Fortifying Your Frontlines with Skills to Prepare for Disruptive Cyber Attacks

Picture the scene: a walled city is surrounded by an attacking army. Its soldiers and archers confront enemy soldiers who are attempting to scale the walls alongside impressive siege engines. 

Something similar to this antiquated battle scene takes place behind the scenes each day at businesses around the world—more than 2,000 per day, according to one university study.  The attackers are hackers, bots, and malicious programs seeking to breach your network defenses. Cyberattacks aren’t limited to isolated phishing emails and once supposed. They’re increasing in frequency and sophistication. What can you do?

It is time to equip your “frontlines”—employees at all levels of skill and responsibility—to face the looming threat.

Below, we’ll take a look at the evolving landscape of cybersecurity threats, as well as steps you can take to give your team the skills they need to stand up to disruptive cyberattacks.

Learn the Lay of the Land

To perfect your cybersecurity battle plan, you need a good understanding of “the lay of the land.” Cybercriminals look for vulnerabilities in your network such as outdated software or firewall issues. But it is the human element that is increasingly exploited as a vulnerability. How?

Hackers employ tactics like ransomware attacks, social engineering, and supply chain infiltration. They also look for inadequate passwords, insecure email communications, and other human-centric methods of obtaining information.

Because of this shift toward attacking human rather than purely technological aspects of your business, it is vital that you help your employees obtain the skills they need to fight back.

Equip Your Workforce to Face the Threat

You don’t need a cybersecurity analyst resume to prepare your business for imminent cybersecurity threats (though it doesn’t hurt if you have one). Even if you’re a novice when it comes to network security, the following checklist can help you protect your assets.

The first step is to build a network security strategy that includes cybersecurity awareness and education in addition to security technologies. Make your security strategy available to everyone in a living document and provide regular updates and reminders, perhaps in the form of a monthly email newsletter. Consider including the following topics in your strategy.

1. Cybersecurity awareness. Train employees about data security best practices, including data privacy regulations concerning customer information and sharing company information on social media. Cultivate a company culture of personal responsibility—that data security isn’t just the job of one department or a few individuals, but it’s everyone’s responsibility.
2. Phishing detection. Train employees to recognize the wording and suspicious links common in phishing emails and other forms of social engineering, such as texts or phone calls impersonating company management.
3. Password hygiene. Encourage strong passwords, perhaps by setting minimum password requirements and regular password resets. Use multi-factor authentication methods.
4. Physical security measures. Train employees on how to handle and secure sensitive documents and company-owned electronic devices.
5. Incident reporting. Outline clear channels for reporting suspicious activity. Make sure employees don’t fear that they will be punished if they report a security breach. Some companies regularly “quiz” employees by randomly sending out suspicious emails. If the employee fails to report the threat, they are required to re-take the mandatory cybersecurity training program.

Soft skills like problem-solving, critical thinking, and attention to detail are also useful in helping employees recognize and deal with security threats. Help employees cultivate these skills by entrusting them with increasingly responsible tasks in accord with their abilities.

More Defenses for Your Workforce

Even a well-trained army can’t be sure of success without the right tools and armor. There are additional steps you can take to help protect your workforce from cyber attacks.

First, make sure your software and security programs are up-to-date. Hackers can exploit known weaknesses in out-of-date software.

You can also employ physical, in-office security measures to protect the devices containing sensitive information. For example, install a security system with cameras and use employee key cards to limit access to sensitive areas.

Finally, consider taking out a cybersecurity insurance policy. The steps above help prevent data breaches, but insurance can help your company recover if an incident does happen. This protects your employees by ensuring job security—that you’re able to remain in business despite economic or reputational repercussions. 

Key Takeaways

The battle against cyberattacks is ongoing, with no end to the war in sight. As long as businesses utilize computer technology, cybersecurity will be a necessity. You can equip your workforce to deal with these risks by training them on how to recognize threats, how to properly secure information, and what to do in the event of an incident. You can also provide a secure work environment by making sure hardware and software are up to date, limiting access to company resources, and cultivating a communicative environment.

When you do these things, your company will be well-equipped to face the hoards of attackers who troll the internet.