What is a human firewall?
A group of employees who act as the first line of defense against cyberattacks by following best practices in preventing data breaches as well as reporting any suspicious activity.
The more employees you have committed to being a part of the firewall, the stronger it gets.
Cyber Threats to Human Firewall
- Malware
- Each week, Google detects 50 websites containing malware (Google)
- Malicious software that is designed to damage and destroy computers and computer systems, and can be installed through emails, social media platforms, and websites.
- Phishing Attacks
- A cyber attack in which the malicious actor poses as a trusted person or entity and sends the victim messages to manipulate the user into performing actions e.g. clicking a link or revealing sensitive information
- 54% of successful phishing attacks end in customers’ data breaches (Proofpoint)
- Human error
- In 2022, 82% of data breaches involved a human element. (Verizon)
- Caused by carelessness, lack of knowledge, or simply the use of weak passwords.
Steps to strengthen the human firewall?
- Cybersecurity training
Educating and training employees on security basics and best practices allows them to make better decisions and seek further guidance when they are uncertain of the consequences of an action.
- Multi-Factor Authentication
Gives individuals another layer of cyber protection by requiring the user to provide two or more verification factors to gain access to a resource.
- Manage your devices
Ensure that the right security measures and tools are installed on the devices before accessing the data.