5 Tips to Make Employees Part of Your Cybersecurity Solution

While security technologies such as DDoS protection services, anti-malware and intrusion systems are essential to a strong cyber defense, they can't guarantee the safety of your data and network without the support of your employees.

Employee mistakes contribute to many data breaches and cyber threats. Preventing these errors requires protocols to protect against risky behaviors combined with regular employee education and training. Here are five tips to make sure your employees are part of the cybersecurity solution, rather than problem.

1. Restrict employee access to only what is absolutely necessary. Employees cannot be expected to understand the ins-and-outs of the entire computer network. By limiting the scope of what employees can access, you also limit what they need to learn to keep their personal area safe and secure. An employee with no data access limits and a limited understanding about the workings of a network can do as much damage as a malicious attacker. IT departments should conduct periodic reviews to make sure that permissions have not been granted excessively.
2. Educate employees about potential exploits. Employees should know what to look for in terms of phishing attempts, malware, viruses and other forms of attack. They should also be able to identify "bad neighborhoods" on the Internet—areas with more suspicious links or attempts to collect private information. Regular newsletters, updates and other information on current security issues also improves employee awareness on trending security topics.
3. Make sure employees know the importance of proper password hygiene. Passwords should be changed regularly and be suitably complex and unique. Make sure employees understand the why behind the what they should do. This helps employees internalize the importance of cybersecurity. Measures such as password maintenance can also be enforced directly by requiring regular password changes.
4. Encourage an understanding of technology, including backup solutions and virus scanners. Employees don't need to understand the network itself, but they should understand what the tools they regularly encounter do and how. Employees who do not understand backup solutions may not alert the IT team when they fail. Likewise, employees who do not understand virus scanners or firewalls may not be alarmed when a virus or malware is detected.
5. Create a culture of security. Regular security meetings are useful for educating staff members on new issues. When new issues arise, the entire company should be involved, even if only on an informational basis. The cybersecurity landscape changes quickly, and continuing education is essential—even for those who are not directly involved in the IT administration of the organization.

Training employees on the importance of cybersecurity can vastly reduce a company's risk of cyber threat. The best cyber defense combines technology, policies and a well-educated staff. An independent network security provider can help organizations identify areas of vulnerability and support the implementation of policies and technology to address these issues.

DynTek Services, Inc. offers affordable, secured end-to-end IT solutions and managed IT services.  To accomplish this, DynTek works with best in class technologies to build and implement network security solutions that meet the unique needs of each organization.