Have You Created an Office Cybersecurity Culture?

People may talk about a company’s ‘office culture.’ Generally, it’s about espousing cooperation, productivity and happy, involved employees, all of which are very important for morale and attaining company goals.

Let’s take a look at an important sub-culture that is usually absent: cybersecurity. With cyberattacks a constant and growing threat in today's digital world, everyone that depends on the company for their survival should become fierce protectors against any attacks that could potentially destroy it.

By an enormous margin, the #1-way threats breach business networks is through employee error. A lack of security awareness is generally the culprit. People don’t know when to be suspicious, so they click a malicious phishing link or attachment in an email. Another huge weakness is weak, easily cracked passwords.

95% of 2025 data breaches are due to human error.

These mistakes are preventable. Building a strong culture of cyber awareness can significantly reduce your risks. You can’t win the game if your team doesn’t know the plays.

Consider your organization's security as a chain and recognize that it has strong links and weak links – all of whom are your employees. By fostering a culture of cyber awareness, you turn each employee into a strong link. This makes your entire organization more secure.

How to build a culture of cybersecurity?

It’s not difficult if you take it step by step. Building a security awareness culture doesn't require complex strategies or expensive training programs. It’s about showing users the tactics that hackers use and keeping them in mind – constantly. Here are some simple steps you can take to make a big difference.

Leadership Shows the Way

Leadership needs to believe in it. To paraphrase ‘Field of Dreams, “"If you build it and they will come."
All levels of management need to be fully invested in making this work. Security shouldn't be an issue of concern only tare not the ones opening your emails and deciding which links or attachments to click on.

It’s not just the executive management that needs to champion cyber awareness, middle managers cannot look at security awareness as just another tedious chore handed down from on-high. If they are bored with it, their teams will follow suit. All levels need to be enthusiastic.

Management is well advised to provide guidance by doing these things:

Participating in training sessions

Speaking at security awareness events

Allocating resources for ongoing initiatives

Make it FUN!

Training doesn't have to be dry and boring. Use engaging videos, gamified quizzes, and real-life scenarios. These keep employees interested and learning.

Interactive modules which engage with employees are excellent training methods, because it lets them choose their path through a simulated phishing attack or by using short, animated videos that explain complex security concepts in a clear and relatable way.

Train by Using Plain English

If you hit them with a barrage of Geek Speak, employees tend roll their eyes and ‘clock out’. Cybersecurity terms can be confusing. As Einstein said, "If you can't explain it to a six-year-old, you don't understand it yourself." Communicate in plain language, avoiding technical jargon. Focus on practical advice employees can use in their everyday work.

Analogies are great for breaking through the mumbo-jumbo. Comparing the network to a castle is very apt and effective: The defenses for a network include firewalls, Anti-Virus (AV) and password protection; for a castle, it’s a moat, drawbridge and high, thick walls. In both cases, defenses are useless if somebody inside opens the gate for intruders.

Avoid spouting dry phrases like "we will implement multi-factor authentication (MFA)" and leaving it at that. Explain what it is and what it does: it adds an extra layer of security when logging in, like needing a code from your phone after entering your password.

KISS: (Keep it Simple, Stupid)

When you overwhelm people with complex and lengthy training sessions, you lose them. Bite-sized training modules are easy to digest and remember. Use microlearning approaches delivered in short bursts throughout the workday. These are a great way to keep employees engaged and reinforce key security concepts.

Drill, Baby, Drill!

The mother lode here is not oil: it’s security awareness. Regularly test employee awareness and preparedness with drills - simulated phishing emails and then track who clicks on something they shouldn’t. Use the results to educate employees on red flags and reporting suspicious messages.

When you finish phishing drill, dissect the email with employees. Highlight the telltale signs that helped identify it as a fake. Most importantly, avoid public humiliation for those who failed the drill – educate them.

Develop an Incident Report Plan, and Keep it Simple

You want your employees to feel comfortable reporting suspicious activity, reassuring them that there is no fear of blame if they’re wrong. Create a safe reporting system and acknowledge reports promptly. You can do this through:

A dedicated email address

An anonymous reporting hotline

A designated security champion employees can approach directly

Identify ‘Security Champions’

This is an excellent way to empower your employees: Rather than belittling those who fail, spotlight those who become ‘security champions’ – everyone will want to join that group. These champions can answer questions from peers as well as promote best practices through internal communication channels. This keeps security awareness top of mind, and the weaker employees will aspire to the recognition your champions receive.

The security champions in the office can be a valuable resource for their colleagues. They foster a sense of shared responsibility for network security within the organization and employees can get pointers without going through management or IT.

It is very important and inclusive to recognize and celebrate employee achievements in cyber awareness. Did someone report a suspicious email? Did a team achieve a low click-through rate on a phishing drill? Publicly acknowledge their contributions to keep motivation high. Recognition can be a powerful tool. It's helps reinforce positive behavior and encourages continued vigilance.

Security Awareness Works Everywhere

Security awareness isn't just a work thing. Employees will appreciate the tips on how to protect themselves at home too. Share tips on strong passwords, secure Wi-Fi connections, and avoiding public hotspots. Employees who practice good security habits at home are more likely to do so in the workplace.

Use Your Technology

The technology itself is a powerful tool for building a cyber-aware culture. Use online training platforms that deliver microlearning modules and track employee progress. You can schedule automated phishing simulations regularly to keep employees on their toes.

Here are some tools that help bolster employee security:

Password managers

Email filtering for spam and phishing

Automated rules, like Microsoft’s Sensitivity Labels

DNS filtering

Everyone Has a Part to Play – They Just Need to Learn Their Lines

The key to building a culture of cyber awareness is repetition. Learning by rote is a time-tested method. Remember that this not a ‘One and Done’ process – it needs to be ongoing. Regularly revisit these steps. Keep the conversation going. Make security awareness a natural part of your organization's DNA.

Once you have successfully fostered a culture of cyber awareness, your business benefits because you have equipped everyone in your organization with the knowledge and tools to stay safe online.

Empowered, aware employees become your strongest defense instead of your weakest links.