Creating a Culture of Security Among Retail Staff

What REI Can Teach Us About Security Culture and Human Risk Management I’ve been thinking about how REI’s cooperative model creates a sense of ownership and investment among employees and customers—and how businesses can apply the same approach to security and human risk management. What if security wasn’t just a mandate from the top but a shared responsibility that employees want to be part of? Here’s how organizations can build a security culture that mirrors REI’s success. 1. Make Security a Shared Mission, Not a Mandate ➡️ REI thrives because members believe in the brand and its values. Companies should build security into their culture as a shared responsibility, not a top-down enforcement. ➡️ How? Frame security as part of the company’s success story—“we all have skin in the game.” Show how strong security protects jobs, customers, and the company’s reputation. 2. Empower Employees as Security Stakeholders ➡️ Employees should feel like they have a vested interest in security, not just be passive rule-followers. ➡️ Consider incentives like bonuses for reporting phishing attempts, public recognition, or gamified security awareness. 3. Get Executive Buy-In Through Business Alignment ➡️ Just as REI values employee engagement, security leaders must show the C-suite that security investments protect revenue, trust, and brand value by tying metrics to business goals. 4. Foster a Culture of Trust and Psychological Safety ➡️ REI fosters a culture where employees feel valued, while security cultures fail when fear drives behavior. Shift from shame-based training to reinforcing learning and support. 5. Invest in Practical, Engaging Training ➡️ Just as REI educates employees and customers on outdoor safety because it aligns with their brand, security training should be relevant and engaging—scenario-based, role-specific, and focused on how it impacts employees’ data, jobs, and company success. 6. Build an Ownership Model for Security ➡️ Develop internal security champions and give employees a voice in shaping policies. Transparent communication about risks and protections fosters shared ownership. 7. Measure and Celebrate Success ➡️ Track KPIs like phishing resilience, reporting rates, and security compliance. Celebrate improvements just as you would with revenue or customer satisfaction. By treating security like REI treats its cooperative model—focusing on engagement, ownership, and shared responsibility—organizations can transform security from a burden into a core value that employees genuinely embrace. Thoughts? #rei #humanrisk #organizationalculture #securityculture #cybersecurity

Security Awareness That Actually Works: The Marketing Approach Rethinking Security Awareness Traditional security awareness programs often fall short because they rely on mandatory training sessions and lengthy newsletters that employees quickly tune out. But what if we approached security awareness differently? What if we treated it like marketing? In marketing, we craft messages to engage, capture attention, and influence behavior. With security awareness, your employees are your customers—and you need to market security practices to them effectively. The Marketing Mindset for Security Successful security awareness requires: - Making security visible and accessible - Creating engaging, memorable experiences - Building real relationships between the security team and employees - Delivering messages in formats people actually consume Strategies That Work On-Site or On-Line Events That Engage Host interactive events like “Spin the Wheel” games with security questions and prizes. When employees get answers right, they win something tangible—and leave with a positive association with security. Put Faces to the Security Team Make sure everyone knows who your security team is. When something feels off—like a suspicious email or strange laptop behavior—employees will remember the friendly faces they met and feel comfortable reaching out. Visual Reminders That Stick Use eye-catching posters and run quick security tips on office TVs and conference room screens. Keep the content short, actionable, and friendly—not fear-based or overly technical. Meet Employees Where They Are If you’re a Slack culture, stay present there. Share timely reminders, run polls, start conversations, and invite feedback. The goal is two-way engagement, not broadcasting. The Secret Ingredient: A Security Marketing Manager None of this happens by accident. The most effective programs have someone focused on internal promotion—a dedicated security marketing lead who: - Understands both security principles and marketing strategies - Translates technical concepts into human language - Dedicates time to building and maintaining a culture of security The Ultimate Goal Every employee should know that the security team is here to help—not to punish or block progress. When security is marketed well, employees become allies in protecting the organization—not obstacles to navigate around. Security awareness isn’t about forcing people to comply. It’s about inspiring them to care.

