Cybersecurity: A Shared Responsibility for a Resilient Future

Cybersecurity is a shared responsibility that affects every corner of an organization. From leadership to frontline staff, everyone has a role in protecting digital assets, maintaining trust, and ensuring business continuity.

“Cybersecurity isn’t just an IT problem. It’s part of how we deliver on our commitments to customers, partners, and employees,” says Chief Operations Officer Carol Shinn. “If systems are down, everything else suffers.”

A resilient cybersecurity posture rests on proactive risk management and a culture of security awareness.
 

Proactive Risk Management: Staying Ahead of Threats

In today’s environment, waiting for an incident isn’t an option. Organizations must anticipate risks through regular audits, threat modeling, and preparation for evolving attack methods such as phishing, AI-driven exploits, and third-party vulnerabilities.
 

Building a Culture of Security Awareness

While technology is critical, human error remains one of the most common causes of breaches. Simple mistakes including clicking a malicious link, using weak passwords, or skipping updates, can open the door to attackers.

Training employees on cybersecurity best practices is essential, but true resilience comes when security becomes part of the organizational culture. This means integrating cybersecurity into onboarding, continuous learning, and simulations like phishing tests, to keep awareness sharp.

“Every click matters,” Carol Shinn says. “When employees understand their role in protecting the organization, they take cybersecurity more seriously.”
 

Practical Steps Businesses Can Take

There are concrete actions you can take to strengthen your organization’s defenses:

  1. Enable multi-factor authentication (MFA).
  2. Keep systems and software updated.
  3. Back up critical data regularly.
  4. Train employees regularly.
  5. Limit access to sensitive information.
  6. Use endpoint or antivirus/malware protection.
  7. Create a basic incident response plan.

These consistent actions strengthen defenses across the organization, ensuring that systems, data, and people are protected.
 

Leveraging Resources from CISA

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) offers a wealth of free resources that businesses can use to strengthen their defenses. CISA provides toolkits, training materials, and actionable guidance to help organizations and individuals become more cyber-aware. These resources are accessible at www.cisa.gov.
 

Why It Matters Now

Cyber threats are escalating, and with interconnected systems, the consequences of weak defenses can be severe, ranging from financial loss to reputational harm.

Cybersecurity is about more than protecting systems−it’s about protecting people, relationships, and the future of your business. By managing risks proactively, fostering awareness, and investing wisely, organizations can build resilience.

Carol Shinn
Carol Shinn is the Executive Vice President, Chief Operations Officer at Peoples Bank.