illustration of an astronaut using a laptop for remote security with images of locks and checkmarks in a cloud

Human error can open up your business to serious security vulnerabilities. Add security for hybrid or remote businesses presents extra challenges. Think third-party applications and slow response times from workers in scattered time zones on flexible schedules, and IT has a long row to hoe. In one 2021 IBM report, the average data breach costs $4.24 million, plus $1.07 million more when remote work is the reason behind the breach. And, 17.5% of companies report cyberattacks due to remote work.

A Verizon 2021 Data Breach Investigations Report found that “85% of breaches involved a human element.” And that same IBM study found that compromised credentials, phishing, and vulnerability in third-party software were among the top causes of a security breach. What do all of these vulnerabilities have in common? They could’ve possibly been prevented with better cybersecurity skills and awareness for teams.

In one 2021 IBM report, the average data breach costs $4.24 million, plus $1.07 million more when remote work is the reason behind the breach. And, 17.5% of companies report cyberattacks due to remote work.

Employees need a solid understanding of security risks for your business. And these three tactics—with a little help from Trello—can help you build a cybersecurity fortress to protect your remote and hybrid workforce.

Make IT security education part of onboarding

Instill good IT security habits from the start. Work with human resources to ensure IT security training is part of onboarding. Let new team members start their job with a clear understanding of your enterprise’s IT policies and procedures, like maintaining password hygiene or discouraging shadow IT.

Trello Enterprise can help teams with a standard onboarding workflow for new hires to follow, with IT security awareness built in. You can use a template like this 30 60 90 Day Plan, or create a board from scratch. And, of course, you can customize it for your organization or team needs.

screenshot of the 30, 60, 90 Day Plan template for cybersecurity onboarding with a Trello board Use a Trello board like this one to develop an onboarding system with IT security training.

Within this board, you can incorporate essential IT education for each column (or stage) of onboarding. In “Onboarding essentials,” you can add security awareness training in the “Important items” card, or make it a checklist item. In the “Helpful links” column, there’s a “Training resources” card to attach your IT policies and procedures. And within each timeframe column—from the first week to the first 90 days—you can add an IT-related goal.

New hires will become well-acquainted with everything they need to know about enterprise security. And you’ll have helped protect them (and your organization) from outside threats.

Conduct regular cybersecurity training

Cybersecurity threats grow and evolve, and consistent cybersecurity training is a necessity. While many industry experts recommend quarterly training, we recommend a cadence that supports your company goals. 

And there’s plenty to cover. According to the (ISC)² 2021 Cloud Security Report, the top IT security training topics enterprises find valuable include cloud-enabled cybersecurity, incident response, risk-based frameworks, and application security. 

Compromised credentials, phishing, and vulnerability in third-party software were among the top causes of a security breach. What do all of these vulnerabilities have in common? They could’ve possibly been prevented with better cybersecurity skills and awareness for teams.

Use Trello to make a board dedicated to security training topics and progress. You can create columns for topic ideas, such as phishing prevention or mobile security, approved apps, and upcoming training sessions (with dates). Stakeholders can upvote their most pressing initiatives with the Voting Power-Up, an app integration that lets team members decide on the topics they want to learn most. 

screenshot of the Voting Power-Up on a Trello board

Add the Trello Voting Power-Up to Trello Enterprise to give teams a vote on which security training topics to tackle.

Build a knowledge hub of cybersecurity assets

There’s a lot for your remote workforce to absorb when it comes to cybersecurity—IT policy and procedure handbooks, training videos, and more. Your team needs a source of truth for reference materials: An accessible knowledge hub where all IT security resources live.

Building an easy-to-update knowledge base specifically for IT information on a Trello board has many advantages for simplicity and organization:

  • You can quickly make columns for different resource categories, like videos, policies, playbooks, or reporting procedures. 
  • Within columns, a card for each asset nests copy, images, videos, and other related material all in one place. 
  • Employees can ask questions within cards on any resource. They can also comment to let your IT team know if a resource is outdated.
  • Cards are easy to move, and easy to share, across different boards and board views

Promote and protect enterprise security with Trello

Trello Enterprise relies on enterprise-grade security to help build cybersecurity awareness and keep your business safe. 

Security features like single sign-on (SSO), user management capabilities, and mobile device management help teams collaborate and work remotely.

How to tighten cybersecurity for remote and hybrid teams