Think your top-notch security software has your business covered? Think again. 95% of all cyber security incidents involve human error—for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs), the weakest link in your defense chain could be your own employees.
This blog will reveal the hidden dangers of untrained staff, from accidental data breaches to deliberate insider threats. We’ll share eye-opening real-life incidents, like the $93 million privacy breach in Calgary, and offer actionable strategies to enhance your small business’s security posture through comprehensive training. Ready to supercharge your safeguarding efforts?
How Do My Employees Pose a Threat to Cyber Security?
It’s often said that staff become security liabilities for two reasons: carelessness or malicious intent. While this isn’t inaccurate, the full picture is a little more nuanced.
Lack of Cyber Security Awareness Leads to Negligence
Typically, the biggest cause of human error in cyber security is a lack of knowledge. Without proper training, your employees won’t know what phishing, malware, or ransomware even are, let alone how to spot and avoid them. It’s easy to overlook dedicated training sessions by assuming common sense would keep your team safe—but you know what they say about assuming.
Moving with Malicious Intent
While most employees act in good faith, some may have more insidious plans. Deliberate incidents can stem from disgruntled employees seeking revenge or those looking to exploit sensitive information—be that customer data or intellectual property—for personal gain. These threats are particularly concerning, since current or former employees often have legitimate access to critical systems and data, so their behaviour wouldn’t necessarily be flagged as suspicious by threat detection systems.
The Outside-Inside Risk: Credential Compromise
Increased instances of credential theft are one of the direct consequences of poor cyber security awareness amongst employees. If your staff fall for scams, hackers can use their login details to gain access to confidential business information, accounts, and systems, wreaking havoc company wide.
BYOD Brings Vulnerabilities
Using personal devices for work purposes, commonly known as Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) policies, adds another layer of risk. When you allow your team to use their own phones, laptops, tablets, and so on, it’s harder to police the security controls and protocols they have to follow, making endpoint targeting easier for cyber-criminals.
Two Times, Employees’ Lack of Cyber Security Awareness Cost Canadian Companies
Whatever the origin, insider threats are a serious concern for businesses. In 2022, the average cost of containing an incident ranged from $485,000 to $805,000, depending on its type. Some examples you might be familiar with include:
The Hamilton Hospital Network
Last year alone, the Hamilton hospital network reported five cases of staff ‘snooping’ on private patient information to watchdogs. You’d think not accessing sensitive health data without permission would be a given for those working in a field guided by the Hippocratic Oath, but in reality, the need for active, ongoing cyber security awareness and training extends to every organization.
The City of Calgary
In 2017, the City of Calgary faced a $93 million class-action lawsuit due to a privacy breach caused by employee negligence after a staff member accidentally emailed sensitive personal information of more than 3,700 employees to an unauthorized recipient.
Although the claims were settled for considerably less than the initial sum, between legal fees, insurance, and the actual compensation paid, the incident still incurred significant costs for the City.
Lots of small businesses mistakenly think they won’t be targeted, but cyber-criminals are opportunistic—they know the value of all the data you handle, and they’ll look for any possible in, from an intern to an executive. Even if you avoid hackers’ attempts, as these stories show, a genuine mistake could cost your SMB just as heavily.
I’ve Got the Right Gear in Place – Why Bother Training My Team Too?
- Tech Tools Are Only as Good as Their Wielder
Having the latest security software and tools is essential, but they’re only as effective as the people using them. Employees need to understand how to use these defenses correctly and recognize potential threats. Without proper cyber security awareness training, even the best security systems can be rendered ineffective.
- Changing the Mindset
Employees might see workplace cyber security measures as a checkbox activity rather than a critical skill. Training can help change this mindset by emphasizing the importance of cyber-safe practices in everyday activities. Continuous and, more importantly, engaging training can improve employee behavior towards cyber security; this piece by Forbes highlights how prioritizing your team’s experience can combat security fatigue and enhance their confidence.
- Strength in Numbers
These days, relying solely on a small IT team to manage cyber security is insufficient. By training all employees, you create an entire network of vigilant defenders capable of identifying and reporting suspicious activities. This collective approach enhances your overall small business security posture, and reduces the burden on IT personnel, meaning risks are less likely to slip through the cracks.
Cutting Through the Noise: How to Make Cyber Security Awareness Training Effective
Security fatigue is a real challenge that businesses must address when devising cyber security awareness training. Employees bombarded with constant security alerts and warnings may become desensitized, leading to complacency, carelessness, and breaches. Effective training means ensuring the content’s recent, relevant, and tailored to address the specific threats faced by your business.
Practical Tips for Effective Training
- Interactive Training Sessions: Use interactive modules that require active participation rather than passive listening.
- Regular Updates: Provide continuous training rather than one-off sessions to keep employees informed about the latest threats.
- Real-Life Scenarios: Use examples and case studies to demonstrate the real-world impact of cyber threats—even better if these come from your industry.
- Positive Reinforcement: Encourage good practices through recognition and rewards.
For more insights on the importance of training and awareness in cyber security, refer to this blog post on cyber readiness.
Strong Cyber Security Starts with Your Staff
Training employees to be cyber-aware is a critical component of cyber safety for SMBs in Canada. By building a culture of cyber security awareness, you can transform your workforce into the first line of defense against cyber threats. This not only enhances your security posture but also ensures a proactive approach to safeguarding digital assets—which will always be viewed favorably by customers and cyber insurance companies.
Don’t leave your business vulnerable to cyber-attacks. Invest in comprehensive cyber security training today and empower your staff to become your most valuable asset.
Tier 3 IT Solutions: Trusted Managed IT and Cyber Security Partners in Edmonton and Alberta
Our mission is to empower businesses in Edmonton and Alberta to get the best from what technology has to offer them. From IT strategy and support to cyber security solutions, our expert team is equipped with over 30 years of experience helping local SMBs thrive.
If you want to learn more about enhancing your cyber security posture, don’t hesitate to reach out for a call with our president, Jesse. Your business’s safety and success depend on staying ahead of cyber threats, and we can help you do just that.