Cybersecurity risks aren’t only confined to IT departments and software engineers. In the modern workplace, non-technical staff are one of the employees most targeted by hackers–and with the right reason. From finance and HR to marketing and administration attackers are aware that exploitation of human behavior is usually easier than breaking into firewalls.
This article will discuss the reasons that non-technical employees are the top targets for cybercriminals and the most frequent techniques used to attack them, and how organizations can do to minimize the threat.
Learning the human element of Cybersecurity
Although companies are investing heavily in the latest security tools hackers are increasingly focusing on the human aspect of security. This technique, also known by the term “social engineering”–targets individuals rather than systems.
Employers who aren’t technical typically:
-
Are granted access to sensitive information
-
Communicate regularly with external third parties regularly.
-
Aren’t well-trained in cybersecurity concepts
The combination for hackers is a pure chance.
1. Insufficient Cybersecurity Awareness
One of the primary reasons that non-technical employees are targeted is the insufficient cybersecurity training.
Many employees who aren’t in IT roles:
-
Do not recognize fake login pages or fake login pages
-
Are you unfamiliar with terms such as “malware,” “spoofing,” or “credential harvesting”
-
Assume that security can be “IT’s responsibility,” not theirs
Hackers capitalize on this knowledge gap by creating attacks that look normal, like an invoice, a shared document, or even a Request to change passwords.
2. Exposed to a lot of external communication
The non-technical positions often require regular interactions with other members of the company.
Examples include:
-
HR contacting job applicants
-
Finance teams handle vendor invoices
-
Marketing and sales respond to leads and emails
-
Administrative staff is responsible for scheduling documents and schedules
Every interaction has a chance to be an attack channel. Hackers are able to impersonate:
-
Vendors
-
Executives
-
Clients
-
New hires
More emails that you get, the higher chances you are likely to make a costly error.
3. Access to valuable Data Without technical safeguards
Staff who are not technical may not be able to be able to manage servers or code but they have access to important information like:
-
Personal data of employees
-
Details about the bank and payroll
-
Customer records
-
Login credentials
-
Internal documents
Hackers don’t require access to the system in the event that they can fool an individual into giving over keys.
In many cases, attackers utilize compromised accounts with no technical capabilities to serve as an step-stone to advance laterally through the entire organization.
4. Culture of Workplace Trust
The majority of workplaces rely on trust, and hackers profit from that.
Social engineering attacks are based on:
-
Authorities (“This is the CEO. Send this right now.”)
-
Urgent (“Your Account will be blocked in just 10 seconds.”)
-
Familiarity (“Here’s the paper we’ve discussed.”)
Employees who are not technical are usually taught to be helpful and responsive. They are also polite. Hackers exploit those traits to avoid logical scrutinization.
5. Phishing Attacks are designed for non-technical users
Modern phishing attacks aren’t anymore stuffed with typos and suspicious hyperlinks. They include:
-
Personalized (spear phishing)
-
Timing is based on real-time events (payroll and tax season launch of new products)
-
Matching to job roles
For instance:
-
HR receives a fake resume that has malware in the attachment
-
Finance receives an accurate invoice from an “known vendor”
-
Marketing receives a shared file to be used for”campaign review” and “campaign review”
These types of attacks are specifically designed to trick non-technical users.
6. Insecurity in Security Tools: Basic Security Tools
Many employees think they’re secure due to:
-
The company employs antivirus software.
-
The emails are “filtered automatically”
-
IT can detect any serious issue.
The false perception of safety can lead to reckless behavior that can lead to risky behavior, for example:
-
Links clicked without checking the sender
-
Reusing passwords
-
Doing nothing to avoid security warnings
Hackers are at their best when users believe they are watching someone else at the door.
7. Non-technical employees are less likely to report suspicious activity
Even if something seems “off,” non-technical employees are hesitant to file a complaint due to:
-
They don’t want their image to be foolish
-
They don’t know what qualifies as an act of terror
-
The process of reporting can be difficult or lengthy.
This allows attackers to have more time to take advantage of compromised accounts.
A single unreported phishing click can escalate into a full-scale data breach.
Real-world consequences of targeting non-technical Personnel
If hackers succeed in exploiting employees with no technical skills, the results can be significant:
-
Financial losses
-
Data breaches and fines from the regulatory authorities
-
Reputational harm
-
Time of operational downtime
-
Customer trust is eroded
Many of the most prominent cyber-attacks did not begin with sophisticated hacking, but simply a deceitful email.
How organizations can protect non-technical employees
The human element isn’t going to suggest that security is unattainable. It means defenses must evolve.
1. Security Awareness Training based on Role
Training should include:
-
Practical and not technically
-
Specific job function-specific requirements are adapted to the specific task.
-
Updated regularly with real-world examples
2. Phishing Simulations
Simulated phishing campaigns can help employees:
-
Recognize dangers
-
Make sure you learn from your mistakes
-
Create an awareness of the long-term
3. Clear Channels for Reporting
Facilitate and make it simple to signal suspicious activities:
-
One-click report buttons
-
Simple instructions
-
Positive reinforcement
4. Zero-Trust Access and Least-Private Access
Restrict access only to the employees actually require, which will reduce the damage that can occur if an account gets compromised.
Last Thoughts: Cybersecurity is Everyone’s Responsibilities
Hackers target employees who are not technical, not because they’re negligent, but simply because they’re humans..
In an age where cyberattacks are often rely on manipulation rather than malware, each employee is an element of security. Businesses that understand this and arm the non-technical staff with knowledge and tools are much better equipped to protect themselves from the latest threats.
Cybersecurity isn’t only an IT issue, it’s a human problem.
