In the second part of the Building a Cybersecurity Mindset series, we discuss making cybersecurity the cornerstone of a strong IT environment. See part one here!
Last week’s blog discussed the importance of educating the end user and the importance leaders need to place on protecting their environments.
In addition to education, quality cybersecurity protection comes from being embedded in a quality IT environment, where security is always a consideration. Ultimately, members of the ERC team agreed that cybersecurity is a mindset that should be used in routine decision-making about your IT services. Donald Purvis, Network and Systems Engineer, added, “As you manage your email, as you handle your passwords, as you design systems, as you design networks, as you interact on a daily basis, as you train your users, you need to have that cybersecurity mindset.”
Think of it as a cycle: a strong IT environment encourages users to apply a cybersecurity mindset, and applying a cybersecurity mindset will then strengthen an IT environment further.
Viewing cybersecurity as a mindset encourages school districts to think about the challenge of providing robust cybersecurity protection from a new angle. Since cybersecurity tools are just one part of robust cybersecurity protection, ask yourself: how functional is your IT system as a whole? Are cybersecurity threats taken into account in daily operations? Is security a “core value” across your school district, and especially in your IT department?
“As you manage your email, as you handle your passwords, as you design systems, as you design networks, as you interact on a daily basis, as you train your users, you need to have that cybersecurity mindset.”
Embracing a cybersecurity mindset does require significant planning, but partnering with an IT managed service provider gives school districts access to professionals who use a cybersecurity mindset in their work every day. “There’s no one tool that can help you,” Mohamed observed. “You need a comprehensive plan.”
