3 Tips for Driving User Buy-in to Security Policies

IT usage and security policies can be an annoyance for employees who simply see them as draconian roadblocks for their daily activities. With the rise of privacy tools, such as VPNs and privacy-focused web browsers, it's never been easier for users to circumvent organizational controls and, in turn, increase a company's risk profile.

Case in point: A 2018 Insider Threat Intelligence Report from Dtex found that last year 60% of users surveyed were using anonymous or private browsing to bypass company security policies. The report also found that in 91% of assessments, personal email usage was occurring on company machines, which significantly increases the chances of a phishing attack affecting corporate resources. Even the best corporate security policies mean nothing if users don't follow them.

That's why teaching users why it's important to commit to security policies and controls is a far more effective strategy than simply demanding that they follow them. For example, relaxing rules, gamifying education and testing, or simply explaining the "why" behind rules can do a lot to help drive employee acceptance.

By making a few changes in how you implement your security rules, you can make your company more secure. Here are three tips.

Tip 1: Relax Security Rules
As a security professional, I understand the value of advocating for the strongest security possible. To be honest, if I had my way, users would use complex, 24-plus-character passwords, ignore all email attachments, and be blocked from accessing the Internet outside of specific whitelisted websites required for their jobs. But this isn't realistic. Applying overbearing security policies is an effective way to get employees to ignore sensible security practices out of spite.

On the other hand, by relaxing some rules, IT can drive better policy adoption. For example, easing up on the websites you block can reduce the urge for users to try and proxy or VPN around corporate protections. Allowing less complex (but still secure) passwords can reduce password reuse and dissuade users from simply swapping in a new number when it comes time for a quarterly password reset. In fact, last year the National Institute for Standards and Technology (NIST) updated its password enforcement guidelines to remove complexity and expiration requirements, among other similar changes.

Tip 2: Engage Users with Meaningful Training
All it takes is one unaware user clicking a malicious link in a phishing email to breach a company. Employee training is a critical part of every security plan, so engaging users with interesting and effective security awareness training programs is crucial. Gamification is also a great way to boost interest and get employees to pay attention to the important information. Changing out the slide deck for a "find the phish" game can help keep users engaged in the content and focused on the ultimate goal. Implementing a points system with a training leaderboard and prizes can encourage employees to pay attention and pass knowledge assessments. 

Tip 3: Explain Why
Security pros have all encountered users who ignore security rules because they don't understand the true implications behind them. Explaining the purpose behind your security policies is vital to bringing these users on board. Instead of simply blocking access to personal email websites, like Gmail or Hotmail, explain the risks these sites pose to the organization when users bypass anti-phishing protections. Demonstrating how easy it is to brute-force short passwords might help them understand why longer passwords are vital. Discussing the actual impact of ransomware can work a lot better than just telling your employees to use network backup locations.

These exercises are equally important for the policy creators. If you can't define a clear "why" for a policy rule, then it probably shouldn't be a rule. It's easy for security professionals to go for the "Fort Knox" approach to security, but different organizations have different threat models. A policy that works great for a Fortune 500 company might not be appropriate for a 12-person shop. Regardless, a little bit of "why" education can go a long way in making users more amenable to new policies.

When it comes to security, the goal should not be to create absolute security, but to be as secure as possible given the demands of the business model and the user group you have to work with. The best security plan is one that everyone can get on board with, and that doesn't have to be difficult to achieve.

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