In today’s digital work, cybersecurity is the topmost concern for organisations. After investing considerable resources, businesses must still contend with cyberattacks. Too often, these cyberattacks affect business continuity. With operations at a standstill, businesses suffer substantial losses. While the monetary losses are recoverable, the loss of critical information, such as trade secrets or customer data, can drive a business to the ground.

So, the question arises as to what businesses can do to thwart cyberattacks.

What businesses must realise is their employees are their first line of defence. Therefore, having stronger cybersecurity teams can help prevent cyberattacks. While they cannot guarantee 100 per cent protection, they can reduce the impact of a cyberattack. More importantly, they can get the business up and running quickly. How can organisations build stronger cybersecurity teams? As a leading cybersecurity service provider in UAE and globally, Agile Managex Technologies has valuable insights to share.

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Building Stronger Cybersecurity Teams

Here are the tips you should follow:

1. Keep Security on the Agenda

The only way to build a security-oriented culture within your organisation is by always having it on the agenda. Regardless of the meeting or event, do not forget to discuss cybersecurity. It will highlight the importance your organisation places on security. Secondly, have your cybersecurity team at the forefront of meetings or organisational gatherings.

Do not confine them to the back offices where no one can see or interact with them. When your cybersecurity team is valued, it aids in retaining the top talent. It ensures your team has the experts it requires to excel and protect your organisation. While it may not seem significant, such small moves have a much more substantial impact than one can imagine on improving cybersecurity.

2. Take Help From All Employees

Most organisations have a problem which they don’t realise. They tend to rely on their most experienced employees for everything. While an experienced cybersecurity professional does have the required knowledge, their expertise would be limited to a handful of areas. Therefore, it is time to focus on team members who may not be highly experienced. These employees may have transitioned to cybersecurity from different fields.

What matters is their different approach to cybersecurity than others. Too often, unconventional thinking can prove to be a game changer. After providing them with the necessary training, assign them roles with greater responsibility. When they see themselves being valued and in positions where they can have a visible impact, they will likely reward you with extra effort.

3. Train Employees

All employees must undergo mandatory cybersecurity training every 12 months. It ensures they are equipped with the latest knowledge and skills. Of course, the training must vary and be proportional to the job role. There is no point in offering advanced cybersecurity training to an employee who does not have access to critical information. Nevertheless, the basic training must cover the fundamentals such as mobile security, password protection, emails, websites, and social media networks. After the training, the employees must be assessed through self-assessments or other methods.

4. Invest in Career Development

Reliable cybersecurity professionals are hard to come by in every country. Therefore, rather than focus on hiring, pay attention to retaining your top talent. Provide them with a robust career development plan that aligns with your organisation’s objectives and professional growth. Cybersecurity is an evolving field. Therefore, investing in their career and ensuring they are up to date with the latest trends will guarantee protection.

5. Communicate the Cybersecurity Team’s Value

In most organisations, the cybersecurity team is the most hated. Why? They are always asking people to follow good practices. In some organisations, cybersecurity teams report poor practices to the relevant department, which can result in action against the concerned employee(s). Therefore, there should be a focus on communicating the value of the cybersecurity team to the organisation. It can be achieved by rewarding and recognising their achievements.

6. Run Simulations

Don’t wait for a cyberattack to happen to implement your planned response or assess your cybersecurity team’s effectiveness. Instead, run regular simulations covering different types of attacks. The best way to achieve this is by gamifying the simulation. It makes the entire simulation exercise more fun. These simulations ensure the team is up to date and ready for any potential disruption.

7. Develop and Maintain a Cybersecurity Policy

Lastly, develop and maintain a cybersecurity policy. Our experience shows four out of 10 organisations do not have a cybersecurity policy. Two of the remaining six have a policy, but it hasn’t been updated in years. A cybersecurity policy covers best practices related to handling devices, password controls, access controls, and what to do in case of a breach. Share this policy with every employee.

Conclusion

It is about time organisations start taking cybersecurity seriously. A breach can result in fines, reputational damage, and business disruption. Contact us if you require any help with cybersecurity. We provide experienced remote and on-site teams for your organisation’s IT infrastructure.

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