Your employees are the living, breathing firewall that no technology can replace. After guiding dozens of SMBs through security best practices, I have observed how comprehensive employee training creates remarkable protection when combined with technical solutions. The breakthrough moment? Watching a manufacturing client with modest resources achieve exceptional security outcomes by making security personally meaningful to their team. Effective employee security awareness builds upon three foundational principles: 📍Connect security to personal value. When employees understand how cybersecurity practices protect both business assets and their own personal digital lives, engagement naturally increases. This connection creates intrinsic motivation beyond compliance. 📍Empower through knowledge and skills. Equip your team with clear, actionable protocols for common scenarios—from evaluating suspicious emails to responding to unusual login requests. Confidence in knowing exactly what to do transforms uncertainty into capability. 📍Reinforce learning through regular practice. Supplement formal training with brief security moments integrated into existing workflows. Real-world examples relevant to your industry make abstract concepts concrete and memorable. Security-aware employees complement your technical defenses—creating multiple layers of protection that significantly reduce your organization's vulnerability. What strategies have you found effective in building your security-conscious culture? #CyberSecurity #SmallBusiness #SecurityAwareness #LeadershipStrategy #EmployeeTraining

To build an effective security culture that actually prevents security incidents, you need to go BEYOND awareness / training and start thinking about how to inspire and encourage your colleagues to take ACTION. It's nice they can identify and report a phishing email now, but are they actually reporting them? It's nice they are aware of secure coding practices now, but are they actually practicing them? To have a noticeable effect on your security bottom-line, you need to take the time to understand your current culture and set up incentives that reinforce action. Go beyond "stuff" (pay/bonuses/gift cards) and think about other types of rewards such as recognition, status/titles, earning access to tools and exclusive events, and providing more responsibilities and decision-making power to those who have demonstrated a security focus (see the gamification acronym SAPS for more ideas on this [I'll link in the comments]). And, if you want to change it, measure it... be sure to create metrics that move the needle on the actions you want to see. With 68% of security incidents being preventable through awareness and action, this is the biggest piece we are missing in cybersecurity, and it's solvable by leaning into understanding the science of what motivates people. The details of effective behavior and culture change are outlined in my Security Champion Program Success Guide (link in the comments), and I'm always happy to help you design and support an effective proactive security culture that actually avoids incidents. That is of course unless you enjoy being the public hero who is constantly fighting fires... then I can't help you. 🤔 #securitychampions #securityculture #securityawareness #proactivesecurity #applicationsecurity #softwaresecurity #productsecurity

You can't buy the best cybersecurity tool ever, and you need it. Culture, a security culture. Cybersecurity needs a strong culture to drive it. It’s about leadership, intentional programs, and turning security into a shared mission. Learn how to engage employees, get leadership buy-in, measure meaningful KPIs, and make security a true business differentiator. 🧙🏼♂️In this episode of The Keyboard Samurai Podcast , Mike Williams President of Appalachia Technologies, LLC sat down with me to discuss how he builds a culture of cybersecurity. ⏯️ Full episode link in the comments. Here's the TLDR 👇 1. Culture Starts with Leadership ↳ Leaders set the tone for security ↳ Model the behavior you expect ↳ Fund programs, not just policies 2. Make Security Intentional ↳ Run phishing drills regularly ↳ Host monthly lunch and learns ↳ Do real tabletop exercises 3. People Are the Front Line ↳ Train users on real-world threats ↳ Reward good security behavior ↳ Turn mistakes into learning 4. Training is Not Culture ↳ Avoid one-and-done modules ↳ Use gamified, role-based content ↳ Train early, often, and in context 5. Security is a Noble Mission ↳ Frame security as protection ↳ Connect actions to real impact ↳ Inspire a sense of purpose 6. Customize by Role or Team ↳ Tailor training to each function ↳ Map risks to daily workflows ↳ Speak their language, not yours 7. Measure What Matters ↳ Track phishing data ↳ Prioritize for your business ↳ Report on IR response times 8. Security is a Client Differentiator ↳ Promote your security posture ↳ Show real effort, not just badges ↳ Use cyber strength to win deals 9. Educate, Don’t Lecture ↳ Share breach case studies ↳ Explain how attacks actually work ↳ Keep stories short and sticky 10. Build the Case with Data ↳ Use risk registers to guide asks ↳ Show the cost of inaction ↳ Bring metrics to the boardroom 11. Security Never Stands Still ↳ Update practices as threats evolve ↳ Watch trends like AI and quantum ↳ Build a learning-first culture This episode will change how you think about security daily. How do you build cyber culture? ⬇️ 🔄 Share to build strong cybersecurity cultures 📲 Follow Wil Klusovsky for wisdom on cyber & tech business

