Firewalls have been an integral part of cyber security for many years now. They act as a key pillar in defending software, data and networks, intercepting viruses, malware and more before they have the chance to leave their mark.
But recently, a new addition to the lexicon of our industry has appeared – the human firewall. In this blog, we’re going to explore what this new term means and why establishing or improving a human firewall can make all the difference to your business this year.
So, what is a human firewall?
Simply put, a human firewall refers to the people who carry out best practice in their day to day working life.
Employees who regularly check in on their own activities online to monitor potential breach points are links in the firewall. And when everyone works together as links, they are much more efficient in keeping cyber criminals at bay.
How can you create a human firewall?
Human firewalls are built on awareness – an awareness of how cyber security threats and their own awareness of how they can prevent them.
Like most elements of cyber protection, this level of knowledge can only really be attained through regular training and clear onboarding. The importance of staying safe online while using company or organisational property needs to regularly be shared across teams – and just as crucially, it must be updated in line with new developments both in the IT teams and in the wider digital world.
Leadership teams should ensure that a schedule of updates, refreshers and educational courses are carried out across the year.
The building blocks of any human firewall
Any firewall that your organisation wants to build has to be founded on key human processes. These can include:
Password hygiene – Keeping passwords secure and complicated is 101 when it comes to safer practices online. Employees should change their passwords every few months, and employers should issue mandatory reminders to help them keep on top of their password management.
Training – The cyber security landscape can change all the time, and it’s up to employers to provide the training that helps employees stay up to date. This training can be external or internal, as long as it covers the latest relevant developments in cyber security.
Data safety – Data is gold dust in today’s informational economy. Your people should know what data they can share, what data they can’t, and how to ensure that they are especially secure when transmitting documents, media files and more by email.
Security breaches – Even the toughest human firewall can’t keep out everything. But every link in that firewall should know to immediately report any breach or cyber security attack that they uncover. They should know who to contact and what to tell them if the opportunity arises.
Whatever your business size or industry, having the right people with the right knowledge can make your human firewall an integral part of your cyber security defence.
At CSP, we’ve brought together an expert team of security professionals who can help you organise and build your human firewall within your business – and much more!
Find out more by visiting our website.