How security culture helps business to be successful

You’ll often hear a lot of blame thrown around about how users let malicious attackers infiltrate their companies, but we see things differently. We believe that empowering users to understand their responsibility, making security seamless for them, and implementing effective controls are key to protecting our and our customers’ assets. For us, people are the strongest link in security.

The importance of security culture

Security culture refers to the values, beliefs, and behaviors that guide the practices of an organization. It’s about more than just implementing the right tools; it’s about creating an environment where security is everyone’s responsibility. By shifting security left, integrating it early and throughout the lifecycle of projects, we ensure that considerations are not an afterthought but a fundamental aspect of our operational mindset. Since every idea is born in the mind, it’s the best place to start.

We are living it

People at Kontent.ai often chat about security regardless of place or time. They share their experiences from both work and personal life about what they’ve read and learned recently during coffee breaks or via dedicated online channels. An environment like this provides incredible support for the team and helps quickly address the latest threats to a wide audience. Additionally, we encourage our employees to extend their security practices at home by, for example, providing free password manager licenses for their families as a benefit. Some of our security training video content is so engaging that our employees binge-watch it at home with their partners.

This mindset also helps to recognize security not as a cost center, as it usually could be taken, but as a business enabler, motivating everyone to support and behave responsibly at every level of the organization. And to ensure that we don’t lose track, one of our key performance indicators (KPIs) measures employee engagement by tracking how many new potential issues and improvements are suggested by our teams.

Training and awareness

Since culture helps to increase awareness in an agile and informal way, our mandatory security training program is designed to keep the entire company up-to-date on the latest threats and prevention techniques. Thanks to tailored training, we optimize the time spent on these sessions, making them as beneficial as possible for each role to motivate people to look forward to the next one, instead of considering them a waste of time.

Our various training sessions include gamification elements such as team or individual tournaments, badges, and interactive code snippets with vulnerabilities that need to be fixed. These engaging methods not only make learning more enjoyable but also foster a competitive spirit and a deeper understanding of concepts. To further incentivize participation and excellence, we maintain a Hall of Fame to recognize top performers. And to go further, not only are employees able to take external certifications and courses, but when they achieve certain milestones, they are rewarded with a free week off or another well-deserved reward to enjoy the new skills they have learned. This comprehensive approach ensures our employees are well-equipped to handle cybersecurity challenges and continuously grow their skill sets.

Worldwide engagement

Because we don’t live in a bubble and take it seriously with knowledge sharing, we have joined the Cybersecurity Tech Accord, an initiative that promotes a safer online world through collaboration among global technology companies. Additionally, we actively join and participate in various local and worldwide security and AI-related communities, conferences, Slack groups, newsletters, and meetups. These engagements allow us to exchange insights, stay updated on the latest industry trends, and collaborate on innovative solutions with like-minded professionals. By being part of these communities, we enrich our understanding and enhance our collective ability to tackle cybersecurity challenges effectively, both on a local and global level.

Conclusion

In conclusion, at Kontent.ai, we understand that the human element is crucial in cybersecurity. By fostering a proactive security culture and empowering our employees as security champions, we enhance our resilience against cyber threats and mitigate risks. This people-first approach not only protects our company but also extends to protecting our clients and their data, reinforcing trust and reliability in our services.

Remember, in the realm of cybersecurity, everyone is a key player, and every action counts towards building a safer digital world. Join us in our mission to make security a cornerstone of business success and personal well-being.