Cybersecurity is often ignored. But let’s be clear. 𝗜𝘁’𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗮 𝘁𝗲𝗰𝗵 𝗶𝘀𝘀𝘂𝗲. 𝗜𝘁’𝘀 𝗮 𝗰𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝘀𝘀𝘂𝗲. The 𝗕𝗿𝗼𝗸𝗲𝗻 𝗪𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗼𝘄𝘀 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗼𝗿𝘆 shows us why. This idea says that small signs of disorder lead to more problems. If we ignore a broken window, we invite more crime. The same goes for cybersecurity. When employees see weak passwords or outdated software, they think it’s okay to ignore security rules. This creates a culture of carelessness. 𝗧𝗼 𝗳𝗶𝘅 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀, 𝘄𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝘄𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗰𝘆𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆. We should create a culture of vigilance. Encourage employees to report small issues. Celebrate security wins. Make security tools user-friendly. These steps can turn our digital spaces into safe neighborhoods. 𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗹𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗼𝗿𝘆: → 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁 𝗮 𝗗𝗶𝗴𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗘𝗻𝘃𝗶𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗔𝘂𝗱𝗶𝘁. Look for outdated software or confusing policies. → 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗮 "𝗦𝗲𝗲 𝗦𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝗦𝗮𝘆 𝗦𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴" 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺. Make it easy for employees to report issues. → 𝗥𝗲𝗱𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻 𝗦𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀. Use infographics and short videos to make information engaging. → 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗦𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀. Identify individuals who can advocate for security in their departments. → 𝗛𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝘂𝗹𝗮𝗿 𝗗𝗶𝗴𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀. Make cybersecurity training fun and interactive. 𝗕𝘆 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗹𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘀𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘀, 𝘄𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗮 𝘀𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗰𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲. It’s not just about preventing breaches. It’s about building a community where everyone cares about security. Let’s shift our approach. Let’s create digital neighborhoods where security is a shared responsibility. This is how we make cybersecurity a priority. Intelligent Technical Solutions Mike Rhea🔒🛡️

What an incredible week at #NCMS in Orlando 📍 We briefed almost 300 security officers on how to build an engaging security program! And it was a REALLY engaging workshop! Building an engaing program means thinking like a marketer - we don’t just need more rules—we need more buy-in. As security professionals, the job isn’t just to enforce compliance. It’s to inspire secure behavior. And to do that, you need to start thinking like marketers, who don’t rely on mandates. They build trust, spark interest, and change habits. And if we want our security culture to stick, we need that same mindset. Here’s how: 1. Know your audience: Marketers study their audience’s needs, fears, and motivations. You should do the same. A maintenance tech, a senior analyst, and a new hire all interact with security differently. Tailor your message to their world. 2. Make training interactive: Here’s a fact that speaks volumes: Interactive formats—quizzes, games, simulations—result in 35% higher engagement and 20% better knowledge retention than passive formats like slideshows. If you want your message to land, make training something people experience, not something they watch. 3. Break it down with microlearning: Short, bite-sized lessons spaced throughout the year can improve focus and retention by over 50%. This is huge. It tells us that monthly 5-minute refreshers, scenario cards, or “Security Tips of the Week” aren’t just easy to digest—they’re far more effective. 4. Leverage the power of team learning: Security is a team sport. And it turns out, training works better together. Orgs that use team-based learning see: +17% higher training completion +22% improved morale and trust in leadership +30% greater adoption of security policies Learning in groups reduces training fatigue—which is one of the top reasons people tune out in the first place. So whether it's tabletop exercises, team quizzes, or department-wide challenges—training that brings people together has power. 5. Tell a story: Policies are forgettable. Stories are not. A real-world example of a security breach—or a close call—can do more to change behavior than ten pages of guidelines. Don’t just teach—connect. Remember cyber Jeff & Tina. So here’s the takeaway: Security will thrive not just because we enforce rules, but because we influence behavior. Not because we dictate, but because we engage. Not because we preach, but because we market the mission. Let’s think like marketers. Let’s teach like educators. Let’s lead like trusted teammates. That’s how you build a security culture people believe in—and proudly uphold. We love engaging with the security apparatus of #natsec - a crucial piece to maintaing a security cleared workforce.

As cyber threats continue to evolve, it's clear that technology alone isn't enough. A robust security culture, where every employee is a Guardian, is essential. The Behavioral Security Model, a concept gaining traction in the industry, offers a compelling approach: 👉Knowledge: Move beyond one-size-fits-all training. Provide personalized, engaging education that empowers employees to understand and mitigate risks specific to their roles. 👉Context: Tailor security measures and tools to individual needs, recognizing that different employees face different challenges. 👉Motivation: Foster a sense of ownership and engagement in cybersecurity. Leadership buy-in and gamification can be powerful motivators. 👉Behavior: Encourage the development of secure habits through continuous learning and reinforcement. This holistic approach recognizes that employees are not vulnerabilities but valuable assets in the fight against cybercrime. By investing in their knowledge, understanding their context, motivating their engagement, and nurturing secure behaviors, we build a human firewall that's far more resilient than any software solution. What's your take on the Behavioral Security Model? How do you think it can be effectively implemented in today's organizations? Share your thoughts below! #Cybersecurity #SecurityCulture #BehavioralSecurity #HumanFirewall #EmployeeEngagement