Tag: #cybersecurity

How IT Talents Propel Innovation and Growth in Modern Businesses

In today’s fast-paced and technology-driven landscape, skilled IT professionals are the driving force behind companies’ success, transforming traditional approaches and revolutionizing industries. From crafting cutting-edge solutions to leveraging emerging technologies, these talented individuals are at the forefront of shaping business strategies, enhancing productivity, and fueling the relentless pursuit of advancement. Join us as we explore the invaluable impact of IT talents and how they are propelling innovation to unprecedented heights in the corporate world.

Adopt Strategic Technology

Pioneering the Path to Innovation and Growth In the ever-evolving landscape of modern businesses, strategic technology adoption stands as a driving force behind innovation and growth. IT talents play a pivotal role in meticulously assessing emerging technological trends and discerning their potential impact on the organization’s long-term objectives. 

By carefully selecting and hiring the right employees, you will enjoy integrating cutting-edge technologies like AI, blockchain, cloud computing, and IoT. These experts empower businesses to optimize processes, enhance efficiency, and gain a competitive edge. You can find employees for IT departments through various channels such as online job portals, professional networking platforms like LinkedIn, tech-focused recruitment agencies, and by participating in industry-specific job fairs and conferences. 

Through their foresight and expertise, strategic technology adoption sets the stage for businesses to embrace innovation, adapt to dynamic market demands, and forge a path towards sustained growth in the digital era.

Implement Digital Transformation Initiatives

In a rapidly digitizing world, IT talents take on the crucial responsibility of driving and executing digital transformation initiatives within organizations. Armed with their expertise, these professionals lead the charge in adopting digital tools, reimagining processes, and revolutionizing customer experiences. By spearheading the integration of advanced technologies, such as AI, automation, and data analytics, IT talents enable businesses to stay ahead of the curve. 

Their strategic implementation of digital transformation not only enhances operational efficiency but also paves the way for innovative products and services that cater to evolving customer needs. Embracing this paradigm shift is paramount for unlocking sustainable business success in the digital age.

Enhance Data-Driven Decision Making

IT talents play a pivotal role in unlocking the potential of information to drive business decisions. By harnessing powerful data analytics tools and techniques, these experts distill vast amounts of data into actionable insights. They empower organizations to make informed decisions, optimize processes, and identify growth opportunities. 

Through a deep understanding of data patterns and customer behavior, IT talents provide a foundation for innovation and agile response to market changes. Emphasizing data-driven decision-making not only ensures a competitive edge but also fosters a culture of continuous improvement, positioning businesses to thrive amidst evolving industry landscapes.

Implement Cybersecurity and Risk Management

As cyber threats become increasingly sophisticated, IT talents take on a critical role in fortifying modern businesses against potential risks. With an unwavering focus on cybersecurity, these experts design and implement robust defense mechanisms, proactively identifying vulnerabilities and orchestrating swift incident responses. 

Through continuous risk assessments and compliance measures, IT talents establish a culture of proactive risk management, ensuring data confidentiality, integrity, and availability. By safeguarding business assets and customer trust, their diligent efforts bolster business resilience, allowing organizations to innovate and grow with confidence in an ever-changing digital landscape.

Agile Development and Continuous Innovation

IT talents champion the adoption of agile development methodologies, catalyzing a culture of continuous innovation within organizations. By embracing agility, these experts facilitate iterative, collaborative, and customer-centric approaches to product and service development. Through rapid prototyping, frequent feedback loops, and adaptive project management, IT talents enable businesses to respond swiftly to evolving customer needs and market trends. 

Emphasizing continuous improvement and learning, their commitment to innovation ensures that businesses stay ahead of the competition, unleash creative potential, and deliver high-impact solutions that drive sustainable growth and success in the ever-accelerating digital era.

Collaboration and Cross-Functional Integration

IT talents act as catalysts for seamless collaboration and cross-functional integration within organizations. By bridging the gap between various departments, they facilitate a cohesive exchange of ideas, expertise, and resources. Leveraging their technical acumen, these professionals create platforms and systems that enhance communication and coordination among teams. 

