Companies
are spending more on cybersecurity to defend against targeted attacks and
widespread malware outbreaks. Research shows that the increased investment in
cybersecurity by businesses has led to a decrease in the number of security
breaches. Although system vulnerabilities can be fixed and security softwares
can be upgraded, the human factor remains a risk for cybersecurity incidents
due to unavoidable errors and a lack of knowledge about cybersecurity
awareness.
Employees cause the most
significant cybersecurity breaches. Some examples of major breaches include:
● Snapchat breach
● City of gallery information leak
● FDIC security breach
● Equifax data leak
● EnerVest disgruntled employee attack
Common cybersecurity mistakes
Employee mistakes are
among the leading causes of cybersecurity incidents in organizations. Some common cybersecurity mistakes caused by employees
include:
●
Weak Passwords: Employees often use weak passwords that
are easy to guess, like "password123" or their birthdate. This
enables cybercriminals to gain access to sensitive information.
●
Phishing Scams: Employees can fall victim to phishing
scams designed to trick individuals into providing their login credentials or
other sensitive information. Phishing emails may look legitimate but often contain links to malicious
websites or malware attachments. For more details about phishing, you can check
“everything
you need to know about phishing attacks”.
●
Unauthorized Access: Employees may access sensitive information that they are not
authorized to view or share with individuals outside the organization. This can
result in data breaches or other security incidents.
●
Outdated Software: Employees may use outdated software or fail to install security
patches, leaving systems vulnerable to cyber attacks.
●
Using Personal Devices: Employees may use
personal devices to access company systems or email, which may have a different
level of security than company-provided devices.
●
Lack of Awareness: Employees may need to be made aware of
the importance of cybersecurity or the specific policies and procedures in
place to protect sensitive information.
● Downloading unauthorized software: Employees may download unapproved software or applications, which could contain malware or other security threats.
Need for Security Awareness Training
Corporate security
awareness training can be beneficial in reducing the risk of cyber threats
caused by employees. It can:
● Corporate security awareness
training helps employees understand the importance
of cybersecurity and the impact of their actions on the organization's
security posture. It can teach employees about common cybersecurity risks, such
as phishing, social engineering, and malware, and guide how to avoid them.
●
The
training can help foster a culture of
security within the organization, where employees know the risks and take
responsibility for maintaining a secure environment.
●
Corporate
security awareness training can help reduce
human error, which is a leading cause of security incidents. By educating
employees about security risks and providing them with the tools and knowledge
to avoid them, the training can help minimize the chances of a security
incident.
●
Many
regulations require organizations to provide security training to employees. Compliance with
these regulations can reduce the risk of
legal and financial penalties.
You can also check related
article:
● Best cybersecurity awareness tips
About InfosecTrain
InfosecTrain is a company that specializes in providing IT
security training and consulting services to businesses worldwide. Our training
programs are designed to meet the specific needs of each organization and are
delivered at a reasonable cost. We offer certification training tailored to
your employees' roles, providing them with the latest technology skills to
prepare them for the future.
