Develop a collaborative work culture focused on cybersecurity

Cybersecurity is becoming a major challenge for all organizations. From SMEs to large companies, management must anticipate the threats generated by hackers.

It is therefore becoming inevitable to deploy innovative solutions and to develop a collaborative work culture where security is fully integrated. This is the necessary condition to allow employees to working together effectively while ensuring data protection of customers as well as the company's strategic data.

Collaboration and cybersecurity: an essential alliance

A collaborative work culture refers to a work environment focused on teamwork. Employees exchange information on a regular basis in order to achieve common goals together. While collaborative working methods are very relevant, as they promote innovation and problem solving, they also raise the question of the level of data security.

That is the reason why corporate collaboration and cyber defense are linked in a logical and essential way. To maintain performance, your company must necessarily avoid information system failures.

Why is cybersecurity essential?

Computer security is everyone's business. In fact, nearly 90% of French people have already been victims of a cyber threat and 70% have already been exposed to phishing. Businesses, on the other hand, are 24% said they had experienced at least one cyber attack in 2022.

However, the risks that small businesses face are numerous and varied:

• Ransomware (top ranking): Hackers encrypt corporate data and then demand a ransom to return it to its rightful owner.
• Phishing: This method involves tricking an employee into disclosing sensitive information themselves.
• Malware (malicious software): Generally infecting computers by opening attachments, the malware can block applications or spy on employee activity.
• Social engineering: By carrying out an identity theft, the hacker will try to recover sensitive information.
• Data theft: Via ransomware, phishing or pharming, hackers steal the personal data of employees.
• Internal threats: Threats can also be internal to the company if employees, who are not very aware of cybersecurity, leave essential data on portable computer devices.

Let's add that 95% of a company's cybersecurity breaches are the result of human error. However, businesses and teams working on a collaborative project are not at the mercy of malicious individuals. By making the right decisions and infusing IT security issues throughout the company, it is possible to reduce the risks associated with cybercrime.

How to integrate cybersecurity into collaborative work?

To take concrete action to increase the security of company information systems and maintain teamwork, you can Activate three essential levers. It is about training, informed selection of the collaborative tool and the improvement of internal communication on security policy.

Computer security training and awareness

First of all, it is necessary to Make your employees aware of these issues. If they understand the challenges and master the best practices related to information technology, you reduce risks significantly.

Organize trainings or suggest that your employees follow The ANSSI MOOC (National Agency for Information System Security). With this computer security course accessible to all, your employees will learn, in particular, how to choose strong passwords and how to avoid risky behavior. Cybersecurity fact sheets of the CNIL (Commission Nationale de l'Informatique et des Libertés) also form a reliable source of information.

Choosing the right tools for managing collaborative work

To secure collaborative work in companies, it is obvious that the selection of the collaborative suite must get your undivided attention. The latter must meet the most stringent requirements. In particular, it must include the data encryption, multi-factor authentication and carry out regular audits.

The ideal is to opt for a tool that partially or fully meets the requirements of the SecNumCloud qualification.

Internal cybersecurity communication

Employee training should not be ad hoc. The latter must benefit from constant news on cybersecurity. This allows them to adopt best practices and be wary of new threats. In order to maintain the security of the systems, broadcast regular newsletters, organize information meetings and set up channels dedicated to security alerts.

What are the challenges you may encounter?

Finally, the main challenges in corporate security are the lack of training and the use of tools that do not have sufficient security standards. The great difficulty thus comes from the complexity of succeed in reconciling the fluidity of collaborative work and the security of the IS.

To overcome network, device, and database security challenges, we recommend following these tips:

• Train employees on an ongoing basis: Offer employees regular training sessions adapted to their skill level.
• Select your tools carefully: Choose digital solutions that secure data while offering significant ergonomics.
• Put security policies in place: Deploy clear and regularly updated collaborative security policies to combat new emerging threats.
• Strengthen safety culture: Management and management must lead by example to increase employee engagement in the fight against malicious attacks.
• Assess and manage risks: Through a process of continuous improvement, monitor performance indicators and continuously assess the level of data security. Risk analysis and attack detection must be fully integrated into business processes.

Although the preparation does not reduce the risk to 0, it does however allow you tosignificantly increase the performance of your defenses and the resilience of your IS.

Strengthen collaboration through cybersecurity

As we saw earlier, computer system security is not an impediment to performance. On the contrary, a collaborative work culture can only flourish, as the deployment of effective security practices and solutions can only flourish. will encourage trust within the company.

To meet the challenge of cyberattacks, it is good a global response that you must put in place. From the continuous training of employees to the choice of collaborative tools to the creation of a robust security policy, it is necessary to act on all levels. Your teams will then be able to increase their productivity by working together while maintaining the integrity of critical infrastructures and strategic data.

Cybermalice, Cybermonth 2023: in the face of the cyber threat, let's mobilize!, 2023

Cesin, Press release, 8th edition of the CESIN annual barometer, 2023

Forbes, Cybersecurity: The six main risks small businesses face, 2022

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