cyber security

opaque entities that they don’t understand, such as an isolated security team. To be properly joined up with the wider business, the cyber security team needs to be accessible to those who use its services. This helps increase trust and transparency – which is particularly important in the event of a cyber-attack.

As cyber security is everyone’s responsibility, people must be empowered with the tools to act on that responsibility. To begin the process of becoming a cyberresponsible organisation, an enterprise must create a culture where security is second nature.

Employees are a target for cyber criminals looking for easy access into an organisation. Effective and actionable responsibility requires increased employee training and the rollout of a cyber security policy. This will place everyone on the same page when it comes to best practices, so there’s as many eyes as possible on alert for potential threats.

A security breach or loss of data can break trust, lose customers and be devastating for SMEs. The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) has dedicated information available for small businesses providing practical technical advice which can significantly reduce the chances of a business becoming a victim of cybercrime. Having adequate cyber security measures in place means customers feel assured that their information is protected and the business has their best interest at heart. Gaining a Cyber Essentials accreditation can demonstrate this to clients and is a clear indicator that your business is taking cyber security seriously. Cyber Essentials is an effective, governmentbacked scheme that helps organisations, whatever their size, guard against a range of the most common cyber-attacks.

Digitalisation has enabled businesses to be more agile than ever. However, living and working in a technologicallyadvanced world also increases our level of vulnerability. In today’s cyber landscape, the threats posed to SMEs and large corporations alike, are constantly evolving which is why the cyber security industry cannot afford to stand still and instead must keep growing and gaining in strength and depth of skill and experience.

At the heart of this growth is people. Investing in people, skills and education will enable businesses to better protect themselves on every level whilst nurturing an open and inclusive cyber culture.