How Not Having a Cybersecurity Policy Is Leaving You Vulnerable

Get everyone on the same page, for everyone’s sake.

To keep cyberattacks from infiltrating your business, stealing data, and shutting things down, it’s crucial to have a comprehensive, effective cybersecurity policy in place for every employee.

The policy should outline rules for anything IT-related within the company and give employees the resources they need to take care of any issues.

Everyone may have anti-malware software on their work computers. There may be spam filters already in place. But there can be many security holes still open and, unless everyone agrees, those holes can be exploited by cybercriminals seeking to steal data or wreak havoc on your networks.

That’s why it’s so essential to have a company-wide cybersecurity policy in place.

What goes into a cybersecurity policy?

The details can vary, but there are certain fundamentals every cybersecurity policy should include, such as email usage, passwords, and file sharing.

For example, some businesses have bring-your-own-device (BYOD) policies outlining the rules for using personal mobile devices for work purposes. They outline what security measures to follow, how to handle loss or theft of a device, and what access restrictions should be in place. When every employee knows and follows the same policy, the easier it is to handle issues when they arise, and the more secure your networks and data will be.

If you need a place to write up your cybersecurity policy, begin with these essential areas for setting rules and regulations:

• Passwords
• Web access (work and non-work related)
• Email (work and non-work related)
• Social media (work and non-work related)
• File sharing
• Group project software
• Shared scheduling software
• Remote access
• BYOD policies and use of personal computers for work

Policies should describe the various IT roles within the company and their relationship to one another. If support is needed, who do employees call? Should they call? Or should they send text or email? Does the company have internal or onsite IT support, or do they work through a contracted IT service support provider? What technical questions go to which people or departments?

Employees who know the answers to these questions or reference them quickly will waste less time resolving technical issues or finding answers to policy questions.

As for how such policies are presented to employees, they should be part of the onboarding or orienting process. A printed guide is practical, as would an internal website or number of employees could call.

Ideally, a business that emphasizes the importance of cybersecurity within the company should look into holding regularly scheduled training and seminars.

Getting down to specifics

As an example, password policies are a must for every business. Too many people fail to take proper password practices seriously and leave themselves — and their customer data — unexcusably vulnerable.

Those who set cybersecurity policies need to push the concept that the stronger the password policy is, the more effective it is. A written password policy could mention:

• Passwords must be 12 characters or longer when applicable.
• Passwords should use both upper and lowercase letters, at least one number, and at least one special character.
• Passwords must not be reused.
• All passwords must be changed every 90 days.
• Different passwords must be for each application.

These days, a lot of websites and apps that keep track or store passwords automatically enforce these rules. Unfortunately, the practice is not yet universal. It’s still up to you to set, define, and instruct your company’s employees on how to best create and maintain password security.

Password policies are merely one example. With each other facet of your cybersecurity policy, elements should be similarly broken down. An email policy should go into the specific do’s and don’ts, rules for file sharing need to be clearly outlined, etc.

Protecting your business

Writing out a comprehensive cybersecurity policy is an absolute must these days. Even if you already have one, it may be a good time to review and update it. With cyber threats becoming more common, the stakes can get pretty high for a business that leaves itself vulnerable to simple attacks.

The steps you take now to shield your business, employees, and clients from cyberattacks could strengthen not only your business’s reputation but also its bottom line. You’ll be less likely to fall victim to ransomware. You’ll suffer less downtime because of malicious software and viruses.

If you’re not sure how to best put together a workable and effective cybersecurity policy, look into working with outside IT experts ad consultants to craft a policy best suited for your business.

The sooner you have a cybersecurity policy in place and followed by all employees, the better for everyone.

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