Safer Internet Day
Cybersecurity starts with your employees
Every year, Safer Internet Day reminds us that cybersecurity isn’t just an IT issue – it's a responsibility that spans every department in an organisation. Businesses pour significant resources into firewalls, antivirus software, and other technical defences, yet human error remains the biggest vulnerability.
A 2024 survey found that 66% of Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs) in the UK said human error was their organisation's greatest cybersecurity risk (Statista). This alarming statistic highlights the urgent need for ongoing cybersecurity training, ensuring employees can spot and prevent threats before they escalate into costly breaches.
The reality's simple: no matter how advanced your security infrastructure is, a single misstep – like clicking a malicious link – can compromise an entire network. So, how do we tackle this challenge? By giving employees the knowledge and tools to become the first line of defence.
Why human error is the weak link
Despite rapid advances in cybersecurity technology, cybercriminals continue to exploit human behaviour as their primary attack method. Hackers don't need to break into systems when they can simply trick employees into giving them access. Here's why this remains a major issue:
1. Phishing attacks are surging
Cybercriminals are using AI-driven phishing scams that mimic legitimate emails, making them harder to detect. In Q3 2024, businesses faced an average of 1,876 cyberattacks per week, a 75% rise from 2023 (Check Point Research). Employees often fall for phishing emails that appear to be from trusted sources, leading to stolen credentials, malware infections, or financial fraud.
2. Weak password practices persist
Despite years of awareness campaigns, passwords like '123456' are still widely used (NordLayer). Without proper security training, employees reuse weak passwords across multiple accounts, increasing the risk of credential-stuffing attacks. Multi-factor authentication (MFA) adoption's growing, but many employees turn it off because it's inconvenient, leaving accounts vulnerable.
3. Remote work expands the attack surface
The shift to remote and hybrid work models has introduced new risks, with employees accessing company data on unsecured personal devices and home networks. Many employees bypass security policies for convenience, creating shadow IT risks, where unauthorised apps expose businesses to unknown vulnerabilities. Cybercriminals are targeting remote employees with spear-phishing and business email compromise (BEC) scams, knowing they might not have IT support readily available.
The cost of neglecting employee training
Cybersecurity incidents don’t just disrupt business operations—they bring devastating financial, legal, and reputational consequences.
Key cybersecurity statistics:
> The average cost of a data breach rose to $4.88 million, a 10% increase from 2023 (IBM).
> 68% of data breaches involved human error, such as falling for phishing scams or misconfiguring security settings (NordLayer).
> Cyberattacks happen every 39 seconds globally, affecting businesses of all sizes (The National News).
Beyond financial loss, companies that fail to prioritise security training risk:
> Regulatory fines for failing to comply with data protection laws (e.g., GDPR, UK Data Protection Act).
> Loss of customer trust, as clients and partners become wary of working with a business that’s had a security breach.
> Theft of intellectual property, as cybercriminals increasingly target sensitive corporate data.
Employee training: your best defence
Rather than relying solely on IT teams to manage security threats, organisations need to empower employees at every level to play an active role in defence. Well-trained employees can:
1. Recognise and report cyber threats
- Spot phishing emails, social engineering tactics, and suspicious links before they cause harm.
- Report potential threats quickly, allowing IT teams to contain risks before they escalate.
2. Create a culture of security awareness
- When cybersecurity becomes part of everyday work culture, employees naturally develop better security habits.
- Regular training reinforces the idea that everyone—not just IT—has a role in protecting company assets.
3. Ensure compliance with security regulations
- Many data protection laws, including GDPR and the UK Data Protection Act, require businesses to provide cybersecurity training to employees.
- Non-compliance can lead to heavy fines and legal consequences, on top of security risks.
How gamified training enhances engagement
Traditional cybersecurity training—usually consisting of lengthy PowerPoint slides and dry policy documents—fails to engage employees properly. Because of this, businesses are shifting towards gamified security awareness programmes that make learning interactive, engaging, and effective.
Why gamification works:
- Simulated cyberattack scenarios: Employees practise identifying phishing attempts and ransomware threats in real-world, risk-free environments.
- Higher knowledge retention: Research shows that gamified training improves retention rates by up to 90%, compared to passive learning methods.
- Engaging & interactive: Instead of reading security manuals, employees actively participate, making cybersecurity a habit rather than a chore.
By making cybersecurity training fun and interactive, businesses can help employees stay alert and resilient against evolving threats.
Take action this Safer Internet Day
Cyber threats are evolving faster than ever, and human error remains the biggest cause of security breaches. This Safer Internet Day, take action to strengthen your organisation's defences by prioritising cybersecurity awareness training.
Discover how our gamified training can help
Equip your employees with the skills they need to stay one step ahead of cybercriminals. Learn more about our innovative awareness training, Cyber Crime Time, or schedule a demo today.
