If you’re like most people, you probably think of cybersecurity as something that only affects big businesses. What incentives could cybercriminals possibly have for going after small businesses, right? But the truth is, small businesses are just as much at risk of cyber attacks – and in many cases, even more so.
One of the biggest reasons for this is that small businesses often don’t have the same resources to invest in cybersecurity as larger companies do. They may not have dedicated IT staff or security teams, and they may not be able to afford expensive security software. And hackers know that small businesses have valuable, profitable data sitting there with fewer protections.
But perhaps the biggest reason why small businesses are at greater risk of cyber attacks is because their employees are usually their biggest liability when it comes to cybersecurity. And if you’ve never administered employee cybersecurity training, they’re an even bigger risk.
How Are Employees a Cybersecurity Liability?
Employees are your company’s biggest cybersecurity liability. In fact, they’re the ones primarily responsible for data breaches. According to Verizon’s 2022 Data Breaches Investigations Report, 82% of data breaches involved an employee error. A shocking statistic, this proves just how severe employee error is.
Because of the massive liability they present, it’s important to understand how to offer the best employee cybersecurity training and educate them on smart cyber hygiene. The good news here is that while they can be an obstacle in keeping your data secure, they can also be your biggest ally, if trained properly.
What Cyber Threats Are Most Successful at Tricking Employees?
- Phishing: Phishing emails are the most common type of attack that target employee inexperience or gullibility. These emails usually come from spoofed addresses and often contain malicious attachments or links. They may also try to trick the employee into disclosing sensitive information, such as login credentials or financial information.
- Social Engineering: This is a fundamental tactic hackers use to trip up employees. An attacker tries to exploit human emotions in order to get someone to do something they shouldn’t, like clicking on a malicious link. Social engineering attacks can be very sophisticated and often target high-level executives or other employees with access to sensitive information.
- Malware: Malware is a type of software that is designed to damage or disable computers. It can be delivered through email attachments, websites, or even social media links. Once it’s in your system, it can encrypt files or steal sensitive information.
- Ransomware: Ransomware is a rampant malware that takes control of your computer or device and locks you out of it until you pay a ransom. This can include locking your files, preventing you from logging into your device, or even taking over your webcam.
What Can You Do About It? Hint: Employee Cybersecurity Training
The best way to protect your company from employee data breaches is to provide regular employee cybersecurity training. This will help personnel to better understand how to identify and avoid potential threats.
Hiring a managed IT provider can improve your training practices and alleviate pressure on management or your in-house IT team. Partnering with IT professionals provides you with the peace of mind knowing that your data is being protected by a team of experts and your staff is being guided by the latest cybersecurity information.
Fresh Managed IT’s Employee Cybersecurity Training Turns Personnel into an Asset
At Fresh Managed IT, we offer employee cybersecurity training as part of our comprehensive IT security solutions. We also offer a variety of other services that can help to secure your data, including managed firewalls, intrusion detection, and vulnerability assessments.
Contact us today to learn more about how we can help protect your business from employee data breaches.