Through collaborative initiatives, IT talents promote a culture of knowledge-sharing and innovative problem-solving, yielding synergistic solutions that address complex business challenges. This harmonious integration of skills and perspectives not only enhances operational efficiency but also sparks new avenues for growth, unlocking the full potential of diverse talents and propelling the organization towards collective success.

IT talents play a transformative role in modern businesses, driving innovation and fostering growth. By strategically adopting technologies, implementing digital transformations, enhancing data-driven decision-making, fortifying cybersecurity, embracing agility, and promoting cross-functional collaboration, these experts enable organizations to thrive in the fast-paced digital landscape. Their expertise empowers businesses to stay ahead of the competition, respond to customer needs, and navigate dynamic market challenges with confidence. As technology continues to evolve, IT talents remain essential partners in propelling businesses towards success and shaping a prosperous future.

 

People as important as technology in strengthening cyber resilience – By Catherine Doyle, Managing Director, Dell Technologies Ireland

In today’s data-driven world, cyber security is more important than ever. Despite the uncertainty of recent times, businesses and organisations in Ireland are still transforming at speed.

Technology remains at the very centre of Government efforts to foster innovation and economic growth. The latest national digital strategy sets out a range of ambitious targets to ensure that three in four Irish businesses adopt Artificial Intelligence, Big Data and Cloud by 2030. 90% of services are also due to be consumed online by the end of the decade.

While these targets are welcome and, moreover, necessary to make sure Ireland harnesses the full potential of the very latest technologies, it’s also the case that an increase in digitalisation brings with it a corresponding increase in the threat of cyber-attacks.

Evolving cyber threats

Over the past year, we have seen several high-profile cyber incidents here in Ireland that reinforce the need for small and large businesses across the public and private sector in Ireland to enhance their cyber resilience. Indeed, in 2022 alone, the total cost of cybercrime is estimated to have surpassed €10bn.

As cyber-crime becomes more prevalent so do the sorts of attacks levelled at businesses become more insidious. The Garda National Cyber Crime Bureau and National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) warned about an increase in ransomware attacks against small and medium sized businesses (SMEs) over the past few months. In recent weeks, the National Cybersecurity Coordination and Development Centre has been created to help strengthen SME cyber resilience. 

The problem is that the ability to protect an organisation’s data has become increasingly difficult with some SMEs overwhelmed. A shift to hybrid working has given malicious actors new opportunities to target vulnerable remote workers while phishing attacks and email thread hijacking have been on the rise.

Business leaders are beginning to react, with nine in ten business leaders now recognising the vital importance of building the cyber resiliency of their firm. From Zero Trust frameworks for the verification, assurance and protection of data to robust response and data recovery plans, Irish leaders are turning to new technologies and new technology models to strengthen their cyber security. 

Importance of culture 

However, cybersecurity is just as much, if not more, about people than technology.

In tandem with technology solutions, there needs to be a cultural shift within businesses that recognises the importance of cyber security. This comes from the top of the organisation and filters through down to all levels and departments.

Business leaders are actually the first line of defence. By setting the tone and the culture for cyber resilience within an organisation, leaders play a vital role in putting cyber security at the very heart of business strategy and workforce development.

A key component of this is influencing employee behaviour around cyber resilience in the workplace – empowering their people with the latest training and skills to become role models and champions of the best cyber security practices.

While the latest intelligent tools and data protection services will always play a critical role, they are just one key part of an overall strategy that recognises how everyone within the business needs to work together to ward off cyber threats. 

Whole of organisation approach

This particularly applies to those teams who are developing new products or services. By integrating cyber security into both their products and practices, these teams can help to close the loop on cyber security for their own business and that of their customers.

In this way, leaders can better embrace a comprehensive approach to cyber risk mitigation that goes beyond mere threat detection. Rather, they can ensure that cyber security plays an integral role in an organisation’s overall business strategy from the very beginning and is considered in any future digital transformation initiatives. 

At Dell Technologies, we’re seeing more organisations across both the private and public sector treat cyber security as an integral component of their overall digital transformation strategy. When setting out to build a consistent digital learning experience for its 34,000 students and staff in a hybrid world, Ulster University tapped into Dell’s team of cyber experts to enhance its cyber resilience.

