How can you promote cybersecurity awareness among colleagues, clients, and stakeholders?

Understanding the risk an organization has is only part of the solution. The risk needs context and it needs to be relatable to the members of the organization. Cybersecurity risk = Business Risk. When training and awareness are able to show how cybersecurity issues aren't just an IT issue, but a business issue in how they can impact the very business functions individuals are responsible for, it helps non-technical and non-IT folks relate better. Help others understand how they can be part of the solution in their daily actions. It's a culture...an attitude...and because of that it will take time and consistency!

To boost cybersecurity awareness, use a comprehensive approach: offer regular workshops and engaging content on topics like phishing and password security, conducting simulated phishing exercises continues to be effective. Keep everyone updated on the latest threats (even if they don't pay attention), maintaining and communicating clear cybersecurity policies with leadership support, emphasizing secure tech practices and celebrating successes (prizes, anyone?) can sometimes go a long way. Most importantly, remember it's an ongoing effort that requires consistent communication and actual dedication to digital cyber safety.

Promoting cybersecurity awareness among colleagues, clients, and stakeholders is crucial for protecting sensitive information and maintaining trust in your organization's digital operations. Here are effective strategies to foster cybersecurity awareness: Offer Regular Training and Workshops, Use Real-Life Scenarios, Provide Regular Updates, Implement Strong Password Policies, Enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA), Offer Cybersecurity Resources, Establish Reporting Channels, Regularly Test Security Measures, Involve Leadership, Stay Compliant, Continuous Learning, Feedback and Improvement, Engage External Experts. All these can create a culture of cybersecurity vigilance and help protect your organization's digital assets and reputation.

Policies will not be deploy forcefully, we have to educate teams, end-user and give them live training sessions on various cybersecurity topics..there are multiple online exams to give them better ideas how we can secure from any attack or cyber threat.

Often it’s the lack of understanding that poses the greatest risk which can be addressed simply by having a conversation with professionals in this field. These discussions lead to establishing a baseline of the current security posture and is a great place to determine which gaps need to be filled immediately and what can be done to mitigate cyber threats for an organization.

Policies shouldn’t be tomes of interconnected knowledge written for the security team that require a diagram board to find an answer. They’re written for the business therefore should be understandable and shouldn’t prescribe technical solutions. ISACA, and many other groups, also recommend a maximum number of policies, ideally 22 or less. A policy doesn’t need to be approved by all stakeholders either as long as it’s understood and approved by a majority and the executive/board and security committee.

Avoid using cybersecurity jargon when writing the policy. I have seen my fair share of policies that make use of terms such as "controls" or "systems" assuming that everyone shares a common understanding of what that entails.

One must ensure that cybersecurity awareness is not a chore but rather a standard. Holding occasional workshops and regular communication is important to having an understanding of cybersecurity as a standard procedure in the workplace. You should also try to use relatable language, be concise and avoid jargon. The goal is to have everyone be informed and aware of best practices.

When explaining cybersecurity concepts, use relatable examples that everyone can understand. By comparing online actions to real-life situations, like locking doors or protecting personal belongings. For instance, just as you wouldn't share personal information with a stranger, you shouldn't do so online. Relatable comparisons help make it easier for people to grasp and remember.

The first challenge in this topic is to promote engagement in campaigns, the security leader needs to think about initiatives that attract attention. I think the playful approach that promotes competitions with rewards is a good strategy. Training must be through cycles, where the security leader needs to monitor the indicators and results of the campaigns at all times. The results of the campaigns will help direct the next initiatives, as they will highlight the main difficulties faced by the participants.

There’s a vast amount of training material available now. I have found one of the most effective to be short video clips, often in a mini-series style, with each video covering a different topic. They’re short, sweet, to the point and don’t require much/any reading. Providing this training in a “little and often” format keeps it fresh in people’s minds and makes it more likely to be remembered.

By consistently hosting cybersecurity workshops and training sessions for your teams, you will significantly enhance their awareness. Nowadays a plethora of training options are accessible, including short video modules that simulate various cyber threats such as cyberattacks and unauthorized access attempts. These modules often incorporate interactive elements like quizzes and assessments to reinforce learning and ensure that knowledge is effectively retained.

Gamification can go a long way in making concepts and training stick. The idea of winning recognition or actual prices is deeply ingrained into our consciousness. Thus, giving away points on a leaderboard can motivate employees and customers beyond any other type of training. Reporting spam, utilizing two-factor authentication, and locking the screen are all actions a computer can detect easily. So, you'll be able to give away virtual points for it without much effort.

Don't underestimate language barriers! Aim to have as much as possible of your trainings and resources available in each of the major languages spoken at the company, even if the official company language is English. If you have a Security Champions community for example, consider having different chapters of it for different languages or countries.

Promoting cybersecurity awareness isn’t just about issuing guidelines; it’s about leading by example. Your actions set the tone for colleagues, clients, and stakeholders. Whether it’s diligently following your own cybersecurity policies or keeping your skills updated, your behavior influences how seriously others take cybersecurity. This enhances your credibility as an IT professional and builds trust. The key is to embed cybersecurity into your organization’s culture. From training to policy adherence to resource allocation, let your own commitment shine as a benchmark. Invite feedback and stay updated to be an effective role model. Your leadership in this area can create a security-first culture that safeguards everyone involved.

Promoting cybersecurity awareness goes beyond policy memos; it’s about lived experiences. Take Jane, a colleague who clicked a phishing email, only to find herself locked out of her account. When she shared her mishap during a team meeting, it was a wake-up call for everyone. Why? Because it made the risks relatable. This incident spurred a company-wide cybersecurity refresher. But more importantly, it emphasized the need for all of us to lead by example. Now, we have regular “Security Moments” in meetings to share tips or discuss vulnerabilities. It’s about creating a culture where everyone feels responsible for cybersecurity. Use every opportunity to lead by example, making cybersecurity more than just a policy—it’s a habit.

In an era of rapid technological evolution, cybersecurity faces increasingly complex challenges. It is crucial to prioritize continuous training and awareness among your teams, ensuring everyone understands the risks associated with cybersecurity.

In today’s increasingly connected tech world, many organizations shouldn’t deal with cybersecurity issues alone. Especially as technology complexity grows each day. Thankfully there are cyber security professionals that can not only work to harden an environment but have proactive solutions working on your behalf. If you don’t specialize in this field, set some time aside ASAP to figure out who to partner with. We’ve see recently that billion dollar hotel operators in Las Vegas can be brought down due to bad actors exploiting weakness in their processes. Your customers are trusting AND counting on you to keep their data safe. Make this a priority today.

Cybersecurity is not an easy subject to assimilate by non-technological users. Using Risk Assessment as a means to facilitate understanding is an acceptable strategy. However, in an organization it is important for the IT team to speak the language of the business. So it is important that the evaluated risk considers the impact in quantitative terms (financial, reputational, operational or legal) to place the risk in real terms and also understandable for the business management. A businessman needs to understand how much of his business is threatened to make the appropriate assessment of Cybersecurity risks and consequently support and promote the adoption of a culture sensitive to technological risks in general in his organization.