Everyone needs effective cybersecurity tools in order to protect themselves and their businesses, which is why it's important that those tools work well for people of all abilities and experiences. In honor of Global Accessibility Awareness Day we’re looking at why accessibility is crucial to a company's overall cybersecurity, along with specific steps your business can take to make its cybersecurity measures more inclusive and accessible.
Why accessibility in cybersecurity matters
According to the CDC, one in four adults in the United States has some type of disability. More than one billion people worldwide have disabilities. Yet, many of the mainstream technologies in use today remain inaccessible in some way. As research from WebAIM has found, only about 3% of web sites could be considered accessible to people with disabilities as of 2022. Inaccessible technologies create real-world consequences for employees as well as their employers. For example, people with visual disabilities may find it difficult to use devices or technologies that do not have accessibility features, like screen reading software or magnification capabilities. When employees face these kinds of obstacles, they may experience unnecessary barriers toward achieving their full potential, and their satisfaction levels may be diminished. Employers may struggle to retain some of their most talented staff, and they may even miss out on opportunities to provide cybersecurity tools that their customers with disabilities find accessible. Every user deserves accessible cybersecurity technologies for keeping their online accounts and data as secure as possible. But if those tools are not intentionally designed with accessibility or inclusivity in mind, then it's highly unlikely that everyone will be equally able to use them. With more accessible and responsive cybersecurity tools, however, all employees will have the resources they need to protect the company – and the business will be in a better position to fend off a potential attack or breach.Accessibility features for today's cybersecurity tools
So, you might ask, what are some of the most important accessibility features for today's cybersecurity tools? Here are just a few assistive technologies and accessibility settings that can help employees with disabilities and other staff members from marginalized communities make use of your company's cybersecurity capabilities.- Screen reader. A screen reader converts visual elements on a screen – such as text, buttons, and images – into speech or braille, so that people with visual disabilities can more easily access the information presented and independently navigate their way through the menus as needed.
- Color contrast. A cybersecurity tool that offers a higher color contrast, in line with accessibility standards, allows employees with low or limited vision to more easily tell the difference between text and visual elements on a screen. This feature also helps reduce screen fatigue for people working in brightly lit spaces.
- Accessible fonts. Accessible fonts, particularly those that can be sized larger or smaller as needed, also make it easier for people with visual disabilities to use cybersecurity technology.
- Language tags. If your cybersecurity tool supports screen reader capabilities, it will also need to have the corresponding language tags in place so that users with low or limited vision can navigate the various menus and features using the selected language.
- Keyboard navigation. When employees are not able to use a mouse or a screen reader to navigate a particular cybersecurity technology on their own, keyboard navigation can help them do this. Some power users also prefer keyboard navigation, considering it more efficient than other forms of on-screen navigation.
How to improve accessibility in cybersecurity
As security professionals will tell you, a strong cybersecurity program should be comprehensive in scope. This maxim applies to the technology you're securing, such as the ever-expanding array of endpoints that employees use in today's work from anywhere era, as well as the organization's security policies and security awareness trainings. For this reason, it's wise to make sure that you're not just offering accessible cybersecurity tools, but cybersecurity policies and trainings that are inclusive of all employees and their experiences, as well. First off, review your cybersecurity policy to make sure that it takes into account the experiences of employees with disabilities. At a high level, your policy should ensure that everyone at the company has equal access to all of the tools, resources, and capabilities needed to protect the company from evolving cyber threats – regardless of whether they have a disability or are members of another marginalized community. This way, everyone in your organization can do their part to help prevent a potential cyber attack or breach. Your security awareness training should also be as accessible as possible. This can include supporting screen reader software, offering closed captions for videos, and making the content available in your employees' preferred languages. From there, you will want to make sure the content of your training reflects the experiences of your employees with disabilities. For example, when some employees with disabilities find it challenging to use a passcode to unlock a device, they may opt not to use one at all, preferring instead to keep that device close by at all times. In these cases, biometrics like fingerprint or facial recognition may offer a more user-friendly yet still secure authentication method. When designing inclusive cybersecurity policies and awareness trainings, you may find it helpful to avail yourself of resources from disability advocacy organizations like WebAIM or government agencies like the US Department of Labor. Also consider confirming that your technology vendors, such as the company that provides your password manager software, are committed to supporting accessibility standards. This way, your colleagues will not have to compromise on usability or security in order to make the most of their workplace technology.Improve accessibility in cybersecurity at your organization
Global Accessibility Awareness Day invites us to increase our awareness of accessibility challenges with respect to technology – including the cybersecurity tools many of us use every day. People with disabilities represent about 25% of the US population, and there are more than one million people with disabilities across the globe. By improving accessibility in cybersecurity at your organization, whether that's by enabling specific features like screen readers or designing inclusive security awareness trainings, you can make sure that all of your employees have the tools and resources they need to keep critical business accounts, data, and systems safe from a potential cyber attack. Discover how LastPass helps improve password security – for all.