The word “cyber” isn’t as intimidating as others claim. To keep it simple, here are the cybersecurity lessons that life taught us.
Quit passing the buck.
Cybersecurity is not just for the big players like IT professionals, governments, or banks. All of us are responsible for practicing cybersecurity. Almost everyone connects to the Internet. Hence, it is our duty to protect our society and family from the threats that the digital age brings.
Know your worth.
Cybercriminals commit data breaches because they want something from you – and it is not just the money. They also want sensitive information. Thus, your data is valuable so you must identify where it is. Moreover, you should know how to store it and who to trust with it. You and your data are worth way more than a free game offered on your favorite social media platform.
Know your audience.
Cybersecurity awareness training is crucial in data protection. If you are tasked to teach someone about its importance, whether it is an employee or a loved one, don’t focus on why it matters to you. Instead, you must explain why it should matter to them. Personalize the way you teach and help them understand the consequences of negligence in protecting data.
Moreover, inspire them by letting them know that awareness goes a long way in making a difference.
Tidy up after yourself.
One of the cybersecurity lessons is don’t assume that hackers won’t want your data just because you don’t need it anymore. Make sure you properly destroy any sensitive information sitting somewhere that you don’t need. Criminals can’t steal what’s not there.
Don’t blame the victim.
Cybersecurity lessons teach us that there is nothing good in victim shaming and making fun of those who clicked the wrong link or went to the wrong website. Victim shaming creates a culture of fear and humiliation that discourages open dialogue. Hence, this may result in victims not reporting suspected breaches due to embarrassment or fear of punishment, which will only make matters worse.
Keep in mind that anyone can be a victim of data breaches, even the most secure organizations. Even the CIA fell victim to data breaches.
Hope for the best, but prepare for the worst.
“Getting breached is no longer a question of if. It is a question of when.” That may sound cliché and a bit overdramatic. However, considering all the stories about cybersecurity breaches, it is absolutely not a bad idea to prepare for a cyberattack. In other words, prepare for a cybercrime if you want cybersecurity.
This means knowing how to properly detect a breach, how to respond to it, and how to recover from it.
It’s not about the destination; it’s about the journey.
Cybersecurity never stops. It is an ongoing journey we need to constantly strive to achieve. Hence, you must continuously evaluate risks within your organization using the NIST Cybersecurity Framework as a guide.
Keep it simple.
Before you worry about all the overly complicated and technical cybersecurity jargon out there, start by understanding what it means to have a secure mindset.
