According to a report by Small Business Trends, nearly 43 percent of cyberattacks target small businesses. While installing firewalls, antivirus programs and intrusion prevention systems is important to the security of your computer network, you also need to get your employees involved.
Typically, the viruses that infect a business computer network will be let in via an email attachment or other file downloads. This is why getting your team on board regarding network security is a must. Here are some of the things you can do to make network security more accessible for your employees.
Ongoing Training Is a Must
The password manager provider Keeper Security found that 14 percent of the businesses it polled were not sure about the effectiveness of their network security. Updating and optimizing the security measures you have in place is essential. Once the updates are made, you have to train your employees on how to use them.
The world of cybersecurity is steadily changing, which is why ongoing training for employees is vital. Providing your team with regular reminders of the importance of network security will help you keep hackers at bay.
Make Network Security Personal
Many people view network security as somewhat of an abstract concept. Simply letting employees abide by the “it will never happen to me” policy will lead to many problems. Using everyday scenarios to show how important cybersecurity is can be very effective. Most employers use a person’s experience with online shopping and their sensitive information to drive the point home.
Finding ways to connect with your employees on this type of personal level is a great way to get them on board with network security. Alerting your team to the fact that 60 percent of businesses close their doors following a serious cyberattack is also a good way to get their attention.
Keep the Line of Communication Open
Make yourself available to answer any questions employees may have about cybersecurity. If employees cannot find you to answer these questions, they are more likely to make serious mistakes that can put your network in jeopardy. Having an IT service on the payroll will allow you to get answers to questions you may not know.
Show Employees How to Handle Security Problems
Simply informing employees about the dangers of cyberattacks is not enough to protect the sensitive information on your network. You will also have to teach them how to handle security threats should they arise. Having a comprehensive plan in place can reduce the amount of damage a hack can do. Consulting with an IT professional can help you when developing this plan. With a detailed step-by-step plan, you will make dealing with a cyberattack much easier for your employees.
Simplify Network Security
If the programs you have in place to protect your computer network are too complicated, it may lead employees to avoid them completely. Before investing in security software, try it out to see how effective it is and how easy it is to use. Allowing your employees to get some one-on-one time with these new programs is also a good idea. They will be able to provide you with feedback on whether or not a particular program is a good investment.
If you are looking for ways to simplify your network security solutions, be sure to contact Monster Technology. The main goal of this company is to provide clients with secure network monitoring and proactive maintenance.