Research released by the Global Cyber Security Capacity Centre affirms the indisputable importance of training in mitigating security risk. It’s only through committing to a comprehensive training program, one that will guide individuals on the elements of data safety, that organizational protection is possible.
Our team at TitanHQ has decades of experience in the IT security industry. Our SAT experts have worked with clients across the globe in building security-training programs that safeguard their systems and support their teams. We now provide you with the tools to help your team meet its security objectives in the coming years.
This guide will introduce you to strategies for mitigating threats to your company’s security. In this guide, you will learn more on:
As we become increasingly dependent on technology in business as in our day-to-day lives, the threat to these IT systems continues to evolve. No longer are simple viruses attacking a vulnerable PC our biggest worry. We now live in an age where wireless technology is used to control devices across the organization and where everyone has their own smartphone. Now, each team member has their own role to play in protecting the organization and its customers from outside threats. And so, the question becomes: What can organizations do to empower and guide individuals in supporting organizational security in this era of increased digital dependency?
In addition to threats, much of the cybersecurity infrastructure and methods to stop them are unwelcome. Employees will often take additional steps to bypass cybersecurity controls, leaving your organization open to attacks. Cybersecurity should be effective, but it should also allow for productivity and user workflows to continue unhindered. Employees also need to understand that cybersecurity is necessary. They must be trained to use controls effectivity and know that they shouldn’t attempt to bypass these controls.
With an increasing consumer awareness of security breaches and data risks, companies must now be more proactive in how they manage their systems. Studies show that cyber-attacks are increasing in both frequency and scale.
And many growing companies across the country are still not prepared for countering new and emerging zero-day threats.
Let’s look at the factors that are influencing the current cyber security landscape and how they are shaping the marketplace.
The diversity and number of devices that both employees and customers of the modern organization use is increasing. Whether it’s the latest iOS system or the newest Android release, mobile devices are now increasingly targeted by hackers directly as a way to access business information and extract valuable data.
The newest devices might feature the latest security protocols, but companies must still put safeguards in place and educate employees on the benefits of their use. This is particularly true within an organization with a BYOD policy, where outside devices are being brought into the office. Policies of this nature might give employees more flexibility and autonomy in their role, but they also present a threat to companies in which data control and access limitations are critical security considerations.
The Internet of Things (IoT) is a developing marketplace in which every item within the office, from the thermostat to the refrigerator, is connected to the Internet to provide a constant data link that helps automate various elements of office life. While this increasing automation is making the life of the modern employee easier, and helping companies reduce costs, it also presents a very real security risk.
In an environment where many systems are connected to the same server, it only takes a small flaw in a rarely used product to allow access to the entire data infrastructure. All too often, connected devices are left vulnerable through the use of default passwords, and standard security protocols that have long since been infiltrated by hackers.
The IoT trend has given rise to the looming threat of botnets, which are automated systems that scan large swaths of information in seconds for potential weaknesses. Botnets use default passwords and other standard security processes to login to unprotected devices, allowing them to control the device after entry and then use the data they find to impact the company, its staff and employees.
In capitalizing on the IoT within their companies, teams must maintain clear sight of their security goals and mitigate the impact of automation on their security structure.
With the increasing need for IT security guidance and the rising challenges emanating from across the globe, there’s a dearth of onsite skills for the modern business to utilize. Specialists in IT security, particularly in modern IT security threats, are few and far between.
Without the right skills onsite, organizations do not have the foresight to undertake cybersecurity and install the necessary infrastructure to stop attacks. They often look to a Managed Service Provider (MSP) for help, but this step often happens after they suffer from a data breach.
In recent years, attackers have also devised novel ways in which to attack organizations and access data. One of the more common methods in large-scale attacks in recent years has been the use of ransomware. Ransomware attacks involve infecting and blocking access to your systems, and then asking for a “ransom”, a payment of some sort to stop the attack, remove the infection, and to allow access to your systems again.