Protecting Ireland’s most critical data

With AI, 5G and Edge Computing developing at pace, Ireland has a unique opportunity to become a world leader in a range of emerging technologies. However, if we are to reach our 2030 digital targets, we need to continually ward off the latest cyber threats and protect Ireland’s reputation as a digital hub both in Europe and beyond.

At Dell Technologies, we are continually working to help Ireland remain one step ahead of cyber threats. Through a €2m investment in our new Customer Solutions Centre in Cork, we’re looking to provide the essential infrastructure for organisations to protect their most important information assets and help strengthen the city’s location as a cyber security hub.

But, as cyber threats become more sophisticated and costly, business leaders need to become the front line of defence on this journey.

That means placing a strong focus on building a culture where cybersecurity is everyone’s responsibility and where their people have the skills to enhance cyber resilience within their organisation. By fostering that culture, leaders of large, medium and small businesses can not only protect themselves against the increasing threat of cyber-attacks but can reduce business disruption and recover more quickly “when” and not “if” an attack occurs in the weeks and months ahead.

Google finds that only 20% of Irish SMEs are aware of the necessary cyber security measures to protect their data and digital assets

Research conducted by iReach Insights on behalf of Google has found that the majority of SMEs (77%) agree that having a secure online presence is a priority for their business, with 42% strongly agreeing that it is a priority. However, only 20% are very aware of the specific measures or tools required to protect their data/ digital assets while 64% know a little but not much.

When it comes to protecting their website and digital assets, the research shows that just over a half of SMEs regularly back-up data (54%), ensure software is updated (53%), and use two step authentication for accessing common owned devices (53%).

Despite the fact that a strong majority of Irish SMEs readily recognise the benefits of having a secure online presence, less than half of SMEs require employees to periodically change passwords (44%) or take regular or annual security awareness training (38%). Even less (28%) have an incident response plan in case of a cyberattack.

When it comes to how cyber security is managed,  38% of SMEs have their cybersecurity managed in-house, 25% have it outsourced, while 37% have a mix of both. Interestingly, the 38% of SMEs that have their cybersecurity managed in-house express the highest levels of satisfaction at 70%. The 37% of SMEs that have a mix of both In-House and Outsourcing, show the lowest satisfaction levels at 53%.

The findings were published as Google added a new module, ‘Improve your online business security’, to the You’re the Business initiative, a digital training scheme to help upskill Irish SMEs. Launched in July 2022 by Google, Enterprise Ireland and the Local Enterprise Offices, You’re the Business aims to accelerate Irish SME growth through digitalisation in the form of tailored, free of charge online training as well as an SME reward programme.

Marie Davis, Head of SME Retail, UK and Ireland, Google said: “Google is very proud of the You’re the Business initiative and how it has helped Irish businesses initiate, grow, and expand their digital capabilities over the last twelve months. We are introducing a new cyber security module as our research informs us that while Irish SMEs understand the importance of cyber security, they are not always aware of the measures required to protect their data and digital assets. Designed by Google experts, this online training program will better protect SMEs from the growing threat of cyberattack”.

John Magee, Chair of the network of Local Enterprise Offices, said; “Cybersecurity has been identified as a key area of both threat and growth in the coming years. It is vital that small businesses understand that, particularly those that have a significant online presence. As sustainability has become a pillar for many small businesses, so should cybersecurity and it is fantastic that we can now offer that expertise to every small business across the country through our partnership with Google and the You’re the Business initiative. This is another area where we are expanding our approach to ensure small businesses are getting the support they need from their Local Enterprise Office.

Carol Gibbons, Head of Regions and Local Enterprise, Enterprise Ireland, said; “The You’re the Business Campaign in partnership with Google and the Local Enterprise Offices has helped us to significantly increase our offerings to small business in the areas of digitization.  In recent years trading online has become crucial for many businesses and it has also opened doors to new markets internationally.  This brings opportunity but also significant exposure for businesses to threats such as cyber-crime. This new element of the initiative is the perfect first step for businesses to enhance their cybersecurity protocols.”

With the addition of the ‘Improve your online business security’ module today, SMEs can now access [ four modules that can help SME decision makers understand and grow their digital capabilities. All training is accessed through the You’re The Business website.

