Investments in cybersecurity have been on the rise for years. As a result, there is an increasing emphasis on proper cyber hygiene and protection against cybercriminals and threats.
Yet, the expected return on investment (ROI) often falls short of initial expectations.
How complexity and nonchalance impact your ROI
Several factors contribute to a lower ROI:
- Organizations believe they are well-protected by deploying numerous security solutions and tools. However, they often struggle to align and integrate these tools within their IT environment. Moreover, the effectiveness of these solutions depends on human intervention in order to detect anomalies and respond appropriately. While organizations may possess fine solutions and software licenses, they often lack sufficient understanding of their purposes. This requires specific expertise, which proves to be the biggest challenge for many companies.
Hence, the role of a solid IT integrator and/or a Security Operations Center (SOC) or Managed Cybersecurity Services Provider is invaluable. - Users remain the weakest links. Technology alone cannot address this vulnerability, and hackers are well aware of it. Nearly 70% of all breaches occur at endpoints (laptops, PCs, mobile devices). Training is essential for IT professionals, but the effectiveness of your cybersecurity strategy also depends on how deeply its importance is ingrained in the broader corporate culture.
When this importance is not ingrained in the corporate culture, change in human thought and action is necessary. This is where the real challenge lies: most people express a desire for change, but few are willing to change themselves.
The weak spot is NOT the technology
About three-quarters of all security breaches stem from employee actions or inactions, such as:
- Using weak passwords
- Sending sensitive information to wrong recipients
- Losing devices
- Failing to update software & devices
- Clicking on malicious links in emails (phishing)
- …
Understanding Employee Challenges in Following Cybersecurity Policies
Many employees struggle to consistently follow cybersecurity policies. Here are some of the common reasons:
- Lack of Awareness: Employees may not be fully informed about the latest cyber threats or the specific details of the company's cybersecurity policies. For example, they might not realize that seemingly harmless information shared externally could be considered confidential.
- Lack of Understanding: Employees may be aware of general cyber threats and the existence of policies, but struggle with how to put them into practice. They might not know why or how to use specific security tools like password managers.
- Low Prioritization: Some employees may not prioritize cybersecurity policies as highly as they should. At the root of this issue may be motivation challenges or a lack of responsibility. This group can be the most challenging to engage effectively.
All are all exhibiting some form of denial. There's a long list of excuses commonly used to avoid addressing online security.
How to Embed Cybersecurity in Your Company Culture
You can't establish a sustainable corporate culture that integrates cybersecurity overnight. Creating it is one thing, but how do you maintain it?
1. Start by setting clear goals
Example:
"We aim for all employees to understand both business-related and personal cybersecurity requirements and responsibilities by the end of 2025."
2. Next, assess the current situation
Identify (human) vulnerabilities and map the greatest risks. Determine whether weaknesses stem from lack of awareness or motivation.
Implement organizational measures to promote cybersecurity awareness, including defining responsibilities, allocating budgets for awareness initiatives, and providing training.
Evaluate adherence to organizational policies and rules.
Data can be collected through phishing simulations, audits, process evaluations, surveys, organizational charts, and insights from ethical hackers. This information will help you understand your current cybersecurity posture.
3. Plan and Achieve Cultural Change
Define training requirements, curriculum, and learning objectives tailored to each target group. These will vary based on factors such as employee roles (e.g., the finance department versus the IT department), geographic region, and urgency. Clearly designate responsibilities for planning and executing all initiatives.
Evaluate the effectiveness of the implemented actions and completed training programs by assessing the outcomes. Measure whether the objectives were achieved: Has there been an increase in cybersecurity awareness within the organization? Is there a greater emphasis on practicing good cyber hygiene?
4. Maintaining Good Cyber Hygiene
Cybersecurity policies are not a one-time fix. New employees join the company regularly, cyber threats constantly evolve, and security tools keep getting updated.
This means educational materials may need to be refreshed to stay relevant. Cybersecurity is an ever-evolving field, and policies must continually be monitored and adapted to stay effective.
Looking to strengthen your cybersecurity defenses?
AXS Guard helps businesses stay secure with reliable technology solutions. Our Observe & Protect formula lays the groundwork for strong network protection. Gain complete peace of mind with our SOC services. Get 24/7 monitoring and expert response to keep your data safe, identify and address threats faster, minimizing damage and downtime.
(Check out our Observe & Protect solution )
Cybersecurity goes beyond technology. We understand the importance of a holistic approach. That's why we partner with experts like Fox & Fish to provide services like employee training, security audits, and penetration testing. This ensures your company is well-protected from today's ever-evolving cyber threats.
Security Investment Returns: Why Your Results May Fall Short