Cybersecurity, or the protection of computer systems and networks from malicious actions, is an essential concern for any modern organization. Data theft and other disruptive activities can cause extensive financial and reputational damage, sometimes forcing businesses to shut down completely. Employers can implement a variety of countermeasures to stop such threats, including specialized hardware, software, and procedures. Employee education presents a particularly promising way of shoring up cybersecurity, as the human error may be the single most common source of cyber vulnerability. Ignorance of cybersecurity best practices, lack of familiarity with technical countermeasures, avoidable mistakes, and negligence of safety rules all contribute to protection failures (OXEN Technology, 2018). Non-technical employees often fail to recognize potential cyber threats and vulnerabilities, but even IT professionals may find it difficult to keep up with the latest cybersecurity developments. Given the urgency of ensuring data safety, raising and sustaining cybersecurity awareness is highly likely to be a worthwhile investment for businesses.
The human factor can undermine cybersecurity efforts in several ways. Employees may fail to observe cybersecurity best practices, such as regularly replacing passwords, hiding login details, and not downloading or installing suspicious software (OXEN Technology, 2018). Lack of compliance may come from ignorance of those practices or from a failure to understand their importance. The proper configuration and utilization of hardware and software countermeasures may also pose difficulties, especially for non-technical employees. For example, two-factor authentication can be tricky to implement in a way that makes full use of its security benefits (Rosenblatt & Cipriani, 2015). By making logging in more difficult, inadvertently encourages the creation of new vulnerabilities in the form of insecure account recovery mechanisms. Last but not least, many malicious actors rely on social engineering to circumvent technical security measures. Techniques such as phishing or contact spamming may be well documented by this point, but they remain a remarkably effective means of obtaining sensitive information or disseminating malware (Norton, 2020). If employees lack the information necessary to patch up those vulnerabilities, they will accumulate, making the company’s data increasingly unsafe.
The consistent observation of proper precautions in handling data can make a major difference for cybersecurity. Failure to do so largely stems from ignorance rather than malice, making it advisable for employers to provide appropriate informational support. Simply sharing information on data safety habits or incorporating it into official guidelines can go a long way towards removing vulnerabilities (OXEN Technology, 2018). Likewise, spreading awareness of common social engineering techniques should empower employees to recognize and resist their use (Google Help, 2016). Best practices may also be disseminated through pamphlets and similar instructional materials, along with statistical data and specific examples that would justify their adoption. Cybersecurity training seminars may be more costly in terms of money and time, but they also provide a systematic understanding of the problem. It may be indispensable for data-heavy businesses such as IT companies, which are more likely to encounter more sophisticated cyber threats. However, all companies can benefit from at least some efforts at increasing employee awareness of cybersecurity issues.
The importance of the Internet and data for today’s economy cannot be overstated. As a result, companies are forced to pay especially close attention to the danger posed to their networks and data by cyber threats. Employees from the weakest link in cybersecurity efforts, as their mistakes can cancel out the effects of all technical countermeasures. This human factor can manifest in negligence of safety rules or improper use of technology. It may also be actively exploited through social engineering techniques. Sufficient information that could empower employees to identify and remove cyber vulnerabilities is readily available online. It can be disseminated freely or added to official instructions. Special seminars could provide employees with the systematic grounding necessary to counter more sophisticated or unusual cyber threats.
References
Google Help. (2016). How to avoid social engineering attacks [Video]. YouTube. Web.
Norton. (2020). What is social engineering? Tips to help avoid becoming a victim. Web.
OXEN Technology. (2018). Basic cybersecurity tips for the workplace. Web.
Rosenblatt, S., & Cipriani, J. (2015). Two-factor authentication: What you need to know (FAQ). Web.