Cases of cybercrime have risen to an alarming high. In fact, 43% of cyber attacks target small businesses. And what’s even scarier is that 60% of small companies go out of business within 6 months of a cyber attack. This is because in a lot of cases small businesses don’t have the proper cybersecurity measures in place.
One important cybersecurity measure that all businesses should take is to provide cybersecurity training for employees. Cybersecurity training will educate employees on how to spot a cyber attack and what to do if they come across one.
If you’re a business owner, it’s time to implement cybersecurity training for employees. Learn how your employees are letting hackers in and what you can do to prevent it.
How Are Employees Allowing Hackers in?
Verizon’s report found that 82% of data breaches involved a human element. Meaning that in most cases, a hacker was able to exploit an employee to gain access to an organization’s network. This is incredibly concerning because it suggests that employees are often a weak link in an organization’s cybersecurity defenses.
Employees have access to the company’s most sensitive information, and if they are not properly trained on cybersecurity, they could be putting the entire organization at risk. Some of the ways employees potentially allow hackers in is by the following:
- Inattentiveness
- Downloading unsafe files
- Failing to update their software
- Using weak and easily guessed passwords
- Reusing passwords across multiple accounts
- Opening phishing emails and clicking on malicious links
What Cyber Threats Will Trick Employees?
While employees may unknowingly allow hackers into their organization’s network, cyber threats that trick employees are becoming more and more sophisticated, making it even harder for employees to spot them.
Here are some of the most common cyber threats that trick employees:
Phishing
Phishing emails are one of the hardest types of cyber threats for employees to recognize. Phishing is a type of cyber attack that uses fraudulent emails to try and obtain sensitive information from employees. These emails often spoof well-known brands or organizations and look very similar to legitimate emails.
Phishing emails often contain malicious links or attachments that, when clicked on or opened, will install malware onto the employee’s device. This malware can then be used to gain access to the organization’s network and sensitive data.
Malicious Links
Malicious links are often found in phishing emails, but they can also be found on websites and in social media messages.
When an employee clicks on a malicious link, it can install malware onto their device or redirect them to a fraudulent website that is designed to trick them into entering sensitive information. They can also be used to exploit vulnerabilities in the employee’s web browser. By doing this, cybercriminals will also be able to gain access to the organization’s network.
Ransomware
Ransomware is a type of malware that encrypts an employee’s files and demands a ransom be paid to decrypt them.
Ransomware can be spread through phishing emails, malicious links, and social media messages. Once it has been installed onto an employee’s device, it can quickly spread to the organization’s network and encrypt sensitive data.
Paying the ransom does not guarantee that the files will be decrypted, and in some cases, cybercriminals have been known to demand additional ransom. This is why it is so important for employees to be trained on how to spot ransomware and cybersecurity threats.
Why You Should Implement Cybersecurity Training For Employees
Fortunately, there are steps you can take to reduce the risk. One of the most important is to implement cybersecurity training for employees that teach them about cybersecurity threats and how to avoid them.
What Is Cybersecurity Training?
Cybersecurity training is a process of teaching employees about cybersecurity risks and how to avoid them. It should cover topics such as phishing, social engineering, password security, and data privacy.
The goal of cybersecurity training is to empower employees with the knowledge and skills they need to keep themselves and their organization safe from cybersecurity threats.
What Are The Benefits Of Cybersecurity Training?
There are many benefits of cybersecurity training, including:
- Reduced risk of cyber attacks: By teaching employees about cybersecurity threats and how to avoid them, you can reduce the risk of your organization being attacked.
- Improved employee morale: Employees who feel equipped to handle cybersecurity threats are more likely to be engaged and productive.
- Compliance with industry regulations: In some industries, cybersecurity training is a regulatory requirement.
What Are The Best Practices For Cybersecurity Training?
When planning cybersecurity training for employees, there are a few best practices to keep in mind:
- Make it engaging: Employees are more likely to pay attention and retain information if they find the training interesting and engaging. Consider using games, quizzes, and other interactive elements.
- Make it relevant: Employees can more easily stay engaged and retain information if they feel like it is relevant to their job. Make sure to tailor the training to your specific industry and organization.
- Make it mandatory: For cybersecurity training to be effective, employees need to participate in it. Consider making it a mandatory part of onboarding or annual performance reviews.
Implement Cybersecurity Training for Employees with Full Send Networks
Cybersecurity training is an important part of keeping your employees and your organization safe from cybersecurity threats. At Full Send Networks, we offer cybersecurity training that is tailored to your specific industry and organization. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you keep your business safe from cybersecurity threats.
