April 5, 2024
Back To NewsIn the delicate balance between technology and security, one element remains constant: the human factor. Regardless of how advanced our cybersecurity measures become, the actions and decisions of employees can significantly impact an organisation’s vulnerability to cyber threats. Recent statistics from the UK Government have unveiled a stark reality: in the last 12 months across all UK businesses, there were approximately 2.39 million instances of cybercrime, leading to approximately 49,000 cases of fraud as a direct consequence. In light of these alarming figures, businesses must prioritise investment in comprehensive cybersecurity measures, with employee training serving as the cornerstone of their cybersecurity strategy.
The importance of cybersecurity training for employees cannot be overstated, especially considering that approximately 88% of all data breaches are caused by an employee mistake, as revealed by researchers from Stanford University and security firm Tessian. The study, entitled ‘Psychology of Human Error’, also highlighted the fact that employees are generally unwilling to admit when they’ve made a mistake for fear of penalisation from their employer. Surprisingly, the study also found that nearly 50% of employees are “very” or “pretty” sure they’ve made an error at work that could have led to security issues.
With human error remaining one of the leading causes of security breaches worldwide, cybercriminals are becoming more adept at exploiting vulnerabilities in human behaviour to gain unauthorised access to sensitive information. By equipping employees with the knowledge and skills necessary to identify and respond to cyber threats effectively, organisations can significantly mitigate the risk of falling victim to cyber-attacks.
The benefits of investing in cybersecurity training for employees are manifold:
By promoting a culture of heightened awareness, employees can become more adept at identifying potential cyber threats, thereby reducing the likelihood of successful cyber-attacks. Behaviour-driven cybersecurity awareness tools such as Elite Group IT’s ‘Elite Cyber Secure’, provide real-time, personalised security training for employees. Armed with insights gained from dynamic phishing simulations and rich educational resources including videos and quizzes covering topics such as password hygiene and data handling practices, employees become an additional layer of defence, making training tools like these integral to an organisation’s cybersecurity strategy.
Implementing comprehensive training programmes fosters improved employee compliance with company policies pertaining to data protection and cybersecurity. Plus, many training platforms, like Elite Group IT’s ‘Elite Cyber Secure’ have been specifically designed to support compliance with crucial standards like ISO and GDPR, instilling a culture of compliance that extends beyond the four walls of the workplace – equipping employees with the knowledge and resources needed to navigate complex cyber compliance procedures effectively.
By implementing robust cybersecurity training programmes, organisations can effectively mitigate the risk of data breaches. This proactive approach helps minimise the legal fees and financial losses typically associated with cybercrime incidents, thereby reducing overall business costs.
Cybersecurity training empowers employees by enhancing their understanding of the critical role they play in safeguarding company data. This heightened awareness not only leads to improved productivity but also contributes to cost reduction by preventing potential data breaches and their associated consequences.
Organisations prioritising employee cybersecurity training demonstrate a commitment to safeguarding sensitive customer information and stakeholders’ interests. By fostering a secure environment for data handling, these businesses establish and maintain trust with stakeholders and customers alike. This trustworthiness enhances the organisation’s reputation and credibility, contributing to long-term success and sustainability.
Cyber threats come in various forms, each posing unique challenges to organisations worldwide.
Among the most prevalent threats is phishing, a tactic widely utilised by cybercriminals to trick unsuspecting employees into revealing confidential information or unwittingly installing malware. Through deceptive emails, messages, or websites designed to mimic legitimate entities, attackers aim to exploit human vulnerability to perpetrate their malicious activities.
Organisations are also contending with malware, a broad category encompassing various forms of malicious software engineered to disrupt operations, steal sensitive data, or gain unauthorised access to systems. Ransomware also poses another significant threat, leveraging encryption techniques to lock businesses out of their systems or encrypt their files until a ransom is paid, often causing considerable financial and operational damage.
Social engineering attacks, meanwhile, capitalise on psychological manipulation to deceive employees into divulging confidential information or performing actions that compromise business security. These attacks rely on exploiting human trust and exploiting vulnerabilities in human behaviour rather than technical weaknesses.
Insider threats present a unique challenge, as they involve individuals within the organisation exploiting their access privileges to compromise data or systems intentionally. Whether through negligence, malice, or coercion, insider threats can have severe consequences, highlighting the need for stringent access controls and monitoring mechanisms across a business’s operations.
Cybersecurity training for employees ideally should encompass a diverse range of topics and methodologies, be designed to individual employees’ behaviours and be tailored to the different roles and responsibilities within a company.
