The Human Firewall – Educating Employees to Prevent Cyber Attacks
Any business worth its weight in salt knows that there must be a multi-faceted approach to cyber security including technical firewalls and antivirus software that can keep a business going even in the face of external threats. One pillar that often gets overlooked is the human component as an essential weapon against malicious actions. This human component of cyber security is often referred to as the human firewall. Let’s take a closer look at how this pillar of security can make or break an organization.
What Is a Human Firewall?
A human firewall refers to the personal component of cyber security. This goes beyond the technical components and software solutions. It’s not just the idea that employees are the first line of defense against malware, phishing scams, phone scams or theft of company devices, but it's also about the application of best practices regarding security procedures. In short, it is the training and procedural awareness of the employees that are the eyes and ears of any company.
The Power of the People
Technical gurus expound on the strength of firewalls, encryption, software solutions, antivirus software, patches, updates, and the latest security protocols. In reality, these features are exceptional at safeguarding businesses, but it is also the power of the collective workforce that could be an organization's best asset in the world of cyber security. For instance, according to Security Magazine, there are over 2,200 attacks each day which breaks down to nearly 1 cyberattack every 39 seconds. The workforce at your organization can potentially provide the first alert to these events and save time and money in raising the red flag quickly and with the right people.
The Role of the Human Firewall
While every employee won’t be able to tell you when a breach has occurred, the combined knowledge of your workforce as well as promoting a work culture that includes cyber security as a priority can. Most business leaders know that employees are both the biggest asset and the largest vulnerability when it comes to security. Phishing scams, in particular, are designed to target employees as a point of weakness and as an entry point to sensitive data. With this in mind, one of the best things organizations can do to harness the power of their workforce is to train employees regularly about what red flags indicate a potential phishing scam, malicious email, hack or breach. The main role of your workforce, in terms of being a true firewall, lies in the robust training to spot these issues. It also means that your workforce is able to mitigate human errors which are often the largest reason why an attack is able to occur. Training on phishing scams and social engineering attacks should be paramount. Armed with this information of how to spot a threat, your employees could be able to identify and notify in real-time when a threat is active. Another important aspect of utilizing your human firewall is creating a culture that embraces security. This means your teams follow best practices when it comes to security. This may involve knowing what to watch for when opening emails to installing patches in a timely fashion rather than putting off the installation to save time. To learn more about how your workforce can be trained to spot phishing attacks or other malicious weaknesses, read one of our blogs on the many types of phishing scams and how to spot them. For more information, contact us online or via phone at 978.219.9752.
