Cybersecurity First
Coming into the last week of Cybersecurity Awareness Month 2021, we need to put cybersecurity first. Cybersecurity is everyone’s job. From large organizations down to the individual, cybersecurity best practices keep our sensitive data secured. Without campaigns to promote cybersecurity awareness, this creates a less secure online environment for everyone, which affects your business practices or everyday life.
Putting cybersecurity first is a preventative measure that is easier to implement than cleaning up a mess of a security breach. According to the National Cyber Security Alliance, every 39 seconds there is a hacker attack. It’s time for us to stop assuming that these statistics will never reach us. The risk of a successful attack on your personal or work systems could be detrimental to your way of life, so let’s get in the mindset of cybersecurity first.
Cybersecurity First in Organizations
The products and services your organization or business provides should have security built into them. Cybersecurity shouldn’t be an afterthought in the development of future products. According to a survey done in 2018 by Statista, they forecast that the number of Internet of Things connected devices worldwide will be 38.6 billion by 2025 and 50 billion by 2030. The Internet of Things is an exponentially growing market; this means the development of these connected products must rely heavily on cybersecurity to protect data.
Outside of products and services, the processes of an organization or business should have cybersecurity at their core. This means that there are thorough plans implemented for prevention and incident response in the event of a security breach. According to IBM Security’s 2020 Cost of a Data Breach report, there are $2 million average cost savings for businesses with incident response preparedness in the event of a data breach.
Included in these processes for organizations is making cybersecurity training a core focus in employee onboarding and certification. If you read our first blog post for CSAM 2021, you know that the National Cyber Security Alliance states that human error accounts for 95% of cybersecurity breaches. Cybersecurity training for employees will help educate your team to prevent human error when it comes to security. Sparx is your complete online resource for security training and certification. Sparx training videos and courses are designed by experienced security personnel to be personable, interesting, and provide the most relevant, up-to-date security information. Learn how your organization can streamline security training that aligns with your organization’s strategic goals.
Cybersecurity First for Individuals
You are the last line of defense between hackers and your data. Cybersecurity first for the individual is taking the skills, tips, and lessons learned from Cybersecurity Awareness Month and putting them into practice. It doesn’t have to be complicated - start with the basics. Every unique, strong password is one step further from successful attacks. Every time you use a VPN with public Wi-Fi it deters hackers from viewing your online traffic. The true cost of a successful attack on your data and systems can cause you financial loss and identity theft.
Putting cybersecurity first in your purchase habits can also protect your information and limit the data collected. Research the technology and devices that you will be using before purchasing. Companies that have legitimate security measures and features to protect your data should be top candidates. Don’t be afraid to ask questions about security features to any sales representatives. This can show you how important security is to the business and products you will be using. You wouldn’t want to give up your data to companies that could potentially exploit your information due to their lack of security.
Protecting yourself can also extend to being an advocate for cybersecurity. If your employer doesn’t mandate security training for staff, encourage them to start. The companies we work at have the potential to be attacked. Not only will this affect your employment, but the personally-identifying information your company stores about you is also at risk. You can also advocate cybersecurity best practices by talking about your knowledge base with coworkers, friends, and family. Follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter to share cybersecurity best practices and other technology industry news with your followers.
Cybersecurity First for All
Cybersecurity Awareness Month ends after this week, but the need for cybersecurity doesn’t. Keeping cybersecurity best practices at the forefront of your daily interactions is essential to keeping your data secure. Take proactive steps in your routine to promote data integrity. From researching the devices you purchase to increasing your password strength, each security addition to your technology keeps you one step further from hackers. Encourage your employer to implement security training as a part of employee onboarding to protect your organization’s compliance, client data, and employee security. Remember, cybersecurity is everyone’s job. Do Your Part. #BeCyberSmart.