Phishing remains one of the most prevalent cyber threats, making it crucial for employees to understand and recognise potential phishing attempts. Phishing awareness training educates employees on how to identify phishing emails, messages, and websites, teaching them to scrutinise sender addresses, links, and requests for sensitive information. Simulated phishing exercises, which are included as standard in Elite Group IT’s ‘Elite Cyber Secure’ training platform, enable employees to practice their detection skills in a safe environment.
Security awareness training provides employees with a broad understanding of cybersecurity principles and best practices. This type of training covers topics such as password security and the importance of security best practices such as ‘Two-Factor Authentication’, safe internet browsing habits, data handling procedures, and keeping software up to date. By raising awareness about common cyber threats and security protocols, employees become more vigilant and proactive in safeguarding sensitive information.
Data protection training focuses on educating employees about the importance of safeguarding sensitive data and complying with data protection regulations such as GDPR. Employees learn how to handle and store data securely, recognise data breaches, and report incidents promptly to prevent data loss or unauthorised access.
Social engineering attacks exploit human psychology to manipulate individuals into disclosing confidential information or performing actions that compromise security. Training on social engineering awareness helps employees recognise common social engineering tactics, such as pretexting, baiting, and tailgating. By understanding how social engineers operate, employees can better protect themselves and the organisation against such attacks.
With the increasing use of mobile devices in the workplace, mobile device security training is essential. Employees learn about the risks associated with mobile devices, such as malware, unsecured Wi-Fi networks, and lost or stolen devices. Training covers best practices for securing mobile devices, including setting strong passwords, enabling encryption, and avoiding risky behaviours such as downloading apps from untrusted sources.
Incident response training prepares employees to respond effectively in the event of a cybersecurity incident or data breach. Immediate intervention training, a key feature of Elite Group IT’s ‘Elite Cyber Secure’ platform, educates employees on what their roles and responsibilities are during an incident, how to report incidents promptly, and the steps required to mitigate the impact of a breach. By ensuring that employees are prepared to respond swiftly and decisively, businesses can minimise the damage caused by cyber incidents.
Effective cybersecurity training relies on a combination of fundamental best practices, including regular updates to training materials, interactive learning experiences, and real-time feedback mechanisms.
By incorporating gamification elements and personalised training modules, as Elite Group IT’s ‘Elite Cyber Secure’ does, businesses can create engaging and impactful training experiences that resonate with employees and foster positive behavioural change across all levels.
Training should also be reinforced through regular reminders. This may involve the use of email reminders and other forms of communication that emphasise the significance of cybersecurity and offer practical tips for maintaining security.
Measuring the effectiveness of cybersecurity training is essential for identifying areas of improvement and ensuring ongoing success. ‘Elite Cyber Secure’ offers comprehensive enterprise-level reporting features that provide insights into employee participation, performance, and the overall efficiency of training and phishing simulations.
Businesses should also consider regular employee surveys and assessments to gauge employees’ understanding of cybersecurity risks and best practices, and the overall effectiveness of its cybersecurity training methods.
Incident response metrics, such as the number of incidents reported or the time it takes to respond to an incident, can also help to measure the effectiveness of the training.
The 2022 update to the Stanford University study referenced earlier in this blog, has revealed that remote or hybrid working is causing distraction and affecting people’s cognitive loads. This has resulted in a higher percentage of people making mistakes that compromise company security – such as clicking on a phishing email or sending data to the wrong person.
As such, providing cybersecurity training for remote employees has become increasingly important. ‘Elite Cyber Secure’ offers seamless integration with major software ecosystems, including Microsoft solutions like Outlook, Office 365, Teams and Azure AD, ADFS, SSO, and G-Suite, ensuring that remote employees receive the same level of training and protection as their on-site counterparts. Through targeted interventions and simulated phishing attacks, businesses can empower remote employees to remain vigilant against cyber threats from anywhere in the world.
With cybercrime becoming increasingly sophisticated and pervasive, proactive measures such as cybersecurity training are indispensable. By partnering with Elite Group IT and leveraging our ‘Elite Cyber Secure’ platform, Isle of Man businesses can empower their employees with the knowledge and skills necessary to identify and respond to cyber threats effectively. Together, we can build a more secure future for your business—one employee at a time.
To find out more information about Elite Group IT’s cybersecurity products and services, email us at sales@elitegroupit.com or give us a call on 663333.