Cyber security is one of the biggest challenges businesses face today. Many organizations face threats by cybercrime, and the number of cyberattacks is only rising. Businesses need to adopt a layered approach to cyber security to stay ahead of the game.

This means that no matter where they are in the organization, everyone needs to understand and acknowledge the importance of cyber security. Here are some of the most common cyber security mistakes businesses make.


Not Understanding Cyber Security

Many businesses are guilty of not understanding the basics of cyber security. It’s not enough to have a cyber security policy, have periodic training sessions, or have the right tools. Understanding cyber security means that employees inside the business need to know what cyber security is and what it isn’t.

People need to know that cyber security is about protecting information, not controlling employees. Employees also need to understand that cyber security isn’t about protecting against everything. It’s about what’s possible and what’s likely.

Hiring the Wrong People for Cyber Security

One of the worst mistakes a business can make is to hire the wrong person for cyber security. This usually happens because the hiring manager doesn’t understand the job.

Alternatively, an organization may be hiring people who don’t have the right skills for the job. However, it can be challenging to hire the right people for cyber security. This is because the skill requirements constantly change as the cyber threat landscape changes. This means that hiring managers also need to know what skills are essential in the current environment.

Lack of Coordination Between Business Units

At the most basic level, it’s crucial to have a coordinated approach to cyber security across an organization. This means that everyone needs to understand their role in protecting the organization. It’s also important to coordinate between business units, such as finance, HR, and IT departments.

If units in your business don’t communicate properly, it can significantly impact cyber security. This is because it can result in the loss of critical data, the failure of various technologies, and the failure of policies and procedures.

Not Having Clear Risk Assessment

Risk assessment is a crucial first step in any cyber security planning process. However, it’s also important to be clear about the key risks within the business.

It will help businesses lower their overall cyber security risk. Companies often don’t have a clear risk assessment process because security professionals are trying to do too much with their time. It’s also because organizations aren’t being very transparent about the risks facing their business.