Cybercrime is on the rise, with instances of hacking, breaches, malware and the disturbing new trend of ransomware making headlines on a regular basis. And while the line of attack is different in each case, there is one common denominator associated with nearly all types of cyber security breaches – human error.
Organizations spent roughly $77 billion on information security in 2015, combatting cybercrime costs of around $445 billion the previous year. And with that number expected to reach $2.1 trillion by 2019, cyber security is a serious problem requiring immediate attention. Too often though, in the mad scramble to shore up servers and networks and beef up authentication and privacy practices, companies ignore the glaring vulnerabilities inherent in their workers’ everyday behavior.
Most cybercrime kicks off with a single click – a nefarious file sent to an employee that is mistaken as trusted or safe. And while humans can be the weakest link in the cyber security chain, they can also play a trusted and empowered role in protecting IT assets. With proper training and implementation of organization-wide best practices, human error can be greatly reduced and workers can become part of a strong cyber security defense. But companies need to invest in proper education and training to ensure workers understand their role in defending against cybercrime.
That’s where companies like Career Academy come in, offering 273 cyber security courses with specializations like the Certified Security Sentinel Series. Those courses are focused on teaching corporate users the basics of security as well as how to properly use the Internet at work and how to safely access corporate resources through personal devices. The series also includes a social engineering course, with social media playing an increasingly pivotal role in cybercrime and effective cyber security planning.
According to IBM (News - Alert), 95 percent of all security incidents involve human error, with attackers typically preying on human weaknesses. And social engineering is playing an increasingly important role in this attack strategy, from malicious email attachments to phishing scams, all designed to lead users to make a mistake like opening a malicious file.
By educating workers about the basics of cyber security, particularly with regard to their own everyday behavior, organizations can enjoy a strong front line of defense against malicious activity. A comprehensive cyber security strategy should include training and education for workers, who can be a valuable asset when it comes to combatting cybercrime.
Edited by Maurice Nagle