Cybersecurity has drastically changed in recent years, forcing leaders to quickly implement protective measures or leave the business vulnerable to digital attacks. However, achieving cybersecurity in the long term requires not only adopting data protection practices but also ensuring those practices are followed by employees at every level within the organization.
Below, 20 Forbes Business Council members offer tips on how a business leader can build cybersecurity and data safety into their company culture to reduce risk and safeguard the business against attacks.
1. Lead By Example
Effective cybersecurity starts with leadership. If the director or management is honest and transparent about security policies and the importance of data protection, it creates a foundation of trust within the team. When employees see that leadership takes security seriously, they are more likely to follow the rules and support these efforts at all levels of the company. – Jekaterina Beljankova, WALLACE s.r.o
2. Hold The Entire Team Accountable
Cybersecurity starts with people and culture — it’s not just an IT function but a shared responsibility that requires clear accountability across the organization. By providing continuous education on a regular cadence, companies can foster a culture where every employee feels empowered and obligated to protect digital infrastructure and safeguard sensitive data. – Jenna Saucedo-Herrera, greater:SATX Regional Economic Partnership
3. Involve Leadership In The Roll Out Campaign
Make putting security first a leadership-driven initiative. Then, reinforce it with engaging campaigns, phishing simulations, refresher training and quizzes. Remember to also celebrate security wins. When cybersecurity becomes a shared value rather than just a policy, culture changes, and so does your risk profile. – Manoj Balraj, Experion Technologies
4. Prioritize Digital And Cybersecurity Literacy
Since the majority of breaches stem from human error, digital and cybersecurity literacy should be core in employee training. To keep up with a rapidly evolving climate, some organizations send simulated phishing emails to employees. Future best practices include building holistic training programs and integrating AI into the curriculum to keep employees and the business prepared and thriving. – Jennifer Sanders, North Texas Innovation Alliance
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5. Make Cybersecurity A Daily Habit
Make cybersecurity part of daily habits, not just an annual training. Use short, frequent simulations like phishing tests, and reward smart behavior. When people see security as their job alongside the IT department, culture shifts. Empowered teams are the strongest firewall any company can have. – Vladimir Lastenko, AYEP’S
6. Embed Cybersecurity Throughout Internal Processes
Embed cybersecurity into your organizational culture by making it a core part of onboarding and ongoing professional learning. Deliver role-specific training, simulate real-world threats like phishing and enforce clear protocols for data and AI use. Consistent reinforcement builds a vigilant, security-minded workforce. Practicing for scenarios will ensure teams can move seamlessly through risk. – Julia Rafal-Baer, ILO Group
7. Implement Mandatory Cybersecurity Training Sessions
Organizations should have mandatory cybersecurity training sessions for all staff during onboarding and at regular intervals throughout the year. By embedding cybersecurity responsibilities into day-to-day roles and making security part of the company’s ongoing dialogue, leaders foster a culture where staff members feel responsible and empowered to protect data. This helps to reduce risk at every level. – Adrien Gaubert, MyGWork
8. Share Real Examples
Make security slip-ups part of your storytelling. Share anonymized “almost disasters” at all-hands meetings, including details like what went wrong, how it was caught and what changed. It’s important employees see real stakes and that mistakes are often teachable moments, not punishable offenses. – Sam Nelson, Downstreet Digital
9. Leverage AI To Develop Detailed Training Simulations
Use local language models to create interactive, role-specific cybersecurity training simulations. These AI-driven tools can adapt to employee behavior, offer real-time feedback and run offline for data safety. This will embed security awareness into daily routines while protecting sensitive company data. – Alexis Montecinos, Ph.D., Pharu Analytics
10. Tailor Simulations To How The Team Works
With employees across various roles and skill levels, implementing cybersecurity can feel intimidating. We’ve embedded it into our culture by using real-world, AI-powered simulations tailored to how people work. Our low-friction approach makes security second nature, reducing risk and keeping everyone engaged and alert without overwhelming them. It also lowers our administrative burden and builds a culture of awareness. – Venus Quates, LaunchTech, LLC
11. Appoint ‘Security Champions’ In Every Department
Assign “security champions” in every department. These are regular employees who receive advanced training and serve as security advocates among peers. Unlike top-down approaches, this creates organic security conversations. Since implementation, our phishing simulation click rates dropped from 24% to 3%. Security has become part of everyday work rather than an IT-imposed burden. – Oleg Levitas, Pravda SEO Inc, Real Results SEO Inc.
12. Adopt A Data Governance Framework
The key is starting with a data governance framework, which provides data safety and reduces risk while also sharing accurate information that the business can rely on for making key decisions. This creates trust and realized value in the data, leading to buy-in for a lasting, data-forward company culture. Reduced risk and better insights is a win-win! – Linnea Geiss, PDI Technologies
13. Make Tech Adjustments
We moved to a Microsoft Teams environment for all internal company communication. Nobody receives an email from anyone in the company unless there is an outside recipient. This goes a long way to prevent issues and breaches. We also teach everyone to be extremely critical of any email. They are taught to look at the recipient and other details before doing anything. There are no gift cards for the CEO here. – Joe Crandall, Greencastle Associates Consulting
14. Hold Regular Interactive Workshops
Organize periodic online or offline interactive workshops covering topics like social engineering. Make cybersecurity training a mandatory KPI. Monitor data sharing via email, OneDrive or Google Drive. Restrict access to unauthorized websites or apps, and prevent employees from downloading data from external sources unless properly validated. – Kushal Chordia, VaaS – Visibility as a Service
15. Make It Personal And Relevant
Employees are the first line of defense against cyber attacks. Make it personal by showing them how to protect their family and finances with cybersecurity best practices. Equip them to recognize the latest tactics of attackers through simulated scenarios, and encourage reporting of breach attempts. – Sheryl Tullis, The Line Experience
16. Gamify Cybersecurity
Cybersecurity shouldn’t be a quarterly training checkbox; it needs to be as embedded in your culture as coffee breaks. I make it a habit to gamify security. Implement simple training modules that reward employees for spotting phishing attempts or following best practices. We keep it light, but the message sticks. The more engaged they are, the less likely they are to click on that sketchy email. – Khurram Akhtar, Programmers Force
17. Create A Cybersecurity Escape Room
Set up a cybersecurity escape room. A physical room would be wonderful, but a virtual room also works well. Teams solve puzzles on phishing, passwords and data protection to “escape” in 60 minutes. Employees learn hands-on skills like how to spot fake emails. A fun debrief then reinforces lessons, creating a vigilant, collaborative culture that reduces cyber risks. – Maxwell Alles, Alles Technology
18. Organize Fake Attacks
Cyber attacks are a constant threat to every organization. Our information technology team regularly creates fake attacks to increase awareness and create learning opportunities to help employees stay vigilant and prepared. You need to make sure everyone in the company understands they have a role to play in reducing cybersecurity risks. – M. Todd Abner, OMNIA Partners
19. Educate Employees On Recognizing And Avoiding Hackers
Training needs to go beyond phishing and malware to include tactics on recognizing and avoiding social engineering. For example, a rising scam involves hackers calling employees from a fake “IT department” urging password resets on malicious web pages. Even the most secure networks, top antivirus and strictest policies fail if employees hand credentials directly to a hacker. – Nathan Miller, Rentec Direct
20. Ensure Cybersecurity Is An Ongoing Conversation
Make cybersecurity part of everyday conversations, not just an annual training. Share quick tips in team chats, highlight real-world scams and reward safe practices. When people see it as a shared responsibility rather than just IT’s job, they stay alert and help build a stronger, safer company culture. – Saheer Nelliparamban, ZilMoney
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