Getting your team to report cybersecurity issues quickly is something that’s critical for your business’ operational resilience… but maybe something that might not have crossed your mind before.
While you may have invested in numerous cybersecurity tech tools, it’s important to remember that your employees are not just a part of your defense, they are the first and last line of it. Their ability to spot and report a security breach is irreplaceable.
Imagine this: One of your employees receives a fishy-looking email that appears to be from a trusted supplier. It’s a classic phishing attempt (that’s where a cybercriminal sends an email and pretends to be someone else to steal your data).
If the employee brushes it off or thinks someone else will handle it, that seemingly harmless email could snowball into a massive data breach, potentially costing your company a significant amount of money and reputation damage.
The truth is that only 11% of employees report phishing attacks or other suspicious activity to their security team, which is shockingly low.
Why?
Well:
- they might not realize how important it is,
- they’re scared of getting into trouble if they’re wrong or
- they think it’s someone else’s job.
One of the biggest reasons employees don’t report security incidents is that they just don’t get it. They might not know what a security threat looks like or why reporting it is crucial. This is where education comes in, but not the boring, jargon-filled kind.
Think of security awareness training as an engaging and interactive experience. Use real-life examples and scenarios to show how a minor issue can snowball into a major security threat if not reported.
Simulate phishing attacks to demonstrate the potential fallout. Make it clear that everyone has a vital role in keeping the company safe. Employees who understand their actions can prevent a disaster will be more motivated to report a cyber incident.
Make sure everyone knows how to report an issue. Regular reminders and clear instructions can go a long way. And when someone does report something, give them immediate feedback. A simple thank you or acknowledgment can reinforce their behavior and show them that their efforts matter.
Also, ensure your reporting process is as simple as possible. A complicated reporting process can stop an employee in their tracks. Think easy-access buttons or quick links on your company’s intranet.
It’s all about building a security culture where reporting issues is seen as a positive action. If employees feel they’ll be judged or punished, they’ll keep quiet.
Leaders in your company need to set the tone by being open about their own experiences with reporting issues. When you, as the owner or manager, regularly and openly talk about cybersecurity, it encourages everyone else to do the same.
Consider appointing security champions within different departments. These are your go-to people for their peers, offering support and making the reporting process less intimidating. Make cyber security a regular topic of conversation so it stays fresh in everyone’s minds.
Also, celebrate the learning opportunities that come from reported incidents. Share success stories where reporting helped avoid a disaster. This will educate and motivate your team to keep their eyes open and speak up.
The faster issues are reported, the easier and cheaper they are to fix, keeping your business secure and thriving. By making it easy and rewarding for your employees to report security issues, you’re protecting your business and building a more engaged and proactive workforce.
At Meeting Tree Computer, we regularly help businesses with this. We offer engaging cyber security training and can help protect your business from the fallout of cyber threats by implementing proper security controls that prevent phishing attacks from landing in your inbox in the first place. If you want to lower your cyber risk and upgrade your data security, contact us at 845-237-2117. We have helped SMBs in Orange County, NY, and surrounding counties since 1999. If we can help you too, get in touch.
