Workplace cybersecurity is important to all businesses, especially those with ambitions of scaling up. Businesses that don’t protect themselves as they grow can have a difficult time recovering from a cyber attack. Prioritising cyber security during business growth is essential to protect your business from threats that could hamper growth and the future of your business.
So, improving cyber security is high on the agenda, right? Knowing how to promote cyber security in the workplace is the only place to start, so step right this way!
Why does workplace cybersecurity matter?
As your business expands, it inevitably increases your exposure to cyber-attacks. The consequences of this can be devastating to a business. Even minor cyber security breaches can lead to hefty fines and the loss of customers. Add up the direct costs of attacks, information theft and disruption to trading, not to mention repairing inadequate systems and downtime, and cybercrime can mean major financial and reputational damage.
The above points show exactly why promoting cybersecurity awareness is so important. No company is too small when it comes to cyber-attacks. Small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) are likely to underestimate the risk of cybercrime by believing they are not an attractive target. In fact, that’s precisely why they are. SMEs are less likely to have robust security measures in place to protect them from cyber-attacks. If you’re a smaller business, then promoting cyber security in the workplace should be a priority, not an afterthought.
Improving cybersecurity awareness in the workplace
Cybersecurity awareness only helps increase the skills and knowledge of employees and managers throughout your business. Enhancing a culture of cyber security means communicating the importance of the measures you take in a way that everybody can understand. If a new string of measures is introduced but they’ve been poorly communicated, the chances are they won’t have the desired effect.
We’ve put together some of the areas you should consider and the approach to take to help promote cybersecurity awareness in the best possible way…
Create a culture of security
The pandemic forced many businesses to change their working practices, introducing new technology to facilitate hybrid and remote working. With these new ways of working now a mainstay, your business should have adapted security measures in line with remote and hybrid working arrangements to safeguard against any potential cyber threats.
Employees working from home may not have the same level of IT security as they have at their offices. In fact, 74% of cyber security decision-makers claim that information security systems and controls have become more complex due to widespread remote work. The good news is this also provides an opportunity to rethink your strategies and embed cyber security across the business.
Practice good cyber hygiene
Educating and training employees on cyber security is a smart place to invest and will help employees to protect their business. According to Verizon’s 2023 Data Breach Investigations Report, 74% of breaches involved the human element. As one of the biggest risks – the human factor is also one of the biggest opportunities.
Training your employees to spot the signs and respond appropriately is crucial for helping to improve cyber security awareness. Make sure best practices are being followed to reduce the threat of sensitive data being easily accessible and falling into the wrong hands.
Implement an Information security management system
ISO 27001 is the international Standard for Information Security Management Systems (ISMS). This industry-recognised security framework will help take your business to the next level with best practices in place to manage information security and limit the impact of threats to your business.
ISO 27001 helps your business have controls in place to combat threats to your data integrity. By having policies and procedures in place to protect and manage sensitive information, you’ll minimise risks, reduce breaches in legislation and build a culture of security.
Improve your cybersecurity today with our help
Implementing ISO 27001 improves overall business growth. It demonstrates to customers you’re committed to safeguarding their information and take security seriously. ISO 27001 Certification can help you win more business and access new markets as businesses with ISO 27001 are seen as safer to engage with. You’ll also benefit from working relationships with organisations that prefer to do business with those that can demonstrate they have a recognised IT security management system in place.
As your business grows, you need to ensure your IT scales with it. With cyber attacks rapidly evolving, SMEs and smaller businesses like yours need to be ready.
So, why not request a quote today and start your journey towards strengthening the cyber security measures adopted throughout your business? Or, to see how ISO 27001 can support your business growth, contact Citation ISO Certification today at 0333 271 6312.
Want to discover more about ISO 27001 and cyber security? Our series of blog articles below can help develop your cyber security awareness even more.