3 Fast Ways To Reduce Human Error | ThreatAdvice

Cybersecurity experts have long recognized that users provide the greatest vulnerability to any organization’s security, and with the rise of social engineering schemes, that vulnerability has become even greater. According to a report from IBM, a huge majority (95%) of cybersecurity incidents happen due to human mistakes. In fact, the number is so high that in 19 out of 20 cases, the cause of breaches is human error.

Developing a culture of cybersecurity awareness is of utmost importance for organizations in the present day and age. Implementing basic security best practices and policies can drastically reduce the human risk management within an organization. By taking proactive steps to protect their data, organizations can lead the charge in creating a strong cybersecurity culture. This culture not only protects their data but also helps them stay ahead of potential threats, making them more secure and prepared. Adopting such measures is key to ensuring that the organizational data remains safe and secure at all times.

Here are 3 quick tips to help mitigate human error in cybersecurity.

Cybersecurity awareness

Foster a cybersecurity culture in your organization from day one with a security awareness program. Many mistakes made by people in the workplace can be traced back to a lack of awareness around potential risks. Even after receiving instruction on cybersecurity, individuals can easily forget the potential dangers of their everyday activities if they are not regularly reminded of them.

Training employees in cybersecurity is an essential step in creating a cybersecurity culture and mitigating human error. Employees should understand the basics of cybersecurity, such as the importance of the human firewall, how to recognize malicious emails, and how to respond to potential threats.

Organizations should also provide ongoing security awareness training to ensure that employees are up-to-date on the latest cybersecurity threats and best practices. An effective training regimen should target the particular risks that both the employees and the business is exposed to, and include components such as phishing simulations. This type of cybersecurity awareness training provides education to personnel on the most essential aspects of security, taking into account their individual hazard profiles.

Principle of least privilege

Implementing basic cyber security measures is also essential. Organizations should ensure that their networks are secure and up-to-date, and should have policies in place to prevent unauthorized access. The least privilege principle is a key element of human risk management, as it can help to reduce the overall risk of cyber threats. The concept of least privilege in computing is equivalent to the need-to-know rule. That is, each user is given the lowest possible level of access, and can be granted higher permissions depending on specific requirements.

Applying this principle to access control systems helps to ensure that personnel only have the access that is necessary for them to complete their job; additionally, it limits the potential impact of any single user should they become compromised. If a worker's account is breached, unauthorized access is kept to only the operations that the particular individual has the right to carry out.

Multi-factor authentication

Utilizing cybersecurity tools and technologies is another important step. Passwords are a necessity when it comes to protecting information online, yet most people struggle with managing them. Our minds have limitations on how many passwords we can remember, so end-users will generally choose the least secure passwords that can be remembered. Amazingly, the most common password is still ‘123456’ and ‘Password’ is number 4 on the most used list.

This poses a significant risk to organizations, as hackers are increasingly using sophisticated methods to penetrate secure systems.

Creating a secure effective password policy is critical, but the most effective way to avoid human mistakes with passwords is to decrease the total amount. This can be accomplished with the utilization of password managers which have multi-factor authentication activated for added security.

Reduce the human error risk with ThreatAdvice

Human error is one of the leading causes of security incidents and data breaches, yet it can be minimized with the right risk management and cybersecurity awareness. At ThreatAdvice, we understand the importance of developing a culture of cybersecurity within an organization and work with our clients to create comprehensive strategies that address the human factor. Our team of experts can help you identify risk areas in your business and provide you with tailored solutions to ensure that your security standards remain high. We have a proven track record for providing effective security awareness training services to businesses of all sizes, so contact ThreatAdvice today to find out what we can do for you.