Empowered Employees, Reduced Risk: Inspiring Client Cybersecurity Accountability
On MAY 15 & 16 MSPs GATHERED FOR A CONFERENCE CALLED UNIVERSE. THIS ARTICLE IS BASED ON THE PRESENTATIONS AT THAT EVENT.
Let's face it, a CSO can't be everywhere at once.
Even if they could, the burden of cybersecurity can’t fall on one person and be successful. Cybersecurity is a team effort. In fact, according to IBM, human error plays a role in 95% of breaches.
This astonishing statistic highlights the need for all members of a team to be involved in security. But an effective CSO knows better than to dictate compliance. No one likes to be told what to do. Instead, it’s all about education. Security risks have real business impacts: financial loss, operational inefficiency, intellectual property theft, and reputational damage. The best way to begin education is a third-party assessment. Third-party assessments provide a full picture of the cyber landscape and allow a CSO to understand the present situation while planning for the future.
An effective CSO also understands that empowerment starts with leadership and spreads throughout an organization:
Leadership: Set the tone from the top! Leadership buy-in translates to resource allocation, proactive planning, and a culture of accountability. Address the potential impact of an attack and frame security as a business imperative.
Employees: Empower your workforce. Provide comprehensive training, foster open communication, and actively involve employees in security discussions. Recognize and reward security-conscious behavior to instill a sense of ownership.
Third-Party Vendors: They're part of the ecosystem too. Vet vendors with security in mind, prioritize open communication, and offer consistent training.
CSO’s can use the assessment findings to explain each identified risk and its business impact. Then they can assign ownership, due dates, and track progress through a project management tool. Here are four strategies CSOs can use to move forward from the assessment:
Develop a communication plan that keeps everyone informed, including quarterly executive briefings and bi-annual board updates.
Don't underestimate the power of middle management. If they're not on board, security initiatives can stall. Engage with them directly, explain the "why" behind security measures, and address their concerns.
Ensure users understand and acknowledge key policies like Acceptable Use, Bring Your Own Device (BYOD), and data security protocols.
Regular training empowers employees to identify and report suspicious activity.
By fostering client engagement, providing ongoing education, and validating team efforts, CSOs cultivate a culture of shared security responsibility, and this translates to a more secure client environment, trusted advisor status for you, and ultimately, increased client satisfaction.