Total Networks

Hackers are constantly looking for new ways to exploit vulnerabilities in the software that you use. But the biggest threat to your firm remains the same: your employees.

In a recent survey sponsored by Sophos, 77% of IT professionals said they receive frequent reports of phishing scams from their users. Educating your employees and equipping them with the right tools is one of the most effective ways to manage the human element of security risks to your business. 

Managing the Human Element

In today’s digital society, most people know the basics of security risk management, such as how to create a strong password or to ignore emails from a “Nigerian prince.” But creating true human firewalls requires more: implementing the right security measures and reinforcing them with regular training and reminders.

A strong human firewall means employees who are prepared to stand as a buffer between the organization and key security threats, know how to spot and avoid them.

Spot the bad guys.

Social engineers try to gain access to sensitive data by impersonating authorized individuals. Employees need to be able to recognize social engineers and stop them from gaining that access, whether that means shutting them down or escalating to a supervisor.

Phishing scams attempt to trick employees into clicking on a malicious link to get access to sensitive data. Knowing how to recognize phishing scams is a critical line of defense.

Vishing Scams are when a hacker elicits information or influences action via the telephone instead of email. Like phishing, these attackers’ goal is to gather valuable information that could compromise your firm’s data. The attacker may forge their caller ID to pose as a legitimate business or colleague.

Verify identities.

Most of the time, your employees know who should (and shouldn’t) have access to certain information, especially if it’s sensitive information that employee is responsible for controlling. Train employees to verify the identity of anyone making a request for sensitive information or requesting access to data that is typically restricted. If something seems off, employees can and should always verify that information with the individual in question. A quick phone call can confirm if a request is genuine and authorized.

Provide policies and training to minimize human error. 

While human error is inevitable, it’s possible to minimize the risk of human error by providing employees with the right procedures, policies, and training. This might include double-checking email addresses to make sure that they’re correct, verifying information before saving a file, or checking links before clicking. 

Clean off that desk.

Messy workspaces aren’t just frustrating but can present a big security threat to your organization. In cluttered spaces, it’s easier to lose key cards, sensitive papers, and other confidential materials that could compromise the security of the firm.

Human Firewall Success

We all need to act as a human firewall—as an added layer of security on top of the software and hardware tools used. A good human firewall is well-trained, uses common sense, and has the situational awareness to protect the firm from security threats.

Building that security culture in your organization is an ongoing process. By providing appropriate training and information, it’s possible to transform the way your employees handle potential security threats, creating a more effective line of defense that will help heighten your overall security and make your company less vulnerable.

At Total Networks, we help clients strengthen their “human firewall” through ongoing security training, phishing simulations, and practical policies—because the best defense combines people, processes, and technology.