Have You Built a Solid Cybersecurity Culture in Your Organization?

Human error now drives 60% of breaches…making your employees the most critical part of your security strategy.

Did you know that, in 60% of all data breaches, human error plays a role, according to Verizon’s 2025 Data Breach Investigations Report (DBIR)?

Yet, when it comes to many cybersecurity strategies, the focus is typically on technology. In other words, the human element takes a back seat as organizations focus on the tools adversaries use to conduct attacks and on how they can deploy their own tools to counter them.

That’s all well and good. 

But there’s a drawback to that approach: Even the best cybersecurity tools fail if the company’s people don’t understand how to use them safely.

A better way is to place equal emphasis on establishing a solid cybersecurity culture.

That said, a strong cybersecurity culture isn’t built overnight. 

It’s developed through consistent education, leadership buy-in, and proactive data protection practices. If you commit to these, then as surely as the sun rises in the east and sets in the west, so shall your company become an inhospitable place for attackers.

Here’s what to know about building a future-proof cybersecurity culture.

What’s my action item? Ask yourself: when was the last time your employees received hands-on cybersecurity training?

Why a Cybersecurity Culture Matters More Than Technology

Raise your hand if you once thought an I.T. guy on payroll, along with the latest firewalls and antivirus software, were all it took to keep adversaries at bay.

Could there be someone in your team who holds that view as you read this?

And if they don’t view cybersecurity as part of their daily responsibility, isn’t it a gap in your defense strategy?

Today, artificial intelligence (AI) powered phishing and social engineering are the number #1 entry point for adversaries, not a brute-force attack on your systems, according to Cybercrime Magazine.

You can lock down every system you have, but one mistaken click from an employee can still open the door to attackers.

To thrive in this new world, the old notion that “the I.T. department has everything covered” must be replaced with the impression that “cybersecurity is everyone’s responsibility.”

What’s my action item? Treat cybersecurity like safety in the workplace. Every person is accountable for protecting company data.

The Core Elements of a Cybersecurity-Conscious Workplace

So, what exactly are the foundational components of a robust cybersecurity culture?

Let’s break it down:

1. Leadership Commitment: Strong cybersecurity cultures start at the top, with executives modeling vigilance.  
2. Education and Awareness: Comprehensive employee training is delivered to ensure everyone on the team understands not just the what, but the why.
3. Clear Policies: Cybersecurity guidelines are accessible, enforceable, and consistently reviewed.
4. Incident Transparency: Leaders encourage employees to report suspicious activities without fear of blame.
5. Recognition and Accountability: Lastly, leaders reward proactive behavior to reinforce the cybersecurity culture.

What’s my action item? Post your data security policies publicly on your internal communications channels. Visibility reinforces consistency.

Turning Employees Into a Human Firewall

On May 30, 2024, a Harvard Business Review (HBR) article warned that AI will increase the quality and quantity of phishing attacks (including smishing and deepfake scams), urging organizations to step up employee training and data protection efforts. 

SMB leaders would do well to heed this advice, given that, as of 2025, phishing already accounts for 55% of social engineering attacks, according to Verizon’s DBIR.

Here are three practical actions to strengthen your company’s cybersecurity culture:

• Start circulating a monthly security newsletter, covering the latest real-world scams in each edition.
• Supplement it with short “microlearning” videos.
• Lastly, conduct simulated exercises to validate that the employee training is actually working.

What’s my action item? Run quarterly phishing simulations and publicly celebrate departments with perfect scores.

Data Protection Starts with Everyday Habits

Never forget that data protection is an operational responsibility, not just an I.T. issue.

Real cybersecurity strength comes from alignment: every person, every department, all moving in the same direction.

Here are four practical habits:

• Always use strong passwords and multi-factor authentication (MFA).
• Establish clean desk and clear screen policies.
• Avoid and discourage employees from logging in to work accounts via public Wi-Fi.
• Encrypt all data in motion and at rest.

Learn more: Why Smart SMBs Prioritize MFA

What’s my action item? Create a simple “Top 10 Secure Habits” checklist for employees to reference during onboarding and quarterly reviews.

The Role of Continuous Employee Training

As cyber threats evolve, your training should too.

In addition to the above insights, we recommend:

• Monthly 10-minute refresher sessions.
• Quarterly all-hands cybersecurity drills.
• Annual full-scope risk awareness sessions.

Also consider collaborating with your managed service provider (MSP) to stay ahead of new attack trends and data protection measures.

What’s my action item? Partner with a managed I.T. provider (like Attentus) to deliver tailored cybersecurity training for your industry.

Security Is Everyone’s Job

Make no mistake, technology alone can’t stop a breach. But empowered, trained people can.

A strong cybersecurity culture makes security everyone’s responsibility, transforming employees from risk factors into defense assets.

By building such a culture, you’re not wasting time or throwing money down the drain, but investing in business resilience and peace of mind.

What’s my action item? Before investing in new cybersecurity software, invest in your people’s awareness first.

Strengthen Your Front Line With Proven, People-First Security

At Attentus, one of our core values is to “own the problem”. We do this by educating users, not just fixing systems. 

When you tap into our managed I.T. services, you get proactive support with employee training. As well, we help you build a data protection strategy that combines technical defenses like firewalls, patching, and backups with human risk mitigation.

Ready to turn your team into your strongest line of defense?

Schedule a custom cybersecurity culture audit to identify weak points in your employee engagement and training practices.