Mistakes made on the cyber front by unaware employees can have dramatic effects on company security and enterprise privacy. Having your employees be well-versed in cyber-security precautions can prevent disaster and lessen the likelihood of attack. Without diligence from employees, the company is much more vulnerable. Therefore, training your employees to have good cyber hygiene is so important.
Cyber hygiene is practicing careful evaluation of online activities within the network of the company so as to avoid infiltration.
“An organization's employees are the key to mitigating this type of risk by delivering regular training and creating a culture in which end users feel comfortable coming forward to report potential attacks. Employees also need to have a firm understanding of data security and the company's privacy policies so that they are aware of the important role they play in protecting the business and its customers.” (Forbes).
The Human Resources department can be especially helpful in this process, as they can make employees aware of cyber responsibility during the onboarding process.
“(HR is) responsible for ensuring every employee hired -- no matter the department or role -- poses a low threat to the organization's cybersecurity posture. This includes conducting due diligence and ensuring employees receive proper security training during onboarding. Second, HR has an obligation to protect employees' personal data.” (Tech Target).
HR’s role extends to making each employee aware of the responsibilities when working in the company network.
“Employees should be educated on the need to use strong passwords for their computer systems. In addition, they should be discouraged from using the same password they use on personal devices and online accounts to safeguard company assets. Attackers focusing on an employee will hack easier accounts to determine a password used elsewhere and try the same password, as many employees prefer easy passwords they have used over the years. These habits should be discouraged as they put a business at enormous risk.” (Tech Target).
It is the responsibility of leaders within the company to push these cyber hygiene practices.
“Employees should be educated on the need to use strong passwords for their computer systems. In addition, they should be discouraged from using the same password they use on personal devices and online accounts to safeguard company assets. Attackers focusing on an employee will hack easier accounts to determine a password used elsewhere and try the same password, as many employees prefer easy passwords they have used over the years. These habits should be discouraged as they put a business at enormous risk.” (Forbes).
Have any questions about cyber-security? Responsive Technology Partners is the leading cyber-security expert in the Athens, Metter, Milledgeville, Vidalia, and Atlanta, Georgia areas. We also have locations in Tampa, Florida, Roanoke, Virginia, and Raleigh South Carolina. Service offerings include I.T. support, cyber-security and compliance, telephony, cloud services, cabling, access control, and camera systems. Our company’s mission is to provide world-class customer service through industry leading I.T. solutions that make every customer feel as if they are our only customer. Please visit our website to learn more: https://www.responsivetechnologypartners.com/.
Sources:
Tech Target. https://www.techtarget.com/searchsecurity/feature/The-importance-of-HRs-role-in-cybersecurity
