All it takes is one-click from an employee, uninformed about security polices, to inadvertently give hackers access to your customer’s data. There is a long list of security breaches of some of the largest US retailers. These breaches have allowed hackers to steal millions of credit cards, social security numbers and other personal data.
You may be surprised to learn that most of these attacks were not all that sophisticated. Often the attacks started by a series of human errors; responding to a phishing email, using a simple password, losing a device, uploading private data to a public cloud. Even though the mistakes were not intentional it does not lessen the damage or repercussions.
Companies are investing in more than just technology to protect their data. They are educating, training and creating a “Culture of Security” among their 
employees. Your employees are on the front line. Arm them with the knowledge to defend your data against attacks.
Implementing easy to understand security policies that do not hinder productivity is imperative to reduce your risk of an attack.
Talk to Your Employees About
- Keeping a clean machine: Your company should have clear rules for what employees can install and keep on their work computers. Make sure they understand and abide by these rules. Unknown outside programs can open security vulnerabilities in your network.
- Following good password practices: Making passwords long and strong, with a mix of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers and symbols, along with changing them routinely and keeping them private are the easiest and most effective steps your employees can take to protect your data.
- When in doubt, throw it out: Employees should know not to open suspicious links in email, tweets, posts, online ads, messages or attachments – even if they know the source. Employees should also be instructed about your company’s spam filters and how to use them to prevent unwanted, harmful email.
- Backing up their work: Whether you set your employees’ computers to backup automatically or ask that they do it themselves, employees should be instructed on their role in protecting their work.
- Staying watchful and speaking up: Your employees should be encouraged to keep an eye out and say something if they notice strange happenings on their computer.
Starting a workplace culture of IT Security is a one-step in creating a well-rounded IT Security Solution. Read more about IT Security and Dell’s approach here.
Sources: https://www.staysafeonline.org/