Cybersecurity is one of the most alarming issues in today’s era. Organizations need a robust cybersecurity program to ensure the protection of confidential data. However, according to Cybrint, 95% of cybersecurity , breaches are caused due to human error.
In this blog, we will discuss about a few of the basic human errors that arises cybersecurity issues in organizations.
1. Phishing – A Social Engineering Attack
Phishing is a tactic used to persuade humans to disclose confidential information. This mainly includes passwords, social security numbers, credit card numbers or any other private data.
For phishing, attackers usually practice a combination of social engineering and deception. Different methods used by attackers include email, texts, phone calls, URL directs and even social media platforms.
2. Scan and Exploit – Human Failure
New ways of causing cybersecurity breaches include scanning. QR codes are sent to users and are said to be of high importance. Once, the code has been scanned, the hacker can easily get access to the confidential data of the user.
Due to vulnerable cybersecurity infrastructure, IT components like web servers, databases, and cloud apps can be easily misconfigured. Hackers take advantage of these security holes. Thus, easily access to the confidential data and cause a cybersecurity breach.
3. Credential Thefts – Unauthorized Access
Credential thefts lead to unauthorized access to secure data and IT systems. Hackers use various ways to steal credentials:
Shoulder Surfing – Stealing someone’s credentials by watching someone typing their password
Phishing – Tricking someone into handing over their credentials into a spoof login page.
Social Engineering – Deceiving someone into giving away their credentials by pretending to be someone else. It can be done via social media, calls, emails or other communication methods like help desk or texts.
4. Poor Password Hygiene
61% of breaches are due to stolen passwords. Passwords are easily compromised for the following reasons:
–Users use simple and guessable passwords like 1234 and password.
–45% of users reuse their passwords on other services as well.
–Users don’t change their passwords for a long period of time.
–Users share their passwords with their colleagues or friends.
If passwords get into the hands of a culprit, they can be easily misused causing cybersecurity breaches that would be a huge loss for individuals as well as organizations.
Addressing Human Error in Cybersecurity
It is significant to address human errors in order to minimize cybersecurity threats. The following recommendations will secure your organization into falling for a cybersecurity attack:
1. Cybersecurity awareness training
Training and awareness programs that entails knowledge regarding, “How to avoid human errors leading to cybersecurity breaches.” Educating the workforce is significant if organizations want to minimize human errors in cybersecurity.
Moreover, regular cybersecurity trainings keep the employees up to date with the latest cybersecurity trends and threats.
2. Access rights and privileges
It is risky to provide access to all the files to all the employees of an organization. Security policy implementation is required to restrict access to confidential files. This will help to prevent data theft from inside the organization.
Nevertheless, organizations need to proactively offer access to the file they need to do their work effectively. However, if there is a need files can be access by employees for the time being so they can get their jobs done.
3. Regular data backups
It is important to ensure that employees are backing up their data on their devices. In case of an incident, they would have a backup. Any data stored in the cloud should also be backed up in a hard drive regularly to ensure business operations runs smoothly. Data backups ensure business continuity even if the resources are taken offline by any cybersecurity attack
Let Us Make Your Cybersecurity Program a Success
It’s high time for organizations to prepare for cybersecurity threats. It can disrupt the continuity of an entire organization and cause millions of monetary losses.
With more than a decade experience, our consultants can help you establish and implement a successful cybersecurity program. Business Beam provides Technology Governance Outsourcing to help your organization. Additional services include Executive Advisory, Strategy Alignment, Service Management Planning, and Rollout Support.
Through these, we ensure your system’s success. We would be glad to hear from you and help your organization throughout their journey of success. Get in touch with us now.
