient organization by helping you draft business continuity and crisis management plans tailored to your particular business and structure.
Remember, it’s a fine balancing act. You want to leverage all the benefits of cloud-based solutions and remote working, without the down sides or security gaps. It will take some careful planning, and consideration, but with a Managed IT provider like Com Pro, we can work with your current management team to prepare, plan and practice improved cyber defence strategies in a way that makes the best use of your company resources.
Need help reinventing your business security for a cloud-based world or remote workforce? We can help draft a plan that creates secure access with recommendations for helpful IT solutions. Call us or contact us here.