decrypting myths
Employee awareness may be the single most important investment organisations make as they mature their cybersecurity posture in 2021 .
• Secure connections : Secure SD- WAN builds security directly into the connection with firewalls and VPN functions , but they can also include additional features such as encryption , IPS , AV and sandboxing .
• Centralise orchestration : With an SD-WAN solution on their side , security teams can consolidate
Alain Sanchez , EMEA CISO and Senior Evangelist at Fortinet
essential functions into a single location to save time and respond more rapidly to business demands .
The hybrid workforce relies on cloud resources that , in turn , depend on connectivity . As part of maturing their cybersecurity posture , organisations must think about going beyond traditional network controls . This involves thinking about their networks as the ‘ new ’ office where employees collaborate , no matter where they are physically located . An SD-WAN solution helps apply the same types of security to these virtual offices as what security guards do for physical office locations .
Create a culture of security by training your employees to be constantly vigilant
Employees are an organisation ’ s most significant security asset . With the right training , these individuals can more effectively spot social engineering attacks , thereby reducing the likelihood of a ransomware attack .
Creating a culture of security starts with awareness and builds on the knowledge of end-users so they can apply the information to new situations . A practical solution meets employees where they are in their security journey , then reinforces their skills .
• Know the basics : All employees must understand key attack vectors so that they can recognise them in the real world .
• Communicate effectively : Organisations must continuously communicate with their employees and keep them updated so that security remains top of mind .
• Measure progress : Organisations must track employee progress as part of creating a culture of security .
Creating a culture of security is a commitment , however , cybercriminals won ’ t stop looking to exploit human nature after the pandemic . Employee awareness may be the single most important investment organisations make as they mature their cybersecurity posture in 2021 . While companies can ’ t always control what their employees do , they can give them the tools they need to make secure decisions .
Facing new challenges head-on
Companies that embrace change are the ones most likely to remain financially stable . Creating a culture of security and establishing a new , updated cybersecurity strategy is critical for organisations with hybrid workforce models . This means implementing the tools needed to help advance business and security objectives , from Multi- Factor Authentication to SD-WAN . In turn , these solutions will also enable businesses to be more productive .
The workforce will likely never look the same as it did before COVID-19 , but by building cybersecurity into their business goals , organisations can better keep pace with the ever-changing ‘ new normal ’. u www . intelligentciso . com
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