October is National Cybersecurity Awareness Month. As an IT and cybersecurity company, ORAM Corporate Advisors is excited that this month brings cybersecurity awareness to the forefront, but we also recognize that cybersecurity is important year-round. That’s why regular employee training is always something we try to impress upon our clients.

With that being said, ORAM Corporate Advisors will be hosting a free, virtual webinar on Tuesday, Oct. 20, at 1 p.m. EST. The one-hour webinar, Cyber Security: Best Practices for your Business, will train those who attend on best practices for keeping their business safe and secure. Some of the most common cybersecurity scams and pitfalls will be covered as well as simple action steps for protecting yourself and your business.

While this webinar is being offered at no charge thanks to our partners, the Newton-Needham Regional Chamber of Commerce, and the Needham Bank, registration is required. You can register to participate here.

Why Cybersecurity is Important

A hacker attack occurs every 39 seconds according to a recent Clark School study at the University of Maryland. These attacks affect one in three Americans every year. Over the last year, the average total cost of a breach increased from 3.62 million U.S. dollars to 3.9 million U.S. dollars. A total of 85 percent of businesses with fewer than 1,000 employees have been hacked. With an ever-growing dependence on technology, the need for cybersecurity awareness is greater than ever.

Businesses need cybersecurity to manage the growing onslaught of attacks against their organization and themselves. That’s why having a bullet-proof cybersecurity plan is the only way to combat the current climate we’re all operating in.

Top Cybersecurity Issue: Human Behavior

The number one cybersecurity concern is the way that criminals are using human behavior to compromise corporate networks. Sometimes human behavior has the best intentions but leads people to easily compromise their corporate infrastructure. While people want to be helpful, that desire to help can often lead them to inadvertently compromise their company or themselves.

The Remote Workforce and Cybersecurity Risk

With each remote worker you have, your business’s cybersecurity risk grows. Each employee is like an open door just inviting a cybercriminal to come into your workspace. With each of those open doors, the potential for an attack increases exponentially. That is why having the right cybersecurity in place for your specific business and remote workforce is so imperative.

The Best Approach to Training Employees

In the United States, 39 percent of adults are using the same or very similar passwords for multiple online services. It’s even worse for people ages 19 to 29 as 47 percent of people in that age range are using the same or very similar passwords for multiple online services. Your employees are your most important asset when it comes to strong, effective cybersecurity.

The best approach to increasing cybersecurity awareness among your employees is regular, monthly, ongoing training that is dynamic so it changes with the threat environment. This type of cybersecurity training allows your employees to be aware of what they are facing on an ongoing basis.  This is how you build an effective cybersecurity plan and trainings where employees are learning and teaching others.

The Cybersecurity Poverty Line and Training

It is a disturbing fact that 99 percent of U.S. companies fall below the cybersecurity poverty line when one considers the constant threats they face. Most businesses in the U.S. simply don’t have the expertise or resources to protect themselves and, as a result, they are being violated by malicious actors.

Free training such as the webinar ORAM will be presenting on Oct. 20 can start to help companies without all of the resources of larger organizations. Our friends at the University of California Berkley Information Security Office put together a list of Top 10 Secure Computing Tips that you may find helpful as well and can share with your employees.

Finally, the experienced cybersecurity professionals at ORAM can work with your business to develop affordable training options. Simply contact ORAM online or call us now at (617) 933-5060.