The use of technology is a necessity, but it’s becoming increasingly risky. Over 130 large-scale, targeted data breaches occur in the US alone each year, and the numbers continue to grow.
Even when IT departments do everything in their power to ensure almost impeccable cybersecurity measures, it’s still not enough.
Often, it’s the employees that open up the business to vulnerabilities, simply because they’re not educated on the best cybersecurity practices.
It’s up to the company to ensure its employees have the knowledge and necessary skills to improve safety and protect sensitive data.
Let’s take a look at how exactly the employees pose a threat to cybersecurity, and which measures should be taken to mitigate the risks.
Why Employees are the greatest threat to cybersecurity
Insider threat is present in almost 50% of data breaches, and while some of it is due to malicious attempts, most of it occurs simply because employees aren’t skilled enough to understand and follow the best security practices.
Some of the most common threats are as follows:
Phishing scams
There’s been a 297% rise in the number of phishing scams, and they’re becoming smarter and more convincing. They’re no longer an obvious email scam sent by a “Nigerian prince.”
Today, phishing emails look almost identical to those from a legitimate company or client. They often contain a “from” address that seems believable, and offer a link that takes the employee to a fake, yet extremely credible website.
From there, it’s easy for scammers to collect usernames, passwords, credit card, and other sensitive information, then sell it on the dark web.
Negligence
Another problem that’s also caused by insufficient knowledge is negligence. Employees are often guilty of it entirely accidentally.
Over a third of employees receive no cybersecurity training from their employers. This means that they aren’t aware of all their risky behavior online.
Most people know not to click on suspicious links or open emails from an unknown source. However, most employees would disregard software updates, for example.
Those familiar with cybersecurity essentials are aware that outdated software has known vulnerabilities and can pose great risks to a business. Employees without IT training aren’t aware of this.
BYOD policy could be putting you at risk
With all the benefits of the BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) policy – decreased spending, increased employee productivity, etc., it’s no wonder that 85% of companies today have such a policy in place.
There are many risks involved with this, however. Employers have no insight into what their workers are doing on their devices when they’re at home. They cannot be sure that malicious programs haven’t been installed and the employee’s device hasn’t been compromised outside of work.
Insecure network
Most typical employees aren’t aware of the risks associated with connecting to an unsecured network. If they’re using their device for work during their commute, for example, and are connected to free WiFi on the train or in a café, this puts their device at risk and makes it possible for any skilled eavesdropper to breach into their device and monitor their activity.
The same is true for remote workers. All the risks associated with the BYOD policy apply here as well. While workers believe they’re safe since they’re working on their own device, they never really think about the dangers of connecting to public networks.
Measures to take to improve cybersecurity
Employers don’t have to do much to ensure better cybersecurity of their company, and they don’t have to spend much either.
The best practices that will help any company improve its security are:
- Educating the employees
- Investing in quality security systems
- Encouraging employees to use a VPN
Educating employees
Education is the key to success. The new technology has brought more than just risks, and with the learning management system software available at a low price, employers can ensure their workers are well versed in cybersecurity.
LMS software has many advantages, and it eliminates the need for going to seminars out of state or creating classrooms in the office space.
Quality security systems
Cutting corners on security systems is the worst thing someone can do. No cybersecurity system is 100% effective, but some come pretty close. Unwise online behavio
Using a VPN
A VPN, or Virtual Private Network, can help keep everyone safe, especially when a company has remote workers or a BYOD policy in place. A VPN provides a hidden and well-encrypted connection to any network, which prevents outsiders from monitoring the activity on the device. All workers can connect to any public or private network, and stay almost completely safe with a VPN. Just make sure to choose a fast VPN from a reliable provider.
Yes, employees are the weakest link in a business’ cybersecurity, but the fault often lies in the lack of training. With a VPN, quality security systems, and proper training, any company can improve all aspects of its security.