The success of these types of attacks was highlighted by the WannaCry event, in which 250,000 computers in over 150 countries, including systems in 16 NHS medical centers, were infected within less than a day.5 As with the Equifax breach, a patch would have resolved the issue, but without a proactive focus on IT security, organizations incurred a significant cost.
Business email compromise is another form of attack that is on the rise in recent years. The data shows that between October 2013 and December 2016, hackers stole over $5.3billion in the U.S. alone through BEC attacks. 6 This threat is becoming more popular along with BYOD policies. Companies allowing their employees to bring their own devices must be acutely aware of the importance of email security and effective threat analysis.
Many experienced professionals have fallen victim to sophisticated email attacks in recent years, simply due to a lack of education within organizations and a lack of attention to detail. The goal of the modern company is to train employees to identify out-of-the-ordinary requests and common strategies used by attackers to gain data access.
Predictive models are of growing significance within the security industry. as AI-based prediction modeling starts to be used in safeguarding companies against potential threats. Studies involving the use of AI-based machine learning programs are helping to determine when an organization is most vulnerable to attacks and through which channel a threat might arise. This can give companies the upper hand in terms of defending their data and in threat mitigation over the coming years. The focus is now on helping staff work with these machine learning systems and on learning the measures to take when a threat is highlighted.
While mobile applications are now helping improve the performance of smartphones and placing greater capabilities into the hands of the mobile workforce, it must be remembered that the data on mobile applications is at significant risk of attack.. Many organizations are now harnessing serverless apps, which support greater scalability. These applications also capitalize on the use of data in transit. Data sent between networks is at its most vulnerable state and can be captured by coordinated attacks seeking out specification information on a company, its employees, and customers. The use of applications within their workforce can make companies more vulnerable to DDOS attacks, in which a serverless architecture might fail to scale with the demand for service, leading to expensive disruptions for the company.
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Book Free DemoIn learning more on information security, business leaders must first study the most common types of security breaches and how organizations have been impacted by these events. The following are common techniques that attackers use to breach the security of the modern company.
SQL attacks are considered the low-hanging fruit, as they are one of the easiest to prevent and yet remain among the most common techniques deployed by attackers. The SQL attack allows a hacker to enter malicious code in a piece of text, perhaps in an email or a Word document. The malicious code then allows the attacker to take over the device and extract specific data. Using this technique, cybercriminals have been able to gain access to company financial information, customer data, and other high-value items that might be stored on a server.
Attackers also gain access to information by stealing passwords from a company directory. They might gain access via a traditional SQL attack or by simply by using social engineering to acquire information over the phone and teams must learn how social engineering is being used to gain access to information. For example, a person may call and say they are from the firm’s IT security department and require access to login credentials to update their computer. In many cases, employees simply trust the person on the phone and provide their details of their own free will.
A password can also be stolen easily if the user has kept their default password or if the password hasn’t been updated regularly. Hackers are now using botnets to brute force attacks using default passwords on millions of computers over a short space of time. Keeping the default username and password on the device leaves the user vulnerable to password theft and data loss.
Malware is a form of malicious software that, when installed on the target system, can be used to control system data and allow the attacker to steal all available information. The malware is often installed after an email is sent to the target. The email is
usually designed to look as if it came from an authority within the company or a software manufacturer offering an update. By accidentally installing malware on their computer systems, employees can then allow the malware to spread throughout the company’s network, infiltrating all data areas and causing significant issues. It’s part of the reason that companies are now educating their employees on how to spot the signs of a malware infestation and guiding them on mitigating the issue before it begins to cost the company and its customers.
In the BYOD era, companies are now giving mobile staff members the option of bringing their devices with them and then using their personal devices to communicate with customers and other employees. Data retained on these devices has become highly valuable to attackers as it often contains the credentials for logging into secure areas of the company network. When a device is lost or stolen, it can put the company at risk of a significant financial loss. Proactive companies are now building policies that help to safeguard data in the event of theft or loss.