All training modules including the cyber training are available on-demand online. For further information please visit: g.co/yourethebusiness

Intelligence cybersecurity leader Centripetal to create 50 Irish jobs, brings innovative technology to the cloud

Centripetal, the global leader in intelligence powered cybersecurity, today announced that it has opened its Galway based European Cyber Intelligence Centre of Excellence to address cybersecurity opportunities in the UK, Ireland and across Europe. Additionally, the company is enabling cloud-based deployments of its CleanINTERNET® solution for total enterprise protection. Centripetal is headquartered in the US and has plans to create 50 jobs in Galway. The project is supported by the Government of Ireland through IDA Ireland.

According to the International Trade Administration, The cybersecurity market in Ireland is thriving, valued at €280 million. However, with economic crime and fraud on the rise in recent years, cybercrime is extremely disruptive in how it impacts the business community. Grant Thornton Ireland reports that the cost of cybercrime in Ireland exceeded €9.6 billion in 2020. With the opening of Centripetal’s European Cyber Intelligence Centre of Excellence, the company will bring its innovative, patented technologies to the European market to protect organizations from every known cyberthreat.

Centripetal’s European Cyber Intelligence Centre of Excellence will serve as the central hub where new and existing customers can work with Centripetal to gain insight on the current European and global threat landscape and how they might be affected. Customers will have access to Centripetal’s global cyber intelligence operations analyst team, who continuously analyze emerging threats, highlighting critical risks and applying global threat intelligence.

“Today’s jobs announcement is yet another vote of confidence in Galway, in our available skilled workforce and in our city and county as a great place to work and live. Galway was home to a number of significant investment announcements last year including Fidelity Investment, Genesys, SAP and Diligent, so Centripetal are certainly in good company,” said Minister Hildegarde Naughton TD. “Congratulations again to the entire team at Centripetal and thank you for choosing not only Galway but the people of Galway.”

‘’The news that Centripetal is to open a European Cyber Intelligence Centre of Excellence in Galway is great news for the West Region and this investment will support the development of the wider technology ecosystem in Ireland for cyber,” said Anne-Marie Tierney Le-Roux, Head of Department Enterprise Technology at IDA Ireland. “The creation of 50 jobs is a vote of confidence in the talent and skill set that our regional locations in Ireland have to offer. I would like to wish Centripetal every success as they scale operations.’’

To give customers the ability to access intelligence powered cybersecurity everywhere, Centripetal’s CleanINTERNET® CLOUD is now available for deployment. The CleanINTERNET® service is a revolutionary approach to defending a company’s assets from cyber threats by leveraging dynamic threat intelligence on a mass scale. The solution can be deployed to protect assets running in cloud environments, providing unparalleled cyber defense and removing the need for more costly cybersecurity infrastructure. The addition of AWS cloud support extends CleanINTERNET® to protect all enterprise assets whether on premises, remote or in the cloud. Centripetal will additionally provide CleanINTERNET® on Azure and Google Cloud Platform in late 2023.

“Centripetal is the only cybersecurity vendor that delivers intelligence powered protection that neutralizes every known cyberattack at the network level while simultaneously driving down the cost of security operations,” said Jonathan Rogers, Chief Operating Officer for Centripetal. “Our innovative technology is an industry first and we’re thrilled to be partnering with the IDA to bring our solution to Ireland and the UK to not only provide unparalleled protection for our customers but also valuable employment opportunities for the country.”

Centripetal uses threat intelligence to shield organizations from 99% of known cyberthreats globally with CleanINTERNET®. This uniquely managed cyber defense service provides greater effectiveness, lower costs, and enhanced security expertise to defend networks from attacks.

Centripetal goes beyond traditional threat intelligence methods and pushes the industry forward by operationalizing the world’s largest collection of threat intelligence:

  • With over 250 Threat Intelligence providers, CleanINTERNET® applies over 100 billion indicators of compromise from real-time intelligence feeds, updated every 15 minutes, to protect its customers’ networks.
  • Centripetal defends customers networks by providing the fastest packet filtering technology on the planet, applying millions of threat intelligence based rules to incoming and outgoing datastreams with zero latency.
  • Centripetal’s elite team of highly trained intelligence operations analysts acts as an extension of its customer’s internal cybersecurity team, who monitor and analyze emerging threats. This mitigates the skills gap and reduces the burden on overworked IT resources.

