What is Cybersecurity Culture and How Do You Implement It in Your Organization?

Hello, IT Profs and Enthusiasts!

Megan, here…tackling hot topics in the world of IT; especially the ones that tend to leave us with more questions than answers.

Today’s buzzterm = “Cybersecurity Culture.”

With major increases in 2024 cybersecurity breaches, there’s no irony why this broad and ambiguous term is gaining in popularity. (Here’s some foreshadowing for you: it’s because it requires more than just tools to fight today’s cybercriminals.)

What is “Cybersecurity Culture”?

By definition, cybersecurity culture is the collective practices, attitudes, and behaviors of employees and stakeholders towards protecting information assets within an organization.

But what does promoting a “cybersecurity culture” within your organization actually mean?

Simply put, it starts with an approach that highlights:

  • Creating a non-threatening and open-door environment where employees have access to education and designated cybersecurity contacts within the organization.
  • The importance of education and training to increase vigilance and awareness of potential threats to your organization’s informational assets.
  • Recognition/awareness of how breaches and potential threats occur.
  • Identification and promotion of cybersecurity protocols by everyone in the organization from entry-level employees – to executives/leadership.
  • Commitment to the evolution of your organization’s cybersecurity education program. This means, your employee training and communication protocols grow with your IT’s infrastructure, as well as when cybercriminals create new threats.

A well-established cybersecurity culture ensures that all employees adopt a cybersafe mentality and understand their role in protecting the organization’s digital assets.

Why building a cybersecurity culture is so important.

Time and time again, MIS is called in a “disaster recovery” situation; when an organization has already been affected by a security breach and has potentially lost critical data. Unfortunately, many of these organizations believe that by having these common software/tools/ resources in place, they are 100% protected from data breaches. While these “solutions” do tend to help – they aren’t infallible and still leave vulnerabilities out there, ripe for the taking.

Fostering a cybersecurity culture builds your employees into a powerful second-line defense against these “holes” in current cybersecurity protocols.

Benefits for Employees and Stakeholders

A robust cybersecurity culture benefits both employees and stakeholders in several ways. For employees, it creates a sense of security and confidence in using technology, knowing that their organization prioritizes their protection and data privacy. In turn, this reduces anxiety and fear associated with potential cyber threats.

For stakeholders, a strong cybersecurity culture builds trust and credibility. It reassures clients, partners, and investors that the organization is committed to safeguarding sensitive information and maintaining the integrity of its operations. This trust can lead to stronger business relationships and a competitive edge in the market.

Summing it up.

A well-established cybersecurity culture ensures that all employees understand their role in protecting digital assets and pushes the needle from “reactive” to “proactive” cybersecurity efforts within your organization. It makes cybersecurity a shared responsibility, therefore, reducing your vulnerability to attacks.

If you’re concerned about cyberthreats, click here for:

More information on MIS’s state-of-the-art cybersecurity solutions
Doan’s 2, (Bare Minimum) Cybersecurity Must-Haves for 2025

Until next time,
Megan

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