Security

How to Counteract Human Error in Your Cybersecurity Strategy

Human error is one of the most common and costly threats to cybersecurity. According to a study by IBM, human error accounts for 95% of all security incidents. The average cost of a data breach caused by human error is $4 million.

To protect your organization from the costly consequences of human error, you need to take steps to reduce the risk.

Here are five ways to counteract human error in your cybersecurity strategy:

1. Understand the types of human error that can occur in cybersecurity.

There are many different types of human error that can lead to a security incident. Some of the most common include:

Clicking on phishing emails: Phishing is one of the most common and successful attacks used by cyber criminals. Phishing emails are designed to trick users into clicking on malicious links or attachments.

Once clicked, these links and attachments can install malware or give attackers access to sensitive data.

Using weak passwords: Weak and easily guessed passwords are one of the most common ways that attackers gain access to systems. To avoid this, employees should be trained to use strong, unique passwords for all their accounts.

Failing to update software: Outdated software is one of the most common vulnerabilities exploited by attackers. By failing to keep software up-to-date, organizations leave themselves open to known exploits.

2. Train employees on cybersecurity best practices.

One of the best ways to reduce the risk of human error is to train employees on cybersecurity best practices.

Employees should be trained on how to identify and avoid phishing emails, how to create strong passwords, and the importance of keeping software up-to-date.

In addition to training employees on cybersecurity best practices, organizations should also have a clear and well-documented security policy. This policy should outline the expectations for employee behavior and the consequences for violating the policy.

3. Implement technical controls to help mitigate human error.

Technical controls can also help to mitigate the risk of human error. Some technical controls that can be deployed include:

Email filtering: Email filtering can help to block phishing emails from reaching employees. By deploying email filtering, organizations can reduce the risk of employees falling victim to phishing attacks.

Web filtering: Web filtering can help to block employees from accessing malicious or risky websites. By deploying web filtering, organizations can reduce the risk of employees downloading malware or accessing sensitive data.

Patch management: Patch management is the process of installing updates for software and operating systems. By keeping software up-to-date, organizations can reduce the risk of attackers exploiting known vulnerabilities.

4. Continuously monitor your system for signs of human error.

Continuous monitoring can help organizations to detect and respond to incidents of human error.

By continuously monitoring their systems, organizations can quickly identify when an employee has clicked on a phishing email or visited a malicious website.

5. Respond quickly and effectively to incidents of human error.

When an incident of human error does occur, it’s important to respond quickly and effectively. Organizations should have a well-defined incident response plan that outlines the steps that need to be taken in the event of a security incident.

By taking these steps, organizations can reduce the risk of human error and keep their systems secure.

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