For more information on Centripetal’s offering and its latest global European expansion, visit www.centripetal.ai/centripetal-ireland/

6 Cybersecurity Challenges in Internet-based Business Communication

Internet-based business communication is crucial to the smooth running of today’s businesses, necessitating stringent security protocols. Businesses must be aware of the danger posed by cybercriminals if they wish to protect their data, maintain their customers’ confidence, and prevent catastrophes. 

This article will discuss and offer solutions to six of the most prevalent cybersecurity issues related to conducting business communications over the Internet.

Data breaches

Data breaches pose a significant risk to business communication of all sizes. Threatening parties seek opportunities through communication channels to exploit vulnerabilities and gain illicit access to sensitive data. Implementing stringent security measures to reduce the likelihood of data intrusions must be a top priority for organizations. 

Utilizing robust encryption protocols, implementing multi-factor authentication, executing regular vulnerability assessments, availing services from trusted wireless equipment providers (https://connectedsolutionsgroup.com/), and actively monitoring network traffic are all components of network security.

Phishing attacks

Phishing attacks continue to be a prevalent threat in internet-based business communication. Cybercriminals employ sophisticated techniques to deceive employees into divulging confidential information or performing malicious actions. 

Organizations should educate their staff on recognizing phishing attempts, implement email filters and spam detection systems, and adopt strong password policies to combat phishing attacks. Regular training and awareness programs are crucial to instilling a security-conscious culture within the organization.

Malware infections

Malware, including viruses, ransomware, and spyware, poses a significant risk to internet-based business communication. These malicious software programs can infiltrate systems, disrupt operations, and compromise sensitive data. 

To protect against malware infections, it is essential to employ robust antivirus software, regularly update systems and applications, and practice safe online communication habits. Additionally, implementing a comprehensive backup strategy ensures swift recovery during an attack.

Insider threats

While external threats often receive more attention, organizations must not overlook the potential risks posed by insider threats. Disgruntled employees, accidental data leaks, or compromised credentials can lead to significant breaches. 

Implementing strict access controls, conducting thorough background checks, and regularly monitoring employee activities are crucial to mitigating insider threats. Additionally, fostering a positive work environment and promoting open communication can help create a sense of loyalty and reduce the likelihood of internal breaches.

Cloud security

Securing cloud environments becomes paramount as businesses increasingly rely on cloud-based communication and data storage solutions. Organizations must carefully select reputable cloud service providers that prioritize robust security measures. It includes implementing encryption, maintaining data backups, enforcing access controls, and conducting regular security audits. 

Employing a defense-in-depth approach combining multiple layers of security controls further enhances cloud security and safeguards against unauthorized access.

Mobile device vulnerabilities

With the proliferation of mobile devices in the workplace, securing business communication on these devices is crucial. Mobile devices can be easily lost, stolen, or compromised, potentially exposing sensitive information. 

To mitigate mobile device vulnerabilities, businesses should enforce strong device encryption, require passcodes or biometric authentication, and implement remote wiping capabilities in case of loss or theft. Regularly updating mobile operating systems and applications is vital to address known security vulnerabilities.

Final thoughts

It is imperative to stay informed about emerging threats, continually update security measures, and foster a culture of cybersecurity awareness among employees. Remember, cybersecurity is an ongoing process that requires constant adaptation and vigilance. Prioritizing robust security measures will safeguard your business, enhance customer trust, and differentiate you from competitors.

North West Region set to take advantage of growth opportunities in cybersecurity

Regional Skills North West and Cyber Ireland have partnered to commission a “Cyber Security Skills Audit Report” to examine the shape of the cybersecurity sector in the North West region of Ireland. The report outlines the region’s strengths to attract companies seeking new locations for cybersecurity services giving a positive outlook for the region, while also highlighting improvements needed for the future of the sector. With the right investment and supports in place, the report forecasts that the North West region could see growth in cybersecurity related jobs quadruple from 250 this year to 830 jobs by 2030.

