{"id":17403,"date":"2024-02-21T10:30:49","date_gmt":"2024-02-21T10:30:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/coastalcpu.com\/?p=17403"},"modified":"2024-03-27T15:20:20","modified_gmt":"2024-03-27T15:20:20","slug":"empowering-your-human-firewall-the-importance-of-cybersecurity-awareness-training","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/coastalcpu.com\/empowering-your-human-firewall-the-importance-of-cybersecurity-awareness-training\/","title":{"rendered":"Empowering Your Human Firewall through Training"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Businesses today largely acknowledge the risks posed by cyber threats. Organizations recognize the importance of effective firewall defenses and anti-virus measures, yet many SMBs fail to respond to one of the biggest dangers facing their digital systems: their end users.<\/p>

Poorly informed end users can act as an open door to attackers, allowing them to sidestep the technical security measures you\u2019ve invested so much time and money in. You naturally trust your employees to act in your business\u2019s best interests; you have faith that they\u2019ll handle your data responsibly, but would they know how to identify an elaborately crafted phishing scam? Do they understand the risks of clicking on unverified links? Are they aware of the dangers posed by email attachments from unknown sources?<\/p>

Cybersecurity awareness training is a strategy that helps businesses mitigate user-related security risks. An effective training program will convey the importance of cybersecurity best practices, enable employees to spot common threats they\u2019re likely to encounter, and help staff understand how certain actions can undermine your business\u2019s security posture.<\/p>

Ultimately, cybersecurity is a team effort, requiring diligent adherence to security policies by everyone in your organization. Cybersecurity awareness training helps to instil this culture of \u201ccyber responsibility,\u201d by giving employees the skills they need to function as an integral part of your cybersecurity framework.<\/p>

Coastal Computer Consulting \u2013 Managed IT Services for Southeast Businesses<\/strong><\/p>

From our home in Brunswick, Coastal Computer Consulting provides IT support, managed cybersecurity, and network services to SMBs across the Southeast. We strive to deliver the secure, reliable, and fully-optimized IT infrastructure our customers deserve, developing custom solutions that deliver measurable strategic value.<\/p>

In recent years, the cyber threat landscape has become far more hostile. Criminals have become more organized, professional, and advanced in their methods, and have become increasingly proficient at exploiting poor employee cybersecurity awareness. In this blog, we want to provide a short guide to cybersecurity awareness training, explaining why it\u2019s never been more important, and the benefits your business can unlock by implementing a comprehensive training program.<\/p>

User Error is a Leading Cause of Cyber Breach Incidents<\/h2>

When you bring to mind the clich\u00e9d image of a cybercriminal, you probably imagine a skilled hacker in a darkened room, using advanced techniques to force their way into corporate networks. While this type of criminal does exist, the majority of cyberattacks are more primitive in nature. Many leverage acts of deception to convince users to disclose compromising information, grant access to critical systems, or to make a direct payment to the attacker. Attackers may manipulate end users for an immediate reward, or they may exploit poor threat awareness to gain a foothold in the network for the purpose of carrying out a more damaging attack further down the line.<\/p>

Whatever an attacker\u2019s motivations, poorly trained users can often act as unwitting accomplices in their malicious schemes through carelessness or a lack of knowledge. Here are some stats that illustrate the scale of the cybersecurity threat posed by user error:<\/p>