In the modern business world, when companies are reliant on data than ever before, and customers are trusting organisations to look after their information, IT security needs to be a top priority. While security can be reinforced through using the right virus software and having the right recovery plan in place, awareness also plays a key role.
Many of the biggest security threats can be mitigated through education – teaching employees about the threats that exist, how attackers operate, and what can be done. In this article, we take a closer look at these kinds of security threats and explore some of the ways cyber security awareness training can help.
Protection Against Attacks
One of the main reasons for investing in cyber security awareness training is to keep your business and employees safe from malicious attacks. This is particularly important, because 2018 research from SonicWall shows an 11 percent year-on-year increase in ransomware attacks, as well as a 27 percent increase in encrypted malware attacks.
Additionally, according to FraudWatch International, 95 percent of cyber attacks stem from phishing. This is a form of cyber attack where awareness is critical, because employees who know the tell-tale signs of phishing attempts are significantly less likely to fall for them, click on suspicious links, or provide information to untrustworthy sources.
Building awareness among individuals is especially crucial given the rise of spear phishing, which is where fraudsters target specific individuals with tailored messages, in order to increase their success rates.
Protecting your business and computer network against these kinds of attacks is essential, because failure to do so can lead to the loss of valuable data, and to attackers gaining access to private accounts. Attackers may also be able to lock devices and demand ransom money to unlock them, resulting in your business being financially extorted.
Prevent Human Error
According to findings from Kroll, approximately 90 percent of all data breaches are the result of human error. While mistakes are inevitable in any organisation, this does mean that the majority of data breaches are preventable and some of these errors can potentially be eradicated through cyber security awareness training.
The types of human error in SMEs that could lead to data breaches are numerous, but include things like employees leaving computers logged in to sensitive accounts, individuals sharing sensitive data through unencrypted communication channels, the use of obvious or weak passwords, and failures to follow basic security protocols.
Educating employees about some of the main cyber security dangers and the human errors that can be exploited can go a long way towards reducing problems. It is imperative that organisations take the initiative, however, because human errors can lead to breaches in data protection laws and can adversely impact upon a business’s reputation.
Increasing awareness is unlikely to eradicate all human errors, and there are other ways in which a business can be vulnerable, but it is an important step for companies looking to bolster their IT security, behave in a way that is socially responsible, and avoid penalties associated with negligence and other poor practices.
Increase Customer Trust
Finally, one of the most significant benefits associated with increasing cyber security awareness is the ability to increase levels of trust from customers. These customers may be other businesses, or individuals purchasing your products, but one thing they have in common is a need to know that their information is safe when working with you.
The importance of this was laid bare by a CybSafe survey of 150 IT decision makers. Over the course of the study, it was found that more than half of all business customers make cyber security precautions part of their contract or request for proposal. Two-thirds said they had at least one customer who required recognised cyber security standards.
Such findings show that increasing cyber security awareness is not only important for building trust and establishing a good reputation, it can be a prerequisite for doing business with certain clients or customers in the first place. After all, many business partners put their own reputation on the line by working with you.
Eliminating security issues that could easily be avoided, such as teaching employees not to open suspicious emails, establishing good practices when it comes to setting passwords, and using the right encryption, can go a long way towards creating the kind of trust that generates business and retains customers over the longer term.
The Last Word
It has never been more important to get on top of IT security issues and ensure your organisation is well protected. One of the single most effective ways to minimise risk in this area is through education, and this is why providing the kind of training that builds awareness can be so valuable.
Whether it is eliminating costly human errors, protecting your business against malicious attacks, or generating trust from existing and potential customers, working with the right managed service provider and equipping employees with the necessary knowledge to understand and prevent security threats can be vital for long-term success.