The research reveals that the region has a number of core strengths that make it an attractive location for cybersecurity investment including a new university in the area, Atlantic Technological University, that now delivers specific IT and cyber security degree and post graduate programmes. The report identifies at least 10 organisations offering cybersecurity services within the region including large multinational operators, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) via its Letterkenny Global Delivery Centre and Optum, the international healthcare services provider, who have stated ambitions to further recruit and grow their cyber security skills talent base locally.

Tim Kelley, Strategic Head of TCS Threat Management Centres in UK, Ireland & Europe said: “This study rightly identifies the urgent need to accelerate investment to satisfy the demand for security skills. Our TCS Cyber Security Practice is committed to grow and strengthen our Ireland Threat Management Centre to service our customers needs from our global delivery centre in Letterkenny.”

He added: “I wholly support the report’s recommendations to ensure Ireland based talent can deliver on the global opportunities in the cyber security sector.”  

Other strengths identified in the report that make the North West region an attractive location for cybersecurity investment include the lower cost base for both employers and employees, in terms of housing, commercial rents and labour costs, the quality of life in the region and the access provided to nearby tech collaborative clusters, including Donegal Digital, Northern Ireland Cyber and Cyber Ireland’s West Chapter.

Co-author of the ‘Cyber Security Skills Audit Report’, Hilary McPartland, manager of the North West Regional Skills Forum said: “This report has captured the opportunity for cybersecurity in the North West.  It finds a vibrant ecosystem with great potential to grow. It’s the first step in our journey to build this sector to be one of the leaders in our region. I look forward to helping develop the talent and skills needed to support this dynamic sector vital to our economy and future success.”

Cyber Ireland’s ‘State of the Cyber Security Sector in Ireland 2023’ report estimates that there are currently 7,350 cyber professionals in the Republic of Ireland of which approximately 3% of these are now based in the NW region.

This latest study puts forward a number of recommendations for improvement and expansion of the cyber security sector within the region that require investment and supports now in order to realise the potential opportunities. This includes the creation of a cybersecurity culture through cyber awareness training for SMEs, driving cyber security standards in the region and enhancing the overall cyber community through more events and networking opportunities.

Continuing to build a talent pipeline from within the region for cyber jobs will also be critical with resources needed to raise awareness of career pathways and job readiness programmes facilitating entry into the sector. Findings from the study indicated that only 30% of cyber roles in the North West are filled by people from within the region.

Regional Skills North West and Cyber Ireland are now calling on all stakeholders in the region to pull together to grasp this growth opportunity by promoting awareness of the North West’s burgeoning cybersecurity ecosystem, its attractiveness as a location and the important contribution it can make to the local economy and innovation in the region.

Paul Brady, Senior Director, Enterprise Information Security at Optum said: “As both a business stakeholder and chapter lead for Cyber Ireland, I am excited to see this report come to fruition.  The report offers clear and sensible direction to promote the growth of cybersecurity in the North West region and I welcome the recommendation that now is the time to invest in cyber talent to take advantage of the opportunities ahead of us.”

TECHGIANT Workplace To Build ‘Foundations Of Change’ In Manchester

Some of the country’s leading technology wizards are converging on Manchester early next month to shape a new era of innovation – inspired by father and son entrepreneurs.

Ian Taylor spearheads disruptive ITC consultancy, TECHGIANT Workplace, with his 20-year-old son Oliver. The company was recently named one of the UK’s top 100 SME businesses and is hosting a digital transformation insight event at Manchester United’s Old Trafford stadium on June 8th.

It will see guest speakers from top tech companies come together to inspire and educate as part of a ‘Foundations of Change’ theme – spanning cloud-based communications, cybersecurity, devices, infrastructure and AI.

“Manchester’s industrial heritage and rich reputation for innovation makes this the perfect place to inspire new ways of working and the next generation of technology leaders.” Ian explained.

“This is a conference all about UK digital transformation, and aims to provide great insight into the ways in which companies can adopt technology to bring them into the 21st century, allowing them to compete on both a domestic and international stage.

“My son is just 20 (fellow Director and Shareholder), and brings in the understanding and knowledge of just what the next generation (Gen Z) expect from the work environment, therefore helping direct the pillars of change across business enterprises.

“We want to reshape and inspire the next generation of tech innovators based on best practice, research, analysis and insight from many industry experts.”

