What is a Security Behavior and Culture Program (SBCP)?

The Security Behavior and Culture Program (SBCP) is a transformative approach to addressing human-driven cybersecurity risks within organizations. Unlike traditional security awareness programs that focus merely on education, SBCP dives deeper into reshaping organizational norms, behaviors, and values to foster a culture of security consciousness. Let’s explore how SBCP achieves this and why it is a game-changer for modern enterprises.

From Security Awareness to Behavior Change

Traditional cybersecurity training often falls short of driving lasting behavioral change. The 2023 Verizon Data Breach Investigations Report reveals that the human element is involved in 74% of breaches, underscoring the critical role of employee behavior in organizational cybersecurity.

Another research indicates that up to 93% of employees knowingly engage in actions that increase cyber risk. Source: 2022 Gartner Cyber-security Awareness Survey. SBCP addresses this gap by moving beyond individual awareness to emphasize collective responsibility and group norms.

"By 2027, half of all cybersecurity programs will prioritize behavioral transformation over awareness," Gartner predicts. Additionally, "large enterprise CISOs will adopt human-centric security design practices to minimize friction and maximize control adoption."

This highlights a growing recognition that fostering a security-conscious culture is critical for reducing human-related cyber risks.

SBCP uses frameworks like the Gartner PIPE (Platforms, Insights, Practices, and Evaluation) to embed security into the organization's cultural DNA. It integrates storytelling, impactful communication, and metrics that demonstrate meaningful behavior change.

Building a Foundation of Secure Practices

An effective SBCP begins with a clear assessment of the organization’s current state. This includes analyzing root causes of security incidents, identifying high-risk business units, and evaluating key cultural attributes. Metrics such as incident causes by department or authority level provide actionable insights. For example, phishing simulations can reveal susceptibility rates, helping focus resources where they are needed most. These simulations also highlight dwell time, a crucial metric for understanding the effectiveness of detection and response systems.

Security Behavior and Culture Metrics

The "Security Behavior and Culture Metrics" table outlines key indicators used to measure the effectiveness of an SBCP. These metrics span different areas such as behavioral changes, compliance levels, cultural shifts, alignment with strategic goals, and the success of ambassador programs. Each type provides a targeted way to assess and improve security-related behaviors and cultural integration, ensuring a comprehensive approach to reducing human-driven cybersecurity risks.

Table 1: Metric Types and Examples

Beyond Compliance: Measuring What Matters

Traditional security metrics—such as training completion rates or phishing click-through percentages—often fail to capture the essence of behavioral change. SBCP redefines success by linking metrics to meaningful outcomes, such as reductions in security incidents caused by employee actions. Protection-Level Agreements (PLAs) provide a structured approach to tracking progress, focusing on indicators like improved phishing reporting rates or reductions in avoidable remediation costs.

The Role of Leadership and Social Dynamics

Cultural transformation requires buy-in from the top. Executive support ensures that security is a visible priority, woven into business goals and KPIs.

A prime example is Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft, who emphasizes a culture of accountability and cybersecurity awareness across all organizational levels. His leadership has helped integrate security practices into the company’s core values, inspiring employees to adopt secure behaviors.

Human-Centric Security in Action

Effective SBCPs humanize security by illustrating the personal impact of cybersecurity risks. Empathetic storytelling—such as sharing real-world consequences of data breaches—helps employees relate to the importance of secure behavior. This approach aligns with several behavioral science theories:

• Social Learning Theory: Employees learn secure behaviors by observing their peers’ actions. For instance, a finance team member quickly reporting a suspected phishing email prevented a potential payroll scam, setting an example for others to emulate.
• Mimetic Behavior: People tend to mimic the actions of those they perceive as successful. Highlighting IT staff who acted on phishing simulation feedback and significantly improved detection rates encourages similar proactive behaviors across the organization.
• Normative Conformity: Employees often adopt behaviors to align with perceived group norms. An HR representative intercepting a suspicious request avoided a critical data breach by verifying the sender, demonstrating how secure actions become normalized within a culture that values vigilance.

At its core, SBCP is about aligning security practices with organizational values. Whether it’s tying cybersecurity to existing priorities like quality or safety, or showcasing the business benefits of reduced cyber risks, SBCP ensures that security is not just a policy but a shared commitment.

The Business Case for SBCP

The ultimate goal of SBCP is to reduce employee-driven cybersecurity risks, which are among the leading causes of data breaches and operational disruptions. Success stories illustrate the impact of this approach:

Tiryaki, a global agricultural company with operations in 40 sourcing and 50 distribution countries, tackled phishing risks head-on with Keepnet's SBCP solutions. Their business outcomes included cost savings of $10,792 annually through improved incident response efficiency and prevention of $154,616 in potential losses annually. On the cybersecurity front, Tiryaki achieved an 89% improvement in phishing detection rates within 12 months, turning employees into active defenders and bolstering overall organizational resilience.

Teknosa, a leading technology retailer with over 2,500 employees, successfully tackled vishing threats through Keepnet's SBCP methodologies. By implementing automated vishing simulations and comprehensive security awareness training, Teknosa achieved an 80% improvement in scam recognition within just 90 days. This effort translated into a business outcome of enhanced operational efficiency, preventing $439,250 in potential losses annually and saving $30,000 through improved incident response processes. The cybersecurity outcome included reduced regulatory risks, a robust vishing incident response playbook, and significantly bolstered customer trust and employee morale.

As Ozan Ucar, cybersecurity leader and Founder and CEO of Keepnet, aptly stated, "Building a security culture isn’t just about minimizing breaches—it’s about creating an environment where employees become active participants in safeguarding the organization." In a world where cyber threats are evolving faster than ever, SBCP represents a proactive, holistic approach to managing human risk. It transforms security from a compliance checkbox to a vital component of organizational resilience.

How Keepnet Helps Build an SBCP

Keepnet provides an Unified Human Risk Management Platform designed to create, implement, and measure the success of a Security Behavior and Culture Program. From simulating phishing attacks to offering behavior-driven security awareness training, Keepnet equips organizations with tools to transform cybersecurity into a shared cultural value. By leveraging advanced analytics, tailored training modules, and engaging communication strategies, Keepnet ensures the seamless embedding of secure behaviors into everyday operations.

Watch the demo of Keepnet Human Risk Management below and see how we can help your Security Behavior and Culture Program efforts: