Sponsored Post Experts in the field of information security have issued a warning to organizations that neglect to address the potential vulnerabilities that internal employees may encounter when developing an IT security strategy. Failing to do so could expose these organizations to potentially catastrophic dangers.
While users are typically the first line of defense in cyber security, they can also make mistakes, often due to the complexity or time-consuming nature of security protocols. A recent report by analyst firm Gartner titled “Predicts 2023: Cybersecurity Industry Focuses on the Human Deal” sheds light on the scale of risk that staff within organizations can pose. The report predicts that by 2025, more than half of significant cyber incidents will be caused by a lack of talent or human error. The research also highlights a survey in which a staggering 69 percent of workers admitted to bypassing their own organizations’ cybersecurity guidance in the past year.
In order to equip cybersecurity professionals with the knowledge and tools necessary to combat these internal cyber threats, the SANS Institute, a trusted resource for cybersecurity training, certifications, and research, is celebrating Cybersecurity Awareness Month in October. This initiative aims to provide security professionals with a range of tools and activities to develop effective strategies for mitigating human risk and ensuring organizational safety.
One of the key resources offered by SANS during Cybersecurity Awareness Month is the SANS Cybersecurity Awareness Month Toolkit. This toolkit provides valuable information on reinforcing four essential behaviors that increase resiliency against cyberattacks:
– Deployment of multi-factor Authentication
– Password Best Practices and Password Managers
– Mobile Device Security
– Recognizing and Reporting Phishing
The toolkit has been designed to seamlessly integrate into established workflows and can be used as a supplement to existing training programs or as a companion to ongoing Cybersecurity Awareness Month initiatives.
It includes Fact Sheets that provide concise information to clearly explain the importance of the key topics covered in Cybersecurity Awareness Month. SANS has also developed special Internal Communications Templates to streamline the process of broadcasting important cyber security best practice messages to staff. Additionally, SANS-tailored Virtual Meeting Backgrounds serve as constant visual reminders to all staff about the importance of cybersecurity practices.
SANS emphasizes that humans are the primary target for cyber criminals, which is why they have developed the free Cybersecurity Awareness Month Toolkit to arm every individual within an organization with the knowledge to defend against these attacks.
To learn more about Cybersecurity Awareness Month, click here.
Sponsored by SANS.