It may not be immediately apparent, but prioritizing cybersecurity in business has major benefits for a team’s workflow. Strong security measures don’t hinder productivity. In fact, they enhance it by fostering trust and minimizing disruptions by protecting business data and processes. When data and tools are secure, team members can collaborate confidently and free from concerns about breaches or data corruption.
Reliable cybersecurity measures are essential for improving your team’s workflow. So, here’s how you can start implementing them today.
Choose Secure Communication Platforms
The security features built into your communication and project management platforms will mainly determine your cybersecurity posture. Opting for the right one is crucial since effective collaboration requires access to some of your business’s most vulnerable systems and data.
End-to-end encryption is the basis for any competent digital collaboration tool. It ensures the contents of chats, video streams, and file transfers remain unreadable even if someone without proper authorization gains a hold of them.
Another important feature that trustworthy communication systems should have is role-based access. It allows employees to interact with the chatrooms, files, etc., that are essential for their work but denies sharing it or making alterations unless they have higher privileges. This prevents users who lack sufficient access from sharing files or documents containing sensitive information like social security numbers or credit card details.
The tools should also have built-in multifactor authentication to prevent stolen or leaked passwords from being enough to access associated accounts. If MFA isn’t present, you can use an authenticator tool to establish it.
Most collaboration tools offer improved functionality through third-party integrations with calendars, note-taking apps, CRMs, etc. Make sure that yours also integrates seamlessly with the firewalls, intrusion prevention systems, and other cybersecurity measures you use.
Establish Clear Cybersecurity Protocols
Picking the right communication platforms is the first step in making work a complete and safe space for collaboration. Now that you’ve done that, here’s what else you should focus on.
Device security
Even the most advanced protection features can’t prevent breaches if employees’ devices are easily compromised. This is why each device needs to run security software, such as firewalls and antimalware.
It’s also essential to regularly update operating systems and software to patch any existing vulnerabilities. Additionally, limiting devices to only the necessary sanctioned apps and programs helps reduce their attack surface. If you’re allowing personal devices for business use, be sure to develop comprehensive BYOD guidelines.
Regular audits
Audits are a core part of maintaining high security and operational standards. Without them, it would be impossible to spot abnormal behaviors, detect insider threats in time, or uncover vulnerabilities someone could use to gain backdoor access. Regularly conducting audits also demonstrates adherence to industry standards and legislation focused on data protection, like HIPAA or the GDPR.
Network security
Centralized monitoring and access, along with having all components and devices in one place, make it easier for the IT team to secure the local network. Yet, the rise in hybrid and remote work opportunities means team members are more likely to access company resources from networks without such measures.
Most will use their home networks to access the internet, and they provide a solid amount of protection from intrusions or data breaches. However, employees who connect to untrustworthy networks like public Wi-Fi are at considerable risk. Monitoring and abusing such networks is straightforward, allowing even inexperienced cybercriminals to intercept shared data or copy login credentials.
If employees feel that public Wi-Fi is their only option, encourage them to use eSIMs for secure mobile data access. eSIMs are simple to download and activate on phones, and their network can be securely shared via a hotspot. Numerous eSIM plans are available, so whether you need the eSIM for Thailand, the UK, or another region, tons of websites and Reddit threads curate the best options for easy selection.
Incident response planning
Adherence to sound cybersecurity policies doesn’t guarantee immunity from breaches and other incidents, especially if third-party service providers don’t invest in adequate safeguards.
Assuming the worst and having a set of procedures ready to address it will help reduce the negative impact in case such a cybersecurity crisis occurs.
The incident response plan should outline the necessary steps to identify, classify, contain, and remove threats. For collaboration tools, this means identifying suspicious activity, configuring alerts to notify you of similar activities in the future, and identifying and removing any unauthorized accounts or malicious files.
Establish who’ll be responsible for this beforehand and create backup and recovery strategies. In addition, prepare to address stakeholders or the public to project confidence in addressing the situation.
Foster a Security-First Culture
No one likes sudden workflow disruptions and adapting to changes without a reasonable explanation. That’s why raising awareness of security best practices and their positive impact on collaboration underpins all your other efforts.
Nurturing a security-focused work environment is itself a collaborative endeavor. No matter if it’s C-suite or entry-level personnel, everyone should uphold high security standards and integrate them into their workflows.
Employee education is a cornerstone of cybersecurity adoption. It introduces everyone to the extent and complexity of today’s threat landscape, which should be enough of a wake-up call to adopt better habits.
Teach your teams about what to do if they opened a phishing email or downloaded malware, and how can they spot these attacks the next time. Additionally, learn how to use a VPN, organize occasional refreshers to encourage ingrained security-conscious behavior and readiness to identify potential issues before they escalate.
Conclusion
Doing business in an era of rapid change and constant communication makes it vital to shield a team’s workflow with the right cybersecurity measures. Otherwise, expect delays, work disruption, and unsatisfied personnel. Use the information we’ve provided to create a secure, trusting, and collaborative atmosphere in your business.
