In the current digital age cybersecurity-related attacks are becoming more frequent and complex. Although cyberattacks typically involve sophisticated techniques and malicious intentions among the most serious weaknesses in a company’s security posture is human mistake. Despite the best efforts made to establish strong security measures human errors continue to play a significant role in a variety of successful cyberattacks. In this blog we will look at the ways that human error plays a significant part in cyber-security attacks, the types of errors that cause incidents, and ways that organizations can minimize the risk associated by human errors.
Understanding Human Error in Cybersecurity
Human mistakes in cybersecurity are any oversight or error made by contractors, employees or users that compromises security of systems, digital assets or information. It can occur at any level in an organization ranging from the CEO down to staff at entry-levels. It is often due to a lack of understanding of training or lack awareness about the potential risks.
Although technology, like firewalls encryption, firewalls, and multi-factor authentication can greatly enhance security, humans are the weakest connection. According to a study conducted by IBM Human mistakes are the reason for 95% of all cybersecurity incidents. This makes understanding the human nature and taking steps to limit human error an essential component of any security strategy.
Common Types of Human Error That Lead to Cybersecurity Breaches
- Phishing Attacks
Phishing is among the most popular methods criminals employ to take advantage of human errors. It involves tricking users to provide sensitive data, like passwords, usernames, or financial data through the disguise of malicious messages, emails and websites, as genuine. Employees could accidentally click an unintentional link or attachment and allow attackers access to sensitive systems.
Example Example: An employee from a company receives an email which appears like it’s from a IT department or their bank inquiring them to update their password. When they click the link within the email and logging in their password on an untrustworthy site, an employee accidentally allows cybercriminals access to internal systems of the company.
2.Weak Passwords and Password Reuse
A lot of cybersecurity breaches happen because employees have weak passwords, or use the same passwords across different accounts. Passwords that are weak (e.g., “123456” or “password”) are simple to crack or guess which gives hackers an entry point. Reuse of passwords can be a problem since once a account is compromised by hackers, hackers are able to use it to hack multiple systems.
Example A worker uses their email passwords for work-related accounts. In the event that their email gets compromised, the hacker could gain access to the employee’s work accounts, which could lead to data breaches or the loss or theft of intellectual property.
3. Neglecting Software Updates
Software companies frequently release patches and updates to address vulnerabilities in their software and systems. But many employees fail to install the updates promptly which leaves their systems vulnerable to threats that are well-known. Cybercriminals frequently exploit vulnerabilities that aren’t patched in order to gain system access, take information or even disrupt operations.
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Example A worker hesitates to install an update for their browser, not realizing that the update includes crucial security patches. This means that the browser is still vulnerable to exploits and hackers are able to exploit this vulnerability to attack the system.
4. Unintentional Disclosure of Sensitive Information
Employees frequently share sensitive data accidentally, whether via email or social media messaging platforms. This can lead to sharing confidential information to an unintentional person or divulging internal documents to the general public. If sensitive information is released incorrectly, it could lead to data breaches, compliance violations and reputational harm.
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Example A worker sends an Excel spreadsheet that contains confidential client data to an unintentional recipient or publishes an image of sensitive company information on a website that is public or social networking platform.
5. Improper Device Management
A lot of cybersecurity-related breaches happen when employees do not adequately secure their devices, such as smartphones, laptops or USB drives. These devices are frequently targeted for theft or loss, and if they are not protected with adequate security precautions implemented, hackers could easily access sensitive data stored on them.
Example A worker isn’t paying attention to their laptop in an area that is not secured where a burglar takes the laptop. Since the laptop isn’t secured or password-secured, the criminal could gain access to confidential company data, which can lead to a breach of data.
6. Improper Handling of Access Permissions
Another kind of human error is an inadvertently managed access rights. Employees can accidentally grant others access to sensitive information or systems they are not authorized to access. This may happen when access control policies aren’t strictly enforced or employees do not adhere to the guidelines for granting or revoking access rights.
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Example An employee erroneously gives a temporary contractor access to systems that are sensitive or data outside the scope of their work. The contractor can then misuse access to cause an incident.
7. Lack of Awareness and Training
A large portion of cybersecurity errors made by humans can be traced to a lack of knowledge and knowledge. Employees who aren’t properly informed about cybersecurity risks and the best methods are more likely to commit mistakes that can could lead to security breach. In the absence of adequate training, employees may not be aware of phishing attacks or understand the importance of passwords that are secure or how to identify suspicious activities.
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Example A worker clicks a link within an email sent by an unknown sender, without aware that it’s a phishing attempt. Since they’re not receiving the proper education on how to recognize threats, they are unaware of the dangers that could compromise the network of their company.
The Cost of Human Error in Cybersecurity Breaches
Human error’s impact on cybersecurity breach can be substantial. Based on the Ponemon Institute, the average cost of a data breach that is caused through human errors is $3.33 million. This includes direct expenses including forensic investigation cost, legal fees, regulatory fines and the cost of notifying the affected individuals. Alongside business losses in terms of financial, they could be affected by reputational harm, a loss of customer trust, as well as harm to their image, each of which could result in long-term effects.
How to Mitigate the Risk of Human Error in Cybersecurity
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Employee Training and Awareness
Regular cybersecurity training is among the most effective methods to minimize human mistakes. Employees need to be informed about the most recent threats, including social engineering and phishing, and taught to spot and respond to attacks that could be coming their way. Training should be provided on an regularly so that workers are informed of the latest threats.
Solution Implement security awareness programs that are mandatory and training exercises to aid employees in identifying typical attack techniques.
2. Implement Strong Access Control Policies
Set clear guidelines for managing access to sensitive information and systems. Employees should have access only to information that is necessary for their specific job. permissions must be periodically reviewed and revised. In addition principles of the least privilege must be observed, making sure that employees have access to the minimal amount of access necessary to perform their job.
Solution Solution: Utilize the role-based access controls (RBAC) and examine access permissions regularly to make sure that employees only are granted access to the resources they require.
3. Enforce Strong Password Practices
Encourage employees to create complex unique passwords for each of their accounts. Additionally, they should use Multi-factor authentication (MFA) to ensure security. The password manager can assist employees to keep the track of their passwords, without making use of weak or duplicated passwords.
Solution Use of MFA and strong passwords for all accounts handling sensitive information or systems.
4. Automate Software Updates and Patch Management
To minimize the risk of human error resulting from software vulnerability, you can automatize the process of upgrading software and applying security patches. Many operating systems and programs come with built-in functions that enable automatic updates, which reduces the likelihood of a system being vulnerable.
Solution Implement automatic patch management software that ensure the systems remain up-to-date in a timely manner.
5. Device Encryption and Security Policies
Establish strict guidelines for managing employees’ devices, which include the encryption of passwords, protection from hackers and remote wipe options. Employees must also be asked to report any stolen or lost devices immediately to stop unauthorized access.
Solution Use devices management tools that enforce encryption and security guidelines for all devices owned by the company.
6. Regular Security Audits and Assessments
Perform regular audits of security that identify vulnerabilities in the system of your organization procedures, processes, and employees’ behaviors. Regular risk assessments will aid in identifying weaknesses before they can be used by cybercriminals to gain access.
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Solution Plan quarterly security audits as well as penetration testing to find vulnerabilities and fix them prior to being exploited.
Conclusion
Human error plays a crucial part in the many cyberattacks and businesses should take action to mitigate this risk. By providing thorough education, implementing strong security procedures, and utilizing technologies to mitigate the possibility of human error companies can drastically decrease the chance of falling victims to cyberattacks. In the world of cybersecurity, everyone has a part to play in making sure that the company is secure.
