Aug 27, 2024 - The Human Element in Cyberthreat Detection: Build a Cyber-Aware Culture

As cyberthreats become more sophisticated and cybercriminals become more focused on small and mid-sized businesses, the importance of a robust cybersecurity strategy is glaringly obvious. While that strategy is certainly crucial to detecting threats, people have an equally vital part to play in protecting your organization. Ensuring your entire team is well-trained and consistently updated on how to spot threats – even as they evolve – is a cornerstone of any effective cyberthreat detection program.

Cyber-awareness programs are becoming increasingly prevalent among small and mid-sized businesses. According to “The State of Cybersecurity: 2024 Trends Report” from Arctic Wolf, 88% of organizations surveyed currently have some form of security awareness training, and another 10% are developing a program.

The fact that 98% of organizations surveyed plan to have an awareness program by next year is great news, especially when coupled with the 25% of organizations who stated that "building a culture of security awareness" was a driving factor of their security strategy for the upcoming year.

Class is in Session: Effective Employee Awareness and Training

Ask a typical employee about cybersecurity, and their initial response might be, “That’s for the IT guys”. While it’s a common mindset, it can also be a dangerous one because it overlooks the basic fact that plenty of cyberattacks exploit human vulnerabilities, rather than technical gaps in a cybersecurity program.

According to Verizon’s 2024 Data Breach Investigations Report, approximately 68% of data breaches involved the human element, including social engineering attacks and employee mistakes. Proof positive of how critical it is to prioritize employee awareness and training as part of your cybersecurity strategy.

Let’s look at a few of the benefits of an effective awareness and training program.

1. Reducing the Risk of Social Engineering Attacks

Social engineering attacks, like phishing, are among the most common and most effective tactics used by cybercriminals. These attacks typically involve tricking employees into sharing sensitive information, clicking on malicious links, or downloading malware.

Despite advances in email filtering and cybersecurity technology, these attacks continue to succeed because they exploit human psychology by manipulating the target’s emotions, trust, or curiosity. 

Phishing attacks happen fast. According to the Verizon report, “the median time to click on a malicious link after the email is opened is 21 seconds, and then it takes only another 28 seconds to enter the data. That leads to a frightening finding: The median time for users to fall for phishing emails is less than 60 seconds.”

An employee training program gives employees effective methods for recognizing and responding to social engineering tactics can significantly reduce the risk falling for an attack. Regular phishing simulations can help employees learn to spot suspicious emails and report them to the IT department. The goal is for every employee to exercise next-level skepticism and caution when asked to share any information or click on anything.

2. Minimizing Human Error

We’re all human. And that means we all make mistakes. Whether it’s getting an email security setting wrong, sending sensitive information to the wrong person, or waiting too long to install a critical software update, those mistakes can have serious consequences. Ongoing education and awareness programs that help your entire team understand the impact their actions could have on the organization are key to a strong overall security posture.

Your training efforts should go beyond one-time sessions or basic onboarding programs. Continuous learning through regular updates, workshops, and refresher courses helps keep cybersecurity top of mind for employees and integrates good habits into your everyday culture. Establishing clear policies and procedures – including what an employee should do when they think they’ve made a cybersecurity error – can help all make all of your training efforts more effective.

3. Empowering Employees as the First Line of Defense

Whether it’s a suspicious email, an unusual request for information, or abnormal activity on your network, an employee is just as likely to spot it first as someone in IT. Empowering every employee to act as the first line of defense is crucial in detecting and mitigating threats early. That empowerment comes from education and thrives in an environment where employees feel confident that they can report a potential security issue without fear of retribution.

It's important to establish a culture of open communication around cybersecurity. When employees understand that they play a crucial role in protecting the company, and the company values their vigilance, they’re more likely to take proactive steps to identify and report threats.

Security as a Habit: Creating a Culture of Everyday Cyber-Awareness

Making cybersecurity awareness as routine as that morning cup of coffee requires leadership, education, and engagement. Here are a few ways you can help your entire organization make cyber-awareness a daily habit.

1. Leadership Commitment and Communication

Security starts at the top. When executives and managers prioritize cybersecurity and demonstrate a commitment to it, employees are more likely to follow their lead. Leadership can set the tone by making cybersecurity part of the organization’s core values and mission. Additionally, sharing examples of the potential impact of cyberthreats on the organization can help keep the importance of cyber-awareness top of mind with employees.

2. Tailored Training Programs

Taking a “one-size-fits-all” approach to cybersecurity training is rarely effective. Different departments in the company face different types of cyberthreats, and employees at various levels of the organization often need different types of training. Tailoring training programs to meet the specific needs of different groups within the organization can make learning more relevant, which can lead to more effective outcomes.

3. Incentives

An incentive program can be a powerful tool in making cybersecurity training more engaging and effective. Incorporating elements of friendly competition, rewards, and recognition can motivate employees to participate in cybersecurity activities and reinforce positive behaviors.

You might implement a points-based system where employees earn points for completing training modules, reporting phishing attempts, or participating in cybersecurity challenges. Employees can redeem their points for rewards or recognition within the organization. Making cybersecurity rewarding – even fun – can help keep employees engaged and vigilant.

4. Continuous Monitoring and Feedback

Threats are always evolving, and so should your approach to cybersecurity training. Regularly assessing the effectiveness of your training programs and asking employees for feedback can help spotlight areas that need improvement and ensure your cybersecurity efforts remain relevant and effective.

5. Collaboration Across Teams

As we’ve mentioned, cybersecurity isn’t just the IT department’s responsibility. To build a cyber-aware culture, you’ll need all departments to cooperate and collaborate. Cross-functional teams that include IT, HR, legal, finance, and other departments can work together to develop and implement cybersecurity policies and procedures that are tailored to the organization’s unique needs.

These teams can also serve as cybersecurity ambassadors, helping to share new information and best practices throughout the organization. Fostering a collaborative approach to cybersecurity is an effective way to keep everyone aligned in their efforts to protect the organization.

You can have the latest, most expensive, most effective cybersecurity tools in place to protect your organization. But, without a culture of cyber-awareness and a training program that ensures every single member of your team knows what to look for and what to do, it simply won’t be enough.

As cyberthreats continue to evolve, giving every employee the resources and support they need to stay vigilant and informed will only become more critical. Your team is your first line of defense, and your most effective cyberattack detection tool.

Join us for the next session of our Cybersecurity Webinar Series: 

You're invited to join us on August 29th at 1:00 PM EDT for "Detect: Proactive Threat Detection: Enhancing Business Continuity & Cyber Readiness".