Ian, who hails from Shevington in Wigan, concluded: “The tech giants are coming to Manchester and I’m coming back home. I’ve missed the pies too!”

To register interest in the event click here: ‘Foundations of Change’  or visit www.techgiantworkplace.com/upcomingevents 

Aspirations

TECHGIANT Workplace has developed a three-year business plan based on annual revenues of over £5m with further exponential growth planned to reach £20-£30m in just five years.

Launched in Autumn 2022, TECHGIANT wants to ensure organisations can fully embrace and exploit digital transformation and reshape their communication and collaboration strategies, helping companies to invest in the core technology areas which support sustainable positive operational change.

“It’s about creating certainty, finding the right technology fit and developing partnerships which last,” Oliver explained.

“I actually see my young age as a real benefit because I truly do understand the aspirations and demands of this emerging generation in relation to business asks, and in the years to come I hope my company, with its vast market knowledge and global partner relationships, will be of great assistance to both employees and employers alike.

“We want to be the first of a new generation of service providers, a true giant of tech. We are changing the rules, bringing the marketplace to customers and guaranteeing IT buyer certainty for the future. Culture and business productivity is underpinned by technology and so it’s about getting involved in the operational challenges themselves, and looking to apply the right change agents to help companies go faster, compete harder and retain more talent for years to come.

“With huge curiosity around areas such as Artificial Intelligence and return to the office mandates – technology and customer demands continue to evolve, which elevates to a level of critical importance the role of the trusted advisor.”

Building a Cyber-Resilient Organization: Strategic Cyber Security Training Tips

Modern businesses are constantly under threat of all kinds of cybercriminal activity. Our increased reliance on the Internet for day-to-day business operations exacerbates the situation further. Because of that, cyber threats, such as data breaches, ransomware attacks, and phishing scams, can devastate an organization’s reputation, financials, and operations.

One effective way to strengthen your organization’s cybersecurity posture is through strategic cyber security training for your employees. This article will explore cyber security training and provide six security training tips for your employees to help build a cyber-resilient organization.

What Is Cyber Security Training?

Cyber security training is an educational program where employees are taught the knowledge and skills necessary to deal with cyber threats, which includes identifying, preventing, and responding. Security training programs cover a wide range of topics, ranging from password risk management practices to email security and even social engineering awareness.

Cyber security training aims to enhance the first line of defense, which includes your employees. Employees are often the most likely target of a potential cyber attack. Therefore, cyber security training improves your organization’s overall cybersecurity by educating them on the industry’s best practices.

Considering the rate of cyber attacks and the fact one in five firms experience some form of data breach, there’s no better way to improve your organization’s cyber resilience than to educate them on the dangers of the cyber world.

6 Security Training Tips for Your Employees

To make your organization more cyber resilient, here are several security training tips to turn your employees into cyber security professionals:

Emphasize Using Strong Passwords

Weak passwords are commonly used by unaware employees. But did you know that they’re also a common gateway for all kinds of security risks? An important part of your cyber security training program must be to train your employees to create strong passwords. The new passwords must be at least 12 characters long and include both upper and lower-case letters, numbers, and special characters.

Encourage them to avoid using easily guessable information, such as birthdates or common words, to reduce the chances of cyber incidents.

Educate Employees on the Dangers of Phishing Attacks

Phishing attacks are social engineering attacks where hackers trick your employees into revealing sensitive information, such as usernames, passwords, or credit card details. So another important tip is to train your employees to be cautious when opening emails or clicking on links, especially from unknown sources.

Educate them on how to spot phishing attempts, such as identifying suspicious email addresses, spelling or grammar errors, and requests for personal information.

Encourage Keeping Software and Devices Updated

Cybercriminals will often look for common vulnerabilities in the software your organization uses. The software vendors know this, and they will look to reduce the rate of data breaches caused by security holes by implementing security patches. Therefore, you must emphasize and encourage your employees to regularly update their software, including operating systems, web browsers, and applications, to ensure they have the latest security patches.

Additionally, encourage them to keep their personal devices up to date, such as their laptops and smartphones.

Implement the Use Of Two-Factor Authentication

2FA is a security measure that adds another layer of safety to user accounts by requiring an additional verification step, such as a fingerprint, facial recognition, or a one-time code sent to a mobile device.