They are also encouraging employees to back up their device data on cloud-based systems to mitigate the threat and implement BYOD policies such as document protection to ensure lost devices don’t lead to further financial loss for the company.
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Book Free DemoIn safeguarding their company in the current landscape, business leaders must also better understand the specific cyber threats to their organization. Each industry faces different risks from threat actors, each with their own motivation and intent. As leaders in the cyber security marketplace, TitanHQ staff regularly work with our clients in mitigating threats to their business and we have found the following threats to become a growing issue within today’s organizations:
One of the more common modern techniques used by hackers is a sophisticated version of the traditional man-in -the-middle (MitM) attack. The attacker finds their way into the organization and then places a keylogger or another tracking system on a computer. New attacks use IoT devices to listen in on all wireless communications across the network. They then gain access to a company email address and watch the communications that take place between the user and others in the company. Because they have access to the user’s credentials and their passwords, they can then act as the person in emailing others for financial information and private data.
Phishing Scams
A recent phishing scam conducted by a Lithuanian cyber-criminal cost Facebook and Google more than $100 million combined (Source). There are still rich rewards for phishing attacks, and firms must be prepared to mitigate the risks they face. Companies continually fall victim to phishing scams, despite this technique being one of the more common and widely understood issues within the security marketplace. The typical phishing attempt involves a simple email which is designed to look like it came from an authority within the company. The email might ask the person to download a document or click a link within the content. Once the desired action has been completed, the attacker is given control of the device and can then access device data and act as the user of the system.
Phishing in combination with ransomware is on the rise. Attackers send messages with malicious attachments used to execute malware. The malware could be ransomware, or it could be scripts (e.g., macros) that download malware without the user’s consent. Once downloaded, ransomware unloads its payload. Ransomware encrypts any file it determines to be potentially important to productivity. It encrypts files with a cryptographically secure cipher, so it’s irreversible. In many scenarios, victims of ransomware are forced to pay the ransom or recover files from backups. Without backups, the organization could permanently lose important data. Ransomware is one of the most damaging malware applications in the wild, and it costs organizations millions in incident response, investigations, containment, brand damage, litigation, and other recovery aspects in the aftermath.
A botnet attack begins with a single computer virus. The virus then spreads to connected computers on the network, and then sends a signal back to its command center, which is operated by the cy ber-criminal. From their command center, the criminal can then control all the computers within the botnet, and use any data they discover as the review the network. Botnet attacks are also on the rise around the world and many skilled hackers now offer botnets for hire for others to use. It’s a billion-pound industry that is only set to grow with the increasing success of botnet events.
The websites that we click on every day during working hours can detail specific information about our location and our computer. Those with criminal intent can create sites that have malicious JavaScript written into the programming to allow the instant download of a virus once the user opens the site. One click from an employee within a company network can cause the download of a virus that shuts down the entire network, potentially costing the company thousands of pounds in lost revenue. This is yet another reason behind the importance of secure web use and for installing the latest virus scanning and removal products.
Human error is another of the leading causes of security issues within the modern organization. With the vast amount of documentation being disseminated across the globe, companies are now focused on using these documents effectively and preventing private document data from getting into the hands of cybercriminals. A security breach within a large company is often the result of a simple documentation error by an employee.
The employee might simply make the mistake of publishing private data on a public resource, giving access to a website or the email address of a company employee which then leaves their data vulnerable. The forwarding of sensitive information is another common mistake. Choosing the wrong email address or adding information that should have remained on a private server to the email chain can have a significant impact on the company. It’s why so many are now taking the time to teach their employees about how to work with documents and how to control the flow of information from their computer.
