Global spending on cybersecurity neared $80 billion in 2023, with some of the largest businesses amping up their security budgets to defend against unexpected attacks. Yet, even tech giants like Facebook, Adobe, and Yahoo! haven’t been able to evade cyber threats over the years.
Data breaches and related incidents are increasingly complex and sophisticated. In a highly digitized and interconnected world, there’s no telling how your organization could fall prey to an attack. So, identifying possible security gaps and covering all bases is crucial for a business’s safety.
An important factor that companies frequently overlook when it comes to cybersecurity is employee behavior.
Despite a rise in digital literacy, many people aren’t still fully geared to handle digital threats. In fact, studies show that Gen Zs, undoubtedly the generation with the highest level of familiarity with technology, are more vulnerable to online scams than their older counterparts.
Neglect, overconfidence, and basic human emotions such as greed and curiosity affect how people approach digital interactions.
But what specific role do employees play in safeguarding or compromising your company’s cybersecurity standing? Here are the common ways your team could knowingly or otherwise put your business at risk and how they can mitigate possible threats.
Intentional Threats
In most cases, enterprises are so focused on catching external culprits that they often forget that cyber threats can originate internally, too.
Keep in mind that employees with access to sensitive business information could steal it to cause reputational damage or make money on the dark web.
According to one study, internal threat actors are involved in one in three data breaches companies face. As many as 12% of people take customer databases, sales contacts, and other PI-related data with them when leaving their employer.
Access controls are imperative to prevent internal risks. Card access systems and role-based digital data restrictions could help limit data accessibility to fewer employees on a need-to-know basis.
Other steps you can take include setting up security systems and protocols, implementing data accountability, and training staff to identify and report suspicious behavior.
Poor Password Hygiene
Neglecting password security is at the root of many cyber vulnerabilities.
Leaving computers unlocked, writing account credentials on sticky notes, sharing them with colleagues, and using birthdays and 123456 as passwords are common mistakes that lead to data misuse or breaches.
To strengthen password hygiene:
- Set up passwords for all critical files, accounts, and devices.
- Ensure they’re unique, complex, and hard to guess.
- Keep them confidential, and never share them with anyone.
- To safely store multiple credentials, use a password manager instead of writing them down.
- Adopt multi-factor authentication in place of security questions. This could mitigate threats in case of a password breach.
Using Unprotected Personal Devices and Software
Following the COVID lockdowns, working off-site and using personal devices for work have become commonplace.
However, employees generally take their personal digital security lightly and have little knowledge about safety protocols and tools. As a result, your business can face various cybersecurity threats that your office security infrastructure is unable to mitigate.
IT security policies and guidelines (especially those involving BYOD) are critical for tackling this issue. For instance, ensure virus guards protect all personal and official devices and carry approved software from reputed developers.
You can also ban external storage devices and prohibit staff from sharing laptops and other equipment.
Risky Browsing Practices
These typically include visiting unsafe websites and downloading files from unverified sources.
Even a reputed site could get hacked and carry malicious code and files. If you click on them, the site can download malware in the form of keyloggers, spyware, ransomware, and trojans, compromising the safety of your business data.
You can minimize many of these threats by blocking risky websites, training employees to detect red flags, and installing malware guards.
Another practice to avoid is using unsecured Wi-Fi networks, especially when working in public places. Encrypting online activities with a VPN and accessing the internet using mobile hotspots or password-protected Wi-Fi connections are essential practices to adopt when connecting online outside the office premises.
Clicking Unsafe Links and Attachments
Many employees don’t think twice about clicking links and documents shared via emails and messages, even when they don’t recognize the sender. But with a simple click, they could open up their devices to malicious code designed to steal sensitive business data.
To help your teams avoid such threats, you must build awareness about the risks of unsafe links and attachments.
Safety precautions to focus on include:
- Hovering the cursor above a link to identify any mismatches between the text and the actual URL linked to it.
- Installing anti-virus software that could scan attachments for malware.
- Using appropriate filters to prevent scam or spam-related emails from reaching your employees’ inboxes.
- Saving URLs of sites they regularly visit to avoid relying on links shared in unverified messages.
Falling for Impersonations
Mimicking people is one of the oldest tricks in the book when it comes to cybercrimes.
Remember, when you receive an email from someone you think you know or recognize, you’re more inclined to respond and share information.
This is why most phishing attacks use impersonation techniques to dupe victims into giving away sensitive business data. Social engineering, AI, and other advanced technologies have made it incredibly hard to identify them.
However, your employees can easily detect imposters with a few straightforward verifications.
For example, they can verify who they’re dealing with by reverse-searching phone numbers and email addresses. If they already have a contact number for the relevant person or organization, they can use it to call back and authenticate the initial communication.
Avoiding hasty actions without giving in to undue pressure is important, too.
Final Thoughts
Cybersecurity awareness and training go hand-in-hand when mitigating risks arising from human errors at work.
Training should be regular and supported by periodic audits. You must also establish accountability and responsibility through structured policies, guidelines, and protocols. These are pivotal for reinforcing positive behavior and discouraging risky ones.
Of course, you can’t rely on your employees alone to safeguard your business’s data. Investing in an airtight security infrastructure is critical regardless of your organization’s size.
Today, there are plenty of affordable and reliable tools to strengthen cybersecurity and monitor and mitigate possible threats. However, seek professional advice to address specific concerns.
