Cyberattacks are one of the biggest worries keeping CEOs awake at night. A recent PricewaterhouseCoopers survey found that US executives now see cyberattacks as the biggest threat to their business. 40% said it was their top concern. And when it comes to the causes of cyber incidents, human error tops the list: according to a 2022 report by Verizon, an estimated 82% of data breaches can be attributed to this. This means that employee training and awareness of the many ways in which hackers can infiltrate a company's IT systems must be a top priority.
Easier said than done? Not quite. Defending against cybercrime is all about talking clearly and consistently with employees about potential threats - in other words, effective internal communication. There are many ways in which internal communication can be used to better protect a company from cyberattacks.
Discover the top five tips from our experts at ahead:
1. communicate your cyber-attack response strategy
Employees need to know exactly what to do in the event of a cyberattack: what procedures to follow, what actions to prioritize, how to handle time-sensitive information, who to contact, and so on. This is especially true for employees who work remotely, as they may not have technical support available to answer questions. You should therefore have a cyber-attack response strategy in place that sets out the key steps that employees at all levels need to take. Internal communication can be an effective tool to disseminate such a strategy within your company. In addition, internal communication platforms can serve as a focal point for updates and information and ensure that everyone knows what to do.
2. integrate cybersecurity into your company culture
Many organizations view cybersecurity as a list of do's and don'ts: Encrypt sensitive files; don't open email attachments from unknown senders. However, this type of regulation is not conducive to motivating employees to look for new ways for hackers to disguise their attacks. Instead, cyber security needs to become part of a broader corporate culture. One way to achieve this is to embed the topic of cybersecurity in the minds of employees, e.g. through increased internal communication. As well as sending out tips and examples, you can use internal communication platforms to make the content more engaging with storytelling, quizzes and recognition for employees who have taken the initiative to protect data.
3. tailor your message to different groups within your organization
A key benefit of internal communication platforms like ahead is that you can target your message to specific groups of employees, such as those in a particular department, regional office or production site. These different groups are exposed to different types of cybersecurity threats. For example, employees at head office are not at the same risk from IT systems as employees who collect potentially sensitive data in the field. With effective internal communication, you can tailor your cybersecurity notices and instructions to be relevant, engaging and meaningful to each type of user.
4. train your employees on the latest cybersecurity threats
Hackers are constantly developing new tricks and increasingly sophisticated methods to gain access to information. While it's important to include cybersecurity in new employee training, don't stop there. Employees need to be constantly updated on the latest threats they need to be wary of. You can do this type of ongoing training efficiently using internal communication tools. Many platforms offer features that allow you to share best practices, conduct phishing test campaigns and show how new technologies can be used safely.
5. make it tangible
Another benefit of internal communication platforms - especially when it comes to disseminating information about cybersecurity - is that they are designed to give the feel of a 'social network'. Employees can publish and comment on posts, share videos, conduct short surveys and much more. Such features can be used to promote cybersecurity in an organic way, and in a way that is directly relevant to employees' day-to-day work. Colleagues can post tips about a new piece of software, share an article about high-profile data breaches or remind team members that certain files should not be sent to external consultants. Social network-like environments also create a "safe space" where employees can ask questions and share their concerns, and where managers can gather ideas from the employees who use the business applications on a daily basis.
