We All Play Follow the Leader, Customers Included 

The importance of creating a strong company culture is obvious: it helps attract and retain great employees, drives productivity, and creates an environment where team members are dedicated to the business. What isn’t so obvious – something that modern business leaders are now starting to realize – is that this dedication can be harnessed to turn employees into cyber-defenders who will stop at nothing to guard the workplace they have come to love.

As a trusted provider, while you might not have a direct say in your customers’ company culture, you are a valued business leader and advisor, uniquely positioned to help them understand how to prioritize security.

Here’s how:

1. Set the example

The first step in promoting a culture of cybersecurity is to make sure that your company does so as well – and then talk about it! Communicate to your customers how important security is at your organization through your security policies, proposals, and other messages.

In particular, share with your customers how you are reducing the risk of threats that may affect them, such as business email compromise and Managed Service Provider (MSP)-targeted attacks. Not only will this increase their confidence in working with you, but it may also inspire them to think about the importance of their own security.

2. Provide visibility

You’ve set up a strong cybersecurity program to help protect your customers, but that shouldn’t mean they simply forget about cybersecurity once onboard. Sure, you’re handling the details and making sure the program is running smoothly – that’s why they hired you! But buy-in from leadership is an important factor ensuring the program is effective. Help foster customer involvement with a few regular steps:

• Educate business leaders on cybersecurity and how their support boosts success
• Encourage customers to review their cybersecurity reports and track their progress
• Share information on relevant threats and how they can best prepare

When business leaders know how important cybersecurity is and where their company stands, it helps them make cybersecurity a business priority and protect the whole organization.

3. Offer insights and guidance

Your customers trust you to keep them informed, but also to provide guidance. Regular discussion with business leaders can help to keep cybersecurity top-of-mind. Consider scheduling a periodic cybersecurity health check-in with leadership to discuss:

• Progress and recent reports
• Concerns, such as employees regularly missing training or falling for phishing simulations
• Next steps, either within their existing program or as enhancements

You may not sit in the board room with your customers, but you are a valuable resource on a critical business matter that everyone is talking about: Cybersecurity. You have the knowledge and resources to work closely with business leaders to enable a cybersecurity culture – one that is critical to defend their organization – from the top down.

Stay Safe,

Your Friends @ Defendify