The failure to back up the data on the server could make a security breach more costly when teams must add the data back into the system. Many security breaches not only result in the theft of data but also the loss of data for the company. In the case of a stolen device for example, this could leave the team with no understanding on which data was lost and who has been impacted. Take the time to back up data regularly and find out who is using which data on the system. This data retention process can help create a chain of custody for the data and prevent significant costs being incurred in the future. In view of these threats, what can companies do to
safeguard their data? There are multiple steps that should be followed in ensuring that data is safe and security breaches are eliminated. Our SafeTitan SAT team specializes in advising companies on IT security and we recommend the following steps be taken to prevent data breaches:
Institute end-user awareness training through a qualified company
Perform regular vulnerability reviews with the team
Apply patches regularly and review new patch options
Back up all data regularly
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Book Free DemoWith the wide-ranging threats facing organizations in the modern business climate, the need to educate employees is clear. But most companies still have little understanding on the importance that a comprehensive employee-training program can bring to their business and so here our experts will lay out the value provided through security training.
The latest threats from computer hackers are designed to impact your business and steal money and data. Only through a proactive approach to security awareness training can companies ensure that each team member is security savvy. Security awareness training can help keep businesses running effectively when a security incident arises. Training can also help to minimize business downtime and showcase the firm’s understanding of the current cyber security climate and its commitment to protecting customers and employees.
While technology teams are often focused on mitigating cyber threats and ensuring business safety, those using the technology aren’t always adept in effective security practices. One of the key benefits of working with a training specialist on a security awareness program is that it can help develop your strongest cyber defense – your employees.
It provides the individual with the knowledge they need to detect and stop threats before they impact the business. By empowering the employee to take the measures required to protect the company, firms are now minimizing the potential for attackers to target individuals. After training is completed, problems related to social engineering and other individually focused attacks can be reduced.
Human error plays a huge role in current data breaches. Insider threats continue to be the biggest issue for organizations to rein in, and it’s a never-ending battle for administrators. Insider threats can be any vendor, employee, or third-party trusted individual with legitimate access to corporate data. Phishing campaigns target these users specifically to find weaknesses in corporate cybersecurity training.
Human error can be intentional and meant to harm, but typically they are unwitting and accidental mistakes. Both are equally as difficult to detect and stop because in both circumstances the user has legitimate access to sensitive data. A combination of good monitoring tools, intrusion detection infrastructure and cybersecurity training helps organizations strengthen your human firewall.
A critical benefit of security training is that it keeps every team member is on the same page when it comes to security. When a threat arises, each team member will know exactly what the process is for dealing with the problem effectively. While the burden of responsibility is still on the individual employee, they are given the tools and resources required to act on potential threats. Team members can work together in resolving security issues, building an environment of trust and confidence among coworkers.
Prevention is far more affordable than responding to a security issue. Companies can save millions of pounds by using security awareness training to prevent potential attacks on their systems. Security awareness training is the ideal investment for the growing business intent on harnessing the newest technology. Data loss prevention should be proactive, meaning threats should be detected early in the process so that the risks are mitigated and any damage to the organization from any attack is minimized as quickly as possible.
In the event that hackers try to access company data or use any of the more common techniques such as phishing, man in the middle attacks, and social engineering, trained employees will be able to detect and report a security incident in a much more efficient manner. Their security training, awareness, and vigilance will allow them to notice the changes that have taken place on their system as a result of their training, and they can then alert their managers who will initiate the appropriate response process.
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Book Free DemoIn considering security-training companies, business leaders must take into consideration the style of program offered by the firm. Only quality programs can ensure the best return on investment in security training.
Let’s look at the key features of a comprehensive and high-quality security awareness-training program:
The leading security awareness training programs incorporate a range of tools and content to assist in communicating best practice guidance and know-how in different ways. One size does not fit all. From quizzes to hands-on training services, programs should be diverse to incorporate all the methods employees require for effective security education.
The leading companies offer integrated testing measures that simulate a security event and test the teams based on their response to the simulated threat. Such testing has proven critical in improving team knowledge and giving management staff a clear understanding of the points of weakness within the organization.
The training program should include regular education classes to give employees the opportunity to build their understanding on a continuous basis. Conducting short, regular training over the long term has been shown to increase employee understanding and knowledge retention during busy working lives. As cybersecurity and attacks evolve, training should also change to account for the latest threats. Continuing to ensure your training curriculum is regularly updated to reflect the latest scams and tradecraft used by cybercriminals is a vital way to ensure training remains relevant.
