In chess, two rows of pieces are placed on either side of the board. These rows consist of eight pawns as the first line of defense against the enemy. The rest of the pieces behind them can move about effectively, depending on how you direct your pawns. But what if you can’t always dictate how your pawns move? What if the enemy could influence how your pawns behave? Sounds like an easy win for your opponent, right? Well, that’s what happens with email-based phishing and social engineering scams, such as business email compromise attacks. There’s only one way to solve this problem — security awareness training.
Security awareness training is the cornerstone of establishing a strong security culture that promotes due diligence and vigilance in any organization, ultimately helping that company resist email-based cyberattacks and other dangers. It goes beyond just being a mere requirement for better compliance management. It helps employees at every level be more alert and responsible about their cyber hygiene and emphasizes accountability as well. While there are many areas to focus on when it comes to training employees on security practices and internal policies, these are the most common:
Phishing attacks
Did you know 9 out of 10 cyberattacks begin with a phishing email? Phishing is a prevalent threat and is typically a precursor to BEC attacks. It hinges on deceiving employees into divulging sensitive information. Equipping employees with the ability to recognize telltale signs of phishing emails and links, spoofed credentials or imposter websites immediately and dramatically lowers cyber risk.
With voice phishing (vishing) and SMS phishing (smishing) on the rise as well, the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) frequently stresses the importance of training employees against phishing as an effective way to avoid security incidents.
Social engineering
Social engineering is a potent threat vector, becoming more advanced by the minute. Cybercriminals may not launch a full-fledged attack immediately because it most likely won’t succeed. Instead, they seek out easy-to-manipulate employees and play the long con.
Biding their time, bad actors may communicate with employees under false pretenses to gain their trust. The employees may then be influenced to behave in favor of the criminals and become more likely to open any malicious emails or links shared with them.
Employees must be trained to recognize manipulation tactics and understand the importance of verifying requests for sensitive information to avoid trouble.
Passwords and authentication
Employees take the responsibility of changing passwords very lightly. Reusing old passwords or retaining the same one for long periods of time can make it easier for hackers to steal your credentials.
Changing passwords once every three months is a popular and effective practice followed by companies worldwide to ensure strong password hygiene among their employees. However, there’s more that can be done, like implementing multifactor authentication (MFA), to significantly improve IT security.
Hybrid and remote working
The modern business demands remote and hybrid work readiness. Many cybersecurity guidelines highlight the significance of secure connections, regular software updates and adherence to organizational policies while working from hybrid or remote workstations. Employees need to be educated and trained on the nuances of connecting to external networks that won’t always have the level of security their corporate office networks normally boast.
Companies must outline clear security requirements for home network environments. They have to train remote employees to secure their home networks, protect devices and establish boundaries between personal and work activities to stay away from major risks.
Navigating cloud security
Cloud-based workflows have been adopted by global organizations unanimously. The benefits they offer are incredible but, at the same time, open several channels of risk to a business. Employees need to understand the security responsibilities they share between themselves, the company and their peers. Training familiarizes them with secure data handling and their organization’s chosen cloud security controls and policies.
Use of personal digital assets
With mobile devices serving as extensions of the workplace, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) emphasizes the need for securing them. Employees must learn to set strong passcodes, enable encryption and avoid unsecured networks to thwart potential breaches. Connecting such devices to any public network could also increase the risk of a cyberattack.
Social media
There are over 1.4 billion attacks launched via social media platforms every month. Bad actors leverage social media as an attack surface, attempting to manipulate employees. Through seemingly harmless online polls or sweepstakes, cybercriminals can obtain credentials. The workforce needs to be educated about oversharing, recognizing fake accounts and adhering to company social media policies.
Removable device management
How the workforce manages their hardware plays an important role in security. NIST has specified guidelines on this matter as well. Improperly used removable media can compromise an organization’s security. Educating employees about the risks posed by USB drives and external devices and implementing policies for their controlled usage can make all the difference.
The current business landscape demands a well-rounded approach to security awareness training, and educating employees on these topics empowers them to be proactive defenders of their organization’s security and their own privacy.
Security awareness training and phishing simulation from I.T. Solutions of South Florida provides critical training that improves compliance, prevents cyberattacks and reduces an organization’s chance of experiencing a cybersecurity disaster by up to 70%.
When in doubt, contact your IT department at I.T. Solutions of South Florida
If you encounter a potential phishing email, give the details to the Helpdesk at I.T. Solutions of South Florida and flag it as spam. We can verify the email’s authenticity and instruct you on further action. If you have clicked on a link or downloaded an attachment, ensure the IT team knows it.
Timely reporting of a phishing email to your IT department at I.T. Solutions of South Florida can drastically reduce the duration and impact of a phishing attack.
Article courtesy Kaseya