Most software vendors have 2FA or MFA as a security measure, meaning your employees can already reduce the chances of cyber incidents. But you must make 2FA implementation an organization-wide policy. Train your employees to enable 2FA on all their accounts, especially those that contain sensitive information or have access to critical systems, to reduce the chance of a potential data breach.

Avoid Public Wi-Fi for Sensitive Activities

Public Wi-Fi networks are highly unsecured and often a risk to your organization’s cyber resiliency. The risks associated with using public Wi-Fi networks are well documented, as hackers can easily use them to transfer malicious data to connected devices.

Therefore, a large part of your security training program is to educate your employees on the dangers of using public Wi-Fi for sensitive activities, such as accessing company email or transferring confidential data. If they must use public Wi-Fi networks, encourage them to use a virtual private network (VPN).

Practice Safe Browsing Habits

Train your employees to practice safe browsing habits by avoiding clicking on suspicious links or downloading files from untrusted websites. Instead, encourage them only to visit reputable websites and to be cautious about pop-up ads or unexpected downloads.

Moreover, you must educate them on how to spot fake or phishing websites by encouraging them to look for the lock icon and the “https” in the URL, which is an indication of a secure website.

Conclusion

Cybersecurity experts recognize that employees are often the first line of defense. While organizations can turn to a host of solutions to enhance their overall cybersecurity measures, one way to prevent cyber incidents and future threats is to offer cyber security training to your employees.

That way, you’re educating your employees on the dangers of the cyber world. Moreover, you’re educating them on how to identify and deal with a potential cyber risk. Security training must be a part of your disaster recovery planning, as there’s no better way to deal with digital threats than to give your employees the necessary knowledge on how to stop them.

Why Are Some Industries at High Risk of Cybersecurity Breaches?

Security is always one of the most important concerns for any business, be it a local supermarket or a global consulting firm. In the digital age, this concern is multiplied due to the immense amount of information and sensitive data that is stored online or on servers. It is no wonder then that cybersecurity has emerged hugely and plays a vital role in keeping an organisation’s data safe.

Interestingly, a survey shows that the percentage of businesses that identified cyber attacks has gone down to 39% in 2021 and 2022 from a high of 46% in 2020. This could be attributed to enhanced cybersecurity.

Of course, there are some industries which are more vulnerable to being hacked as the regular cybersecurity measures might not be enough for them. Some of these are given below.

Healthcare

Medical records often contain sensitive information such as name, date of birth, medical history, address, and so on. Till the time these records were kept in paper format, it was not that easy to access them. However, with more and more such records being digitised every day, hospitals and healthcare facilities have become easy targets for cybercriminals.

Another entry point for hackers could be medical devices such as defibrillators. If they manage to take over these and other lifesaving machines, healthcare professionals would not be able to provide essential services. Ransomware is another such inlet. Through this, hackers can get rid of years of data which could put many patients at risk.

Gaming

To play any sort of game online, you have to provide certain permissions on your device. In some cases, these are very basic and won’t impact security much. However, some of the high-tech more complicated games require access to a whole lot of features on your device, such as the camera and microphone. This is potentially a risk as someone might hack into your device through the game or be able to watch you or listen to your conversations.

Some of the world’s largest casinos also face this potential threat. Some people might say that there is not one major casino, but rather the Internet can be considered the home to the biggest casino. After all, almost all the major land-based casinos are now online, apart from the hundreds of others that are exclusively online only. A huge amount of monetary transactions goes through these casinos which makes it more important to strengthen their cybersecurity. This is a vital way of maintaining good customer relations and keeping them safe at the same time.

Telecommunications

This is a big one as telecom companies are also at risk of being targeted for state-sponsored cyber attacks. Telecom (along with IT) are among the building blocks of crucial infrastructure. As a result, these companies store a lot of customer data and sensitive information. This makes them almost like gold mines for data. The attack could be directed either at the companies or the customers, which could be other businesses. Such an attack could have potentially large-scale ramifications for some countries too. 

To conclude, while some industries are at higher risk of cybersecurity breaches, no company or individual is safe from them if they do not take the necessary measures. Keeping a check on small things like what permissions or consent you are giving can go a long way in keeping your data secure.