The benefits of cyber security awareness are to protect networks and data from unauthorised access and to ensure improved information security and continuity of business management.
Cyber criminals constantly find new ways to circumvent the latest defensive tools and technologies, landing in employees' inboxes and browsers. Research shows that 85% of data breaches involve the human element, and 94% of malware is delivered via email.
These email attacks almost always involve some sort of phishing. Phishing is the fraudulent practice of sending emails posing as a legitimate source to compel victims to reveal sensitive information, such as passwords and credit card numbers. You may have seen phishing emails before, offering you a free TV or asking you to change your password. An email spam filter will catch many of these, however, some will still occasionally make it through to your inbox. Should you receive a suspicious email, report it to the Government Information Technology Office (GITO) immediately.
Not only is phishing a simple attack to perform, but it is a Google search away. Anyone who can access the dark web can purchase a phishing kit the way you’d buy a book from Amazon. Employees might very well come face-to-face with a cyber incident, and the DBE wants them to be prepared to respond accordingly by reporting threats to your IT or security team. Luckily, cybersecurity awareness training can be an effective defence against phishing attacks. For this reason it is important to attend all Cyber Security Awareness Training hosted by the DBE throughout the year.
Cyber security is everybody's responsibility!