Creating a cybersecurity-focused culture in your business: 5 methods to achieve it
In today's digital age, safeguarding critical data has never been more crucial for organizations. This article aims to help businesses protect their valuable information by fostering a culture of security awareness from within.
One key player in this mission is the International Supply Chain (ISN), a platform that establishes a baseline of cybersecurity due diligence and increases the level of review as suppliers become higher risk. As a supplier's risk level increases, ISN can verify internal cybersecurity policies through Document Collection and assess a supplier's internal security posture with Cyber Plus.
Common first steps in ISN's process include collecting Cyber Questionnaire responses, requiring Cyber Liability Insurance, and reviewing a supplier's Cyber Risk Rating. This continuous analysis of internal and external data, combined with education and partnership with a risk management platform, forms the basis of effective cybersecurity risk mitigation.
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) are also providers of free and publicly available resources for organizations to improve their cybersecurity posture. These resources can be invaluable in helping businesses navigate the complex landscape of cybersecurity.
Instilling a security culture within an organization is a continuous, organization-wide commitment. Effective strategies focus on leadership engagement, regular communication, creating safe reporting channels, appointing security champions, balancing security with usability, measuring culture through meaningful metrics, recognition and celebration of security efforts, and the use of frameworks and toolkits.
Leadership engagement is essential. Senior leaders must visibly support cybersecurity efforts, treat them as a strategic priority, and model secure behaviors. Regular communication and education are also key, with ongoing security communication touchpoints, phishing simulations, and vulnerability testing helping to maintain vigilance and measure real behavioral change.
Creating safe reporting channels encourages employees to report security concerns without fear of blame. Incident response procedures should focus on learning rather than punishment, sharing lessons broadly to convert individual errors into collective knowledge. Security champions, appointed employees within departments, promote security awareness and foster a security-first mindset at all organizational levels.
Balancing security with usability is crucial to avoid workarounds. Design workflows that guide employees towards secure behaviors while minimizing friction. Measuring culture through meaningful metrics, such as phishing click rates, password manager adoption, and time to patch vulnerabilities, helps track progress and assess genuine cultural adoption.
Recognition and celebration of security efforts reinforce that cybersecurity contributes substantially to organizational goals. Use of frameworks and toolkits, like ICAO’s Security Culture Toolkit, can guide the development, implementation, and assessment of security awareness and behavior campaigns.
Security culture refers to a group of security-related values, attitudes, assumptions, and norms that can be seen in the actions and behaviors of all personnel within an organization. A strong security culture should impact the products and services that an organization delivers.
Unfortunately, the spookiest aspect of October for technology teams is cybersecurity risk. Over the last 13 years, the United States has had the highest average data breach costs, with this year's cost being $9.48 million. Companies are often left with limited resources to mitigate cybersecurity risk in their supply chain due to the increasing frequency and cost of data breaches.
Interested organizations can learn more about ISN's supplier management system to help them reach their cybersecurity goals by contacting ISN. By cultivating a culture of security awareness, organizations can protect their critical data and thrive in the digital age.
- Incorporating cybersecurity risk management practices, such as collecting Cyber Questionnaire responses, requiring Cyber Liability Insurance, and reviewing a supplier's Cyber Risk Rating, forms the basis of effective cybersecurity risk mitigation for organizations.
- To protect critical data from malware and data breaches, businesses can benefit from free resources provided by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA).
- A strong security culture within an organization can not only reduce the risks posed by cyber threats but also shape the products and services the organization delivers, making cybersecurity an essential component of business success in the digital age.
