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5 tips for building a cybersecurity culture at your company

By Jerald Murphy

Establishing a cybersecurity culture in an organization is crucial to protect against the ever-changing threat landscape. As cybersecurity challenges continue to evolve, so must the strategies organizations employ to combat them.

By investing in actions to develop a corporate culture that supports cybersecurity efforts, organizations can better protect data, systems and networks against cyberthreats and ensure business resilience in the face of potential adversity.

Why is a strong cybersecurity culture important?

A deep-rooted cybersecurity culture is indispensable for any organization navigating today's digital threats. The advent of sophisticated cyberattacks mandates a well-informed and proactive stance, starting with the eradication of ignorance around cybersecurity risks. Employees must recognize the repercussions of their online behaviors, such as the dangers of phishing attacks or the consequences of weak passwords, to help fortify the company's digital defenses.

Furthermore, employees should be engaged with hands-on simulations and scenario-based learning, which are augmented by AI for personalized learning journeys. By promoting cross-departmental collaboration, every facet of the organization becomes an integral part of the cybersecurity strategy, ensuring a holistic defense mechanism is in place.

Common challenges in building a cybersecurity culture

While most companies today agree on the importance of effective cybersecurity, building security awareness and competency companywide comes with its own set of challenges. These include the following:

• Lack of awareness and understanding. One of the primary hurdles in establishing a comprehensive cybersecurity culture is the general lack of awareness and understanding of cybersecurity risks among employees. Many individuals might not be aware of how their actions can impact the organization's security posture. This includes seemingly innocuous behaviors, like clicking on phishing links, using weak passwords or sharing sensitive information without proper precautions. The increasing complexity and technical nature of cybersecurity can also make it difficult for employees outside the IT department to grasp its importance, leading to a disconnect between security teams and the rest of the organization.
• Increased use of AI in the cybersecurity process. While AI and machine learning offer significant advantages in detecting and responding to cyberthreats more efficiently, their integration into cybersecurity practices also presents challenges. These include the need for skilled personnel who understand both cybersecurity and AI, the risk of false positives in threat detection and potential vulnerabilities in AI systems that could be exploited by attackers. Moreover, relying too heavily on AI can lead to complacency, where organizations might neglect other essential aspects of cybersecurity that help reinforce its importance, such as employee training and physical security measures.
• Creating a culture of security across the organization. Developing a cybersecurity culture that permeates all levels of an organization is perhaps the most significant challenge. Cybersecurity is often seen as the sole responsibility of the IT department rather than a shared organizational value. This can result in a lack of engagement and commitment to security practices among employees in nontechnical roles. Additionally, resistance to change, budget constraints and competing priorities can hinder efforts to make cybersecurity a part of the organizational culture.

How to create a cybersecurity culture: 5 best practices

To overcome these challenges, leadership buy-in and support are essential. C-level executives and managers must lead by example, demonstrating a commitment to cybersecurity in their actions and decisions. Here are five steps they can take in conjunction with the security and IT teams to build an effective cybersecurity culture in an organization.

1. Promote a culture of responsibility and accountability

Creating a cybersecurity culture means fostering an environment where every employee feels responsible for the organization's digital safety. This involves clearly communicating the role that each individual plays in maintaining cybersecurity and establishing clear guidelines and protocols for reporting potential security incidents.

Encouraging a culture of accountability, where employees understand the consequences of cybersecurity lapses and are motivated to adhere to security best practices, is crucial. This also includes recognizing and rewarding proactive cybersecurity behaviors, which can reinforce the importance of vigilance and responsibility across the organization.

2. Create a culture of continuous learning through advanced security training

Given the dynamic nature of cyberthreats, building a cybersecurity culture necessitates an emphasis on continuous learning and adaptation. Advanced security training programs, tailored to the unique needs of different roles within an organization, are crucial. These programs should go beyond basic awareness to include hands-on simulations, role-playing exercises and scenario-based training that mimic real-world attacks.

Making security training engaging and rewarding encourages a growth mindset among employees, fostering a proactive stance toward cybersecurity. Such training can be augmented with AI and machine learning tools to provide personalized learning experiences, ensuring that all employees, regardless of their role, understand their part in safeguarding the organization.

3. Take advantage of AI to enhance threat detection and response capabilities

Despite the challenges listed above, AI can significantly transform how organizations approach cybersecurity. Its ability to analyze vast amounts of data at unprecedented speeds enables the identification of threats and anomalies that are impossible for humans to detect in a timely manner. Incorporating AI into cybersecurity strategies lets organizations become more adaptive and responsive to emerging threats.

AI-driven tools can also automate routine tasks, freeing up cybersecurity professionals to focus on more complex security issues. Managed effectively, this efficiency not only enhances an organization's defensive capabilities, but integrates seamlessly into a culture of continuous improvement and innovation in cybersecurity practices.

A word of caution: While AI advances are happening very quickly, we would suggest focusing more on detection and filtering versus automatic actions such as server, network or power shutdown. Today, AI is still best suited to eliminating the hay from the haystack versus finding the needle. Also, trained adults are still needed to supervise and interpret AI results.

4. Encourage cross-departmental collaboration

Cybersecurity is a cross-functional concern that affects every aspect of an organization. Encouraging collaboration between departments can lead to a more holistic understanding of cybersecurity risks and a more cohesive defense strategy. Regular meetings and workshops that bring together IT, security, business operations and executive leadership can facilitate the sharing of insights and best practices. This collaborative approach ensures that cybersecurity considerations are integrated into all business decisions, from product development to marketing strategies.

5. Integrate security and network operations centers for a unified security posture

A security operations center (SOC) acts as the nerve center for cybersecurity operations, providing continuous monitoring and analysis of an organization's security posture. SOCs better enable organizations to detect, analyze and respond to security threats in real time. This proactive stance is essential in today's fast-paced digital world where threats evolve rapidly.

While a SOC focuses on identifying, assessing and responding to security incidents, a network operations center (NOC) manages networks and ensures the availability of IT infrastructure. Integrating SOCs and NOCs represents a strategic move toward a more cohesive security posture. Combining their functions can lead to improved communication, faster response and better understanding of enterprise security. This integrated approach ensures both security and network performance are optimized, fostering a cybersecurity culture that can rapidly adapt to new challenges.

Integrating an organization's SOC and NOC can be a complex process. They have historically distinct roles, and challenges often arise due to differences in tools, processes and objectives. But doing so is essential for creating a unified defense against cyberthreats.

Jerald Murphy is senior vice president of research and consulting with Nemertes Research. With more than three decades of technology experience, Murphy has worked on a range of technology topics, including neural networking research, integrated circuit design, computer programming and global data center design. He was also the CEO of a managed services company.