Information Security – It’s Everyone’s Responsibility

Though we may think cyber security is being taken care of ‘somewhere else’, the risks are greater now than ever before, making a culture of security awareness everyone’s responsibility

Cyber security has long been the domain of the IT department, managing potential loss or theft of data with firewalls, encryption, and authentications or permissions. However, attacks have become so sophisticated, that businesses must now educate everyone in their organisation to take an alert-but-not-alarmed position, against the threat of potential attack.

In this blog, we will uncover:

1. The changing landscape of cyber security and how organisations are impacted
2. Why cyber security is more than a compliance requirement and how to take a risk-based approach to its management
3. How certification works
4. 8 Step Implementation Plan

Download these supportive resources:

• Cybersecurity Threats – Is Your Buisiness Prepared for an Attack? Download our free infographic here.
• Free Download: ISO 27001: A Risk-Based Approach to Cyber Security Management Systems

The Changing Landscape of Cyber Security

There has been a dramatic shift in global work practices since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Government restrictions forced many to adapt to ‘work from home’ as the new normal and this, in turn, created a range of challenges for corporate cyber security.

Digital transformation was fast-tracked, but the uncertainty of multiple stages of restrictions, along with the use of home WiFi networks, and employees using their own unprotected devices left companies open to a greater range of risks than ever before. An altogether less restrictive (and therefore less protected) corporate environment was created. As a result, there is now an urgent need for all employees to be educated to be actively suspicious when it comes to unusual or concerning communications, alerts, or activity.

How Organisations Are Impacted

The post-pandemic workplace has created significant vulnerabilities in organisations. Opportunities have been created for cyberattacks that have become increasingly sophisticated – from email phishing scams and hacktivists (hackers fighting for social and political issues) to data fraud involving disgruntled malicious employees, and cyberattacks on users of video conferencing services, both through data theft and unapproved access to virtual meetings. The implications are staggering, with not only operations being affected, but companies exposed to any number of legal, compliance and reputational disasters.

Cyber Security – More Than Just Compliance

According to a recent SAI Global survey of Australian businesses (2021), more than 55% of respondents don’t realize they’re vulnerable to cyber security attacks. With a more complex array of risks to navigate, this creates an alarming situation for companies that have spent considerable time and money establishing a reputation of reliability and integrity.

As modern attacks evolve, organisations have more than just their compliance responsibilities to worry about. A privacy breach that impacts people who have invested their trust and confidence (and money) into a company can be very difficult to come back from. Data privacy still sits amongst the highest of priorities, in part due to the introduction of the European Union’s (EU) General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in 2018.

A comprehensive cyber security management system will deliver on three key components:

• Confidentiality – customers must be assured their data is protected and accessible only through approved authorisations.
• Integrity – systems and processes must assure data integrity and deliver on expectations that confidentiality is maintained.
• Availability – customers must be able to access what they need when they need it with the assurance that reliability and privacy are of the highest priority.

A Risk-Based Approach to Cyber Security Management

Businesses had to engage in rapid digital transformation in 2020, as a result of the changing landscape of cyber security. With this comes great opportunity and potential for growth, however, long-term sustainability is entirely dependent on sturdy and practical systems and processes.

A risk-based approach provides a robust, integrated framework that aligns a business’s cyber security with the current status of the company, whilst allowing for improvement and adaption in an environment continually populated by risk. It also secures alignment to global best practices for information security management and as a result, ensures consumer confidence is maintained and continually reinforced.

Understanding Management Systems

A management system can help streamline your business processes, improve business performance, and demonstrate your capabilities to meet customer needs. An effective management system looks at managing and optimising risks, improve performance and transparency, and fuel a culture of continual improvement. This can be achieved by adopting standards and certifying your management systems.

Being ISO certified can provide an immediate boost to your organisation’s credibility and reputation, as well as a competitive edge.

How Certification Works

Whether you’re new to ISO 27001 or ready to implement the Standard, we can assist you.