The Impact of Human Error in Cyber Security.

Every person makes mistakes, it’s one of the things that makes us human and it’s how we learn and grow; however, human error in cyber security is one of the most common reasons why hackers are successful. Businesses have a lot to worry about when it comes to cyber security breaches, not only do they have to ensure that they have robust prevention in place they also have to ensure that their staff are aware of potential scams and breaches. In this blog post, we will take a look at how human error causes cyber breaches, the cost of human error resulting in cyber security breaches and what businesses need to do to stay protected.

How Human Error Occurs.

Human error occurs through unintentional actions or lack of actions from employees that then, cause, spread, or allow access for a security breach to take place.

There are many ways that human error can occur, but some of the most common include:

• Not providing cyber security training for employees
• Not keeping up to date with cyber security updates and patches
• Using easily guessed passwords
• Using repeated passwords
• Clicking on malicious links or attachments
• Not backing up data regularly
• Failure to update software
• Leaving data in unsecure places
• Sending data and information to the wrong people
• Failure to take advantage of protections such as Multi-Factor Authentication

Cyber-attacks can also occur when employees lose devices that contain sensitive information. Laptops, smartphones, and USB drives are all common targets for cybercriminals.

Consequences of cyber-attacks caused by human error.

Cyber-attacks are extremely costly for a business. In addition to the financial cost, businesses may also experience reputational damage, legal liabilities, higher insurance premiums, loss of customer data and financial information, as well as intellectual property. In some cases, cyber-attacks can even lead to physical damage to equipment or facilities.

How to Minimise Human Error in cyber security.

To ensure maximum protection from human error in cyber security, first, you need to have a cyber security policy in place that all employees must follow. This policy should include guidelines on how to manage sensitive data, what type of information can be shared externally, and how to report any suspicious activity.

In addition to a cyber security policy, businesses should provide employees with cyber security training https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/training/top-tips-for-staff-scorm-v2/scormcontent/index.html#/ on a regular basis. This training should cover topics such as how to spot phishing emails, what to do if they receive one, how to keep their personal information secure, setting passwords and general online safety. By ensuring that all employees are up to date on the latest cyber security threats and how to protect themselves, you can significantly reduce the risk of a cyber security breach https://ronin-pentest.com/Blog/common-cyber-security-breaches.

Businesses should also restrict access to sensitive information. Only employees who absolutely need access to this information should have it, and all employees should be aware of the importance of keeping this information secure. This is called the principle of Least Privilege.

Prevention Is Always Better Than Cure.

The rise in the number of security breaches isn't slowing, and hackers are becoming increasingly creative and successful. By taking these simple steps, businesses can dramatically reduce the risk of human error in cyber security, reducing the chance of a cyber security breach.

Make sure your staff are trained and empowered in how to spot a potential cyber-attack. Contact us today https://ronin-pentest.com/contact to find out how we can help your business and employees stay online.