CINCINNATI--(BUSINESS WIRE)--As a National Cyber Security Awareness Month (NCSAM) Champion, Shred-it is calling on organizations to review and improve their information security protocols and digital security practices to avoid falling prey to a disastrous data breach.
“Shred-it is proud to be named a 2015 National Cyber Security Awareness Month Champion and join the growing global effort to promote online safety awareness,” says Bruce Andrew, SVP, Shred-it. “As a Champion, we call on businesses to regularly review and improve the information security policies and procedures they have in place to protect their physical and digital data.”
While the Shred-it 2015 Information Security Tracker Survey revealed that 85% of c-suite respondents and 37% of small business respondents have a cyber-security policy in place, improving security goes beyond implementing a policy. Among the most important elements is training employees. Though some attacks are the results of intrusive hacking, many have been the result of lax training—unencrypted phones that are stolen, passwords left visible on desks, and employees giving out sensitive information to fraudsters ‘phishing’ for ways to get access to confidential data. When you consider that according to the Security Tracker Survey, 43% of c-suite respondents and 86% of small-business respondents train employees once a year or less on information security protocols and procedures, it’s clear that there is room for improvement.
Once breached, companies can end up paying heavily for their lack of planning. According to the Ponemon Institute, the average cost of cybercrime in the U.S. is $12.7 million1, which is a heavy toll for all but the largest companies. Even if a breach doesn’t end up being financially ruinous or legally damaging it can erode a business’ public reputation and trust. Celebrated every October, National Cyber Security Awareness Month provides a perfect opportunity to re-evaluate protocols and recommit to protecting critical information.
"The Champion Program is a vital part of making National Cyber Security Awareness Month a success each year,” said Michael Kaiser, executive director of the National Cyber Security Alliance. “We are thankful to our 2015 Champion organizations for their support and commitment to our shared responsibility of promoting cyber security and online safety awareness."
Shred-it has taken a lead on helping businesses address gaps in their information security owners by providing advice on its blog and in the Shred-it Resource Centre.
About Shred-it
Shred-it is a world-leading information
security company providing information destruction services that ensure
the security and integrity of our clients' private information. A
wholly, owned subsidiary of Stericycle, Shred-it operates in 170 markets
throughout 18 countries worldwide, servicing more than 400,000 global,
national and local businesses. For more information, please visit www.shredit.com.
About National Cyber Security Awareness Month
Now in its
12th year, NCSAM is designed to engage and educate public and private
sector partners through events and initiatives with the goal of raising
awareness about cyber security in order to increase the resiliency of
the nation in the event of a cyber incident. Since President Obama’s
proclamation establishing NCSAM in 2004, NCSAM has been formally
recognized by Congress, federal, state and local governments and leaders
from industry and academia. This united effort is necessary to maintain
a cyberspace that is safer, more resilient and remains a source of
tremendous opportunity and growth for years to come. For more
information, visit http://www.staysafeonline.org/ncsam or www.dhs.gov/national-cyber-security-awareness-month.
About The National Cyber Security Alliance
The National
Cyber Security Alliance (NCSA) is the nation's leading nonprofit,
public-private partnership promoting digital privacy and the safe and
secure use of the Internet. Working with the Department of Homeland
Security (DHS), private sector sponsors and nonprofit collaborators to
promote cybersecurity awareness, NCSA board members include
representatives from ADP, AT&T, Bank of America, Comcast Corporation,
EMC Corporation, ESET, Facebook, Google, Intel, Logical Operations,
McAfee, Microsoft, PKWARE, Raytheon, Symantec, Verizon and Visa. Through
collaboration with the government, corporate, nonprofit and academic
sectors, NCSA’s mission is to educate and empower a digital citizenry to
use the Internet securely and safely, protect themselves and the
technology they use, and protect the digital assets we all share. NCSA
leads initiatives for STOP.THINK.CONNECT.TM, a global cybersecurity
awareness campaign to help all digital citizens stay safer and more
secure online; Data Privacy Day, celebrated annually on January 28 and
National Cyber Security Awareness Month, launched every October. For
more information on NCSA, please visit http://www.staysafeonline.org/about-us/overview/.
1 2014 Ponemon Institute Cost of Cyber Crime Study: United State Page 2
