Being a business owner in charge of new IT procedures can be a major pain, especially when it comes to your employees. How often do you experience pushback on any significant change to your IT infrastructure or policies? You’re not the only one–many organizations are in the same boat as you, and it can be a difficult situation to be in.
The average employee is either unaware of the everyday IT security threats or what could happen as a result of poor data-sharing habits. They probably know a passable amount of password data security best practices at the most, and even getting to this point can be difficult.
We aren’t trying to sound negative–it just comes with the territory. You don’t hire your organization’s employees because they are tech-savvy (unless they are your IT department), but it’s still your responsibility to make sure they understand any new security measures, as well as respond to any initial pushback.
To best illustrate this point, let’s take a look at password security:
Understanding Risks and Threats in Information Security
Organizations today face numerous security risks that jeopardize information security, leading to financial losses and reputational damage. Here are some common risks and real-world examples illustrating their impact.
- Cyber Attacks: Cyberattacks like phishing and ransomware are prevalent threats. The 2017 WannaCry ransomware attack affected hundreds of thousands of computers globally, disrupting services and demanding ransom payments.
- Data Leaks: Data leaks occur when sensitive information, including customer data, is exposed due to weak security practices. In 2013, Target’s data breach saw over 40 million credit and debit card records stolen, costing millions in settlements.
- Insider Threats: Insider cybersecurity threats involve misuse of unauthorized access by employees or contractors. Edward Snowden, a former NSA contractor, leaked classified information, exposing sensitive government operations.
- Regulatory Compliance Issues: Non-compliance with regulations like GDPR and HIPAA can lead to hefty fines. British Airways was fined £20 million in 2020 for exposing the personal details of over 400,000 customers.
- Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs): APTs are prolonged, targeted cyberattacks. The 2014 Sony Pictures hack, attributed to North Korean hackers, resulted in the theft and release of confidential information.
Recognizing these risks is crucial. Learning from past incidents helps businesses fortify defenses and reduce the impact of these information security threats through robust security measures and fostering a culture of awareness. Addressing potential security breaches proactively can save an organization from significant damage.
Practical Steps to Improve Information Security
Improving information security is essential for protecting sensitive data, maintaining customer trust, and ensuring regulatory compliance. Here are some practical steps to enhance your security posture:
Regular Training Sessions
Educate employees regularly about:
- Phishing Recognition: Identifying phishing emails and appropriate responses.
- Password Best Practices: Using strong, unique passwords and avoiding password sharing.
- Safe Internet Use: Avoiding untrustworthy websites and unauthorized software downloads.
Developing a Comprehensive Security Policy
Create a robust security policy that includes:
- Access Control: Defining data access permissions.
- Data Handling Procedures: Secure storage, transmission, and disposal of data.
- Incident Response Plan: Steps to take during a data breach, including reporting and containment strategies.
Conducting Regular Security Audits
Regular audits help identify vulnerabilities and ensure policy compliance:
- Vulnerability Assessments: Scanning systems for weaknesses.
- Penetration Testing: Simulating cyberattacks to test defenses.
- Compliance Checks: Ensuring adherence to regulatory standards like GDPR or HIPAA.
Implementing Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
Enhance security by requiring multiple verification factors for access, reducing risks from compromised passwords.
Keeping Software and Systems Updated
Regular updates protect against vulnerabilities:
- Patching: Applying security updates promptly.
- Monitoring: Continuously checking for breaches and suspicious activity.
Encrypting Sensitive Data
Encrypt data both in transit and at rest to prevent unauthorized access even if intercepted or accessed unlawfully.
Encouraging a Security-First Culture
Foster a security-focused culture:
- Reporting: Encourage reporting of suspicious activities.
- Leadership: Model good security practices and emphasize their importance.
Regular Backup and Recovery Plans
Implement regular backups and a recovery plan to restore the organization’s data after a breach or loss. Ensure backups are secure and tested periodically.
By implementing these steps, organizations can significantly improve information security, protect sensitive data, and reduce the risk of security breaches. A proactive approach helps safeguard assets and maintains trust with customers and stakeholders.
An Examination of Employees Rejecting IT Security
Imagine this scenario; your IT provider creates a group policy that forces users to change their passwords every 30 days. Repeating the same password is out of the question, and it has to meet a certain complexity threshold to protect sensitive data.
You might think this is a great idea, but your employees are going to spit fire at you the second they find out what’s happened. If they don’t, they will let it simmer on the back-burner, complaining about the new policy to anyone who will listen.
Eventually, you’ll find out about it, but this kind of scenario can quickly become a toxic work environment. You might have your organization’s best interests in mind, but your employees will only see it as an inconvenience.
This might seem on the extreme side, but you’d be surprised by how often this happens. Here are some other topics that might stoke the fire under your employees:
- Bring Your Own Device Policies: If your employees use their personal devices for work purposes, it’s a best practice to have a BYOD policy in place. Your employees likely will push back against this, but in reality, it’s in the best interest of your network security to have it.
- Firewalls and Content Filters: The Internet is a major time-waster, and you might be surprised to see how much time is wasted away by employees streaming video or lurking on message boards. The solution is to block these sites, even if it seems a bit extreme.
- Implementing New Technologies: Any time you implement a new solution, you’ll experience pushback, even if it’s something like adding an application or moving data to the cloud. Some might adopt the solution no problem, but others will fight to the bitter end just to keep to their old solutions. Ultimately, just about anything new is enough to ruffle your employees’ feathers and create some difficult situations. They don’t care that you’re trying to protect your business–even if it’s in their best interest.
What Can You Do?
The biggest reason why your employees might push back against any change to your IT policies is simple; they want to get their job done as quickly and efficiently as possible, and they see change, whether it’s in the form of a new application or a password reset, as an inconvenience.
Something meant to secure your network will look like a roadblock to your employees, and when it gets in the way of them doing their job, of course they will fight back.
It doesn’t matter if you’re trying to improve the company as a whole. Someone on your staff is going to look at the new solution as a disruption of everything they know.
Some might even see a BYOD policy or content filter as a sign that they aren’t to be trusted, when in reality it’s just to protect your organization from the possibility of data breaches. There’s only one solution to this goal, and it starts with you, the business owner.
Leadership is Key
If you want your employees to embrace change, it all starts at the top. Your C-level administrators and managers should also be on board with any change going on in your workplace. It helps to show employees that they aren’t the only ones who have to abide by the rules–even their boss does.
Implementing comprehensive information security programs can also aid in managing changes effectively. These programs ensure that all aspects of information security are addressed systematically, which can help mitigate resistance from employees.
If your business wants to improve network security, Succurri can help. To learn more, reach out to us at (206) 340-1616.
