Five ways to enhance security and usability during Cybersecurity Awareness Month

At a time when security and efficiency are crucial for modern enterprises, business leaders can’t afford to choose one over the other.

Each October, Cybersecurity Awareness Month brings together public and private sector leaders to empower individuals and organisations to strengthen their defences against evolving cyber threats. Led by CISA and the National Cybersecurity Alliance, this year’s theme, “Stay Safe Online,” highlights the importance of everyday security practices that protect people and data alike.

At Imprivata, Cybersecurity Awareness Month is a reminder that true cyber resilience requires robust data protection measures that also ensure the usability of systems and technologies. As organisations rely more on IoT systems and devices, remote access, and vendor support, security measures must empower users rather than slow them down. Doing so hinges on ensuring that the secure workflow is also the easy workflow.

Here are five ways organisations can strengthen both security and usability this October and beyond.

1. Make identity the control plane

Identity has become the foundation of modern security. Treating identity as the control plane ensures every login, device, and application is governed by a consistent access policy. When users authenticate seamlessly, whether through biometrics, badges, or mobile credentials, security becomes frictionless and invisible, reducing workarounds and improving user satisfaction.

To build on this foundation:

• Adopt Zero Trust principles. No user or device should be inherently trusted; access must always be verified—but without passing this burden onto end users. Intelligent technology and modern security approaches can quietly embed this zero-trust model in the background of the user experience.
• Implement multi-factor authentication (MFA) and least-privilege access. These will minimise exposure and limit lateral movement, but when deployed correctly, also ensure the right people have access to the right thing at the right time through intuitive authentication.
• Conduct regular access reviews. Ensure permissions align with current roles and responsibilities by using role-based access controls that grant user identities access to only what they need and nothing they shouldn’t, again allowing organisations to maintain good security practices and hygiene while staying invisible to the end user.
• Integrate identity threat detection and response (ITDR) capabilities. Detect anomalies and respond quickly to potential threats with risk intelligence, advanced authenticator options, and workflow-aware automation. When user identities are operating according to normal, expected, and configured behavior, they experience frictionless access throughout their workflows. When they deviate in risky ways, we can put the brakes on and elevate risks and friction points—keeping malicious actors out and ensuring legitimate users access systems in appropriate ways.
• Secure third-party and vendor access. Extend Zero Trust policies to non-employee users, including vendors and contractors, as well as critical systems, to protect against one of the most often exploited breach vectors.

By combining identity and access management (IAM) with ongoing monitoring and threat detection, organisations can ensure that data is protected at every level without compromising the user experience.

2. Move toward passwordless authentication

Passwords remain one of the biggest vulnerabilities in enterprise security. They’re also a major drain on productivity, particularly in environments with shared workstations and devices that frontline workers log into dozens of times per day. Passwordless authentication methods such as Fast Identity Online (FIDO) standards, device-bound passkeys, or proximity-based authentication enhance security while giving users faster, more reliable access to their digital tools.

Enterprise organisations looking to transition to a passwordless environment need to address the following:

• Assess your IT environment. Identify critical devices, workstations, and applications that require secure and efficient access.
• Pinpoint high-friction workflows. Focus on roles and access points where credentials slow productivity.
• Select interoperable solutions. Choose tools that seamlessly integrate with existing IT and OT systems.
• Ensure compliance. Verify MFA and audit capabilities to align with regulatory frameworks and compliance requirements.
• Prioritise user experience. Collaborate and test new solutions with users to ensure adoption and trust before widespread implementation.

A passwordless future eliminates credential fatigue and phishing risk, empowering teams to work faster and safer by simplifying access and redefining how security can truly support people.

3. Secure access to shared workstations and mobile devices

In mission-critical industries like healthcare, manufacturing, and public safety, shared mobile devices and workstations are essential for driving efficiency, but they can also introduce risk. An efficient and secure access strategy starts by embracing cross-functional collaboration between IT, security, operations, and frontline teams to maximise resources and align goals and governance.

To optimise access workflows:

• Enable fast device and workstation check-out. Assign shared mobile devices and access endpoints in seconds using badge tap access or facial recognition for identity verification.
• Lock systems down between users. Automatically clear credentials, enforce passwordless MFA, and prevent unauthorised access when devices or workstations switch users.
• Simplify application and system access. Provide seamless single sign-on (SSO) across applications so users can move effortlessly between tasks, especially end of shift device rotations.
• Provide personalised user experiences. Enforce role-based access controls based on each user’s unique access needs to reduce friction and improve adoption.
• Gain visibility and accountability. Track device usage to reduce device loss, strengthen compliance, and improve IT efficiency through centralised management.

These controls protect data and preserve the fast, efficient workflows frontline teams depend on.

4. Monitor access data to drive continuous improvement

Access data reveals what traditional reporting often misses by providing a lens into both security and efficiency. By analysing metrics like login duration, failed authentication, and device utilisation, organisations can identify friction points, strengthen security, and improve efficiency.

To drive continuous improvement:

• Benchmark baseline metrics. Establish starting points for login times, failure rates, and device utilisation/adoption.
• Prioritise high-impact areas. Focus on shared devices, high-turnover roles, and known performance issues.
• Integrate access analytics with operations data. Correlate access trends with productivity or output anomalies to uncover root causes.
• Track progress over time. Measure improvement and surface new optimisation opportunities as workflows evolve.

This data-driven approach turns cybersecurity into a measurable business enabler, helping teams fine-tune policies to reduce login delays, prevent unauthorised access, and optimise resource allocation across your workforce.

5. Foster a culture of shared accountability

Even the best technology requires awareness and training to be most effective. In addition to workflows that are secure by default and productive by design, a strong security culture is crucial for building cyber resilience capable of withstanding the risk of human error.

To ensure cybersecurity training is effective:

• Teach phishing awareness. Help employees recognise and report suspicious messages or login attempts before they become incidents.
• Promote device security discipline. Encourage users to lock shared devices and log out between sessions to protect sensitive data.
• Use real-world scenarios. Build problem-solving skills by simulating likely security incidents or access misuse events.
• Recognise positive behavior. Reward teams and individuals who demonstrate cybersecurity best practices and proactive reporting.
• Provide ongoing micro-training. In addition to annual security and compliance training, supplement regular, digestible learning moments throughout the year that keep awareness fresh and relevant.

Cybersecurity Awareness Month is an opportunity to reinforce shared responsibility across the organisation and empower employees. A culture of vigilance closes the gap between policy and practice; it’s an attribute of high-quality work.

Security that works for the workforce

The most effective cybersecurity strategies are those that make secure behavior the easiest option. By integrating usability into every layer of identity and access management, organisations can strengthen their defences without slowing down the workforce.

This month, take a closer look at how your identity and access systems support both security and productivity.

Learn how to adopt frictionless and secure identity and access management with Imprivata.