Additional training should be provided for those in management positions in order to oversee employee actions and deliver maximum return on investment. Management teams should be trained on the steps required to help employees engage with training simulations and testing designed to build their confidence and co-operation. They should also undergo training on the actions required when real-time security issues are reported by team members.
The training programs featuring built-in reporting tools help provide actionable data on the strength of the company’s security, and ensure the information is available to decision-makers. This helps to significantly enhance the value of the program and support team members in meeting their security goals. Reporting tools allow teams to see in clear detail where room for improvement exists and to target these areas in future training in order to maximise return on investment.
The training should prepare all individuals on how to respond to real-time security issues and help them take active steps in managing the issue the moment it occurs. One of the key benefits of security awareness training is in helping to reduce the time it takes to respond to a security threat. The best programs guide team members on immediate responses to real-time events and help teams build a comprehensive policy for protecting data and hardware in real-time when a security issue arises.
Through their regular training, employees will also be able to learn more about the security environment as it evolves. In a fast-paced marketplace such as this, it can be difficult to track and respond to the latest threats with a one-off course. A regular training course allows the specialist to help guide employees on new issues facing companies in their sector. Whether it’s a new botnet or a new piece of malware, knowing what to look for can help mitigate potential damage within the business.
Implement gamification techniques into your training plans. Challenge your training participants to take on the mission of security; use real-world scenarios for them to encounter obstacles and then have to role-play the decision of what to do next. By inserting themselves into these scenarios, they will be actively engaging in security practice and learning through hands-on experience in how they themselves would or should act. Taking the opportunity to provide positive recognition of good employee behaviours, whether it be through email communication, by awarding a certificate is also an important feature of successful awareness training programmes.
Armed with the knowledge on the content of a quality security awareness training program, companies can now better select the ideal program for their teams. But success within the training program can only be achieved by building the ideal team environment within the individual business. Let’s review a checklist to the best practices for creating and supporting a security-training program.
A critical element of security awareness training is partnering between and across departments so that performance goals can be shared and agreed upon. For example, make sure that HR teams are involved in the security training procedures so they can then integrate those training elements within the new employee onboarding process. Beyond this, it is also important to combine shared needs and interests across departments. Security is everyone’s responsibility, but the facets of that responsibility are shared across departments. HR departments may be tasked with safeguarding employee data, Legal departments with third-party assessments and contracts, IT with system upkeep, other departments with proprietary, sales, or consumer data, and so on.
A comprehensive solution can only be built when a full assessment of the current risks and vulnerabilities are carried out. Those at the executive levels should also be kept aware of the training and have the opportunity for input to keep the program moving in the most effective direction for the organization. Getting each member of the team on the same page regarding security will minimize confusion and create an environment of consistent communication and cross-department cooperation.
Good training gets all staff on board with the importance of cybersecurity training. Everyone from management and administration to executives should be trained to detect phishing, malware, and social engineering. Training has to be consistently applied so that administrators can also support employees in their efforts to stop attacks.
It is worthwhile to survey staff periodically, not only to get an understanding of their vantage point on existing security risks at the employee level, but to hear about specific vulnerabilities or incidents that they may have experienced. Additionally, it is important to gauge whether every corner of an organization is receiving the appropriate security message. Is security a priority to them, to their managers and team, etc.
One of the goals of a robust security-training program is to raise awareness and understanding of cyber threats among staff. However, in order to motivate change, it is often necessary to not just punish negative behavior, but to reward positive behavior.
A reward system in place for employees that follow procedures and complete testing according to the training roadmap will engage staff in the success of security. Rewards should also be provided for reporting security issues and concerns in order to build a confident and security-aware workforce.
The single most important outcome of a training and awareness program is measurable behaviour change. It is not enough for employees to know a security guideline or process by memory, but to follow it as well.
