Addressing The Weakest link

Addressing The Weakest link

John McGlone at The Training Centre outlines how you can address the weakest link in cybersecurity.

Companies spend a significant amount of money on cybersecurity. The problem, however, is that no amount of firewalls, antimalware tools, spam filters, or intrusion detection systems address the weakest link in the cybersecurity chain: humans.

Understanding that people are the weakest link, is key to addressing the challenge - securing the human layer.

Training has always been seen as the foundational solution. It helps to ensure that your employees are armed with the knowledge and skills they need in order to do their jobs effectively. 

Here are just some of the many benefits of cybersecurity training.
 

Increased Security

Beginning with the obvious, cybersecurity training makes your business more secure. Making your team at large aware of the many threats that exist – from data breaches to ransomware – will keep them from making simple mistakes that could threaten the safety of your organization.
 

Time and Money Saved
Cybersecurity training for your team is also a wise investment. It is estimated that data breaches and similar attacks cost companies about $400 billion each year. In the United States, a single attack could cost a company $15.4 million. Therefore, the cost of excellent cybersecurity training is well worth it if it prevents even a single attack.

Skills Retention
Retaining key members of staff by providing training opportunities is a tool most savvy organisations now use. Understanding that staff leave to better their careers elsewhere and putting in place targeted training opportunities reduces staff attrition rates greatly.
 

Retain Customers’ Trust
A survey of 2,000 respondents showed that about 86.6% of those asked were hesitant to patron a business that experienced a data breach in which credit or debit card information was compromised. That’s over 1,700 people who would lose faith in an organization as a result of what could be a simple, quick mistake.

The benefits far outweigh the losses when it comes to cybersecurity training. So, ensure that your workforce is well equipped with the knowledge that will keep your organization safe.