The only way to determine this is by maintaining metrics. It’s this actionable data on the effectiveness and positive impact of a company’s security training program that can help to show board members and C-level executives the return on investment they are seeing. This involves committing to training programme measurement. For example, a company might implement a phishing simulation at the beginning of the programme and then another simulation halfway through to show the progress being made. This can help demonstrate the programme’s value and increase the potential for future executive support and investment.
Relevant data on real-time security threats is essential in implementing the training program. Teams must use the information from recent trends to showcase the importance of training and ensure appropriative security counter-measures are taken. By demonstrating the relevance of the training being provided and showing the true cost of modern threats, companies can motivate their teams and guide them towardS taking the most effective approach for optimal security.
A common mistake made in security awareness training is simply using the same simulation techniques at the same time in the week. Soon, teams catch on to the simulation schedule and will be better prepared to respond. To get a real understanding on security preparedness, conduct simulations at random times. Try not to give any advanced warning of the simulation.
Companies can gain actionable data on the success of their training through careful scheduling and comprehensive analysis. In a simulation test, phishing emails are sent out usually with a link to a malicious website. The site collects data on who clicks the link, who accesses the website, and any users successfully tricked into entering their credentials. These statistics can then be used to find opportunities across staff for better awareness and training.
Communication is vital to security awareness and building a security culture across the organization. Consistent communications about the expectations we have of our employees and the importance of well-defined and easy-to-understand security policies and guidelines is crucial. To support this the leadership team has a vital role in continuing to highlight how important information security is and that they are as vulnerable as any other employee will assist in keeping employees engaged, informed and vigilant.
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Book Free DemoBy working with our SAT experts, companies can build their ideal security awareness training program. We specialize in building programs that tackle the root cause in 90% of security incidents: human error.
Our fully integrated training platform includes the following features:
Our program is easy to set up on any computer network; training campaigns, quizzes, and simulated attacks can be formed and utilised within minutes of the initial start-up process being completed
The customisation aspect of the SafeTitan program means that all elements can be designed based on the company and their unique program requirements. Phishing templates can be customised according to unique branding and in-house campaign communications, simulation attachments can be formed based on company documents and emails can be spoofed for sophisticated response analysis.
For company leaders with little time or resources to roll out security awareness directly on their systems, SafeTitan offers managed services, designed so that we take full control of the threat analysis and can provide clients with actionable reports on their teams and the performance of their security awareness processes around the clock.
Few companies can match our customer support services. We’re a proudly Irish firm and can provide short response times for questions and enquiries from clients across time zones. We recognise the value of speedy services in the security marketplace, and we’re now offering the ideal service through our trusted support staff.
SafeTitan is dedicated to providing comprehensive training content that is at the forefront of industry needs. Our training videos are developed to be short and concise, keeping staff productive and informed in a matter of minutes. Our training content is innovative and engaging; and furthermore, is constantly refreshed to be in line with the demands of the evolving cyber threat landscape and changing best practice advice.
Security concerns are global, but some topics require additional regional knowledge.
SafeTitan is prepared to meet these customer needs and can meet specific requirements in topics like PCI, Data Protection (for GDPR, HIPPA, or South Africa), etc. Additionally, all of our training is available in distinct US and UK versions, complete with correct spelling and terminology, to meet your organization’s needs.
Recent reports show the digital economy is growing at twice the rate of the wider economy, contributes £97bn a year and continues to grow by 6.5% every year since 2005.
With most new businesses now dependent on their connections to the digital marketplace, there’s never been a better time to initiate security awareness training.
While the headlines might show that organizations lost $6 trillion to cyber-criminals by 2021, the problems go beyond the headlines. Even the smallest attack can stall a business and prevent growing companies from reaching their objectives for the year ahead. The average cost of a data breach is the highest ever in 17 years, up to $4.4 million per breach. The most common cause of data breaches today is credential theft from malicious emails.
Data breaches are causing customer churn, loss of brand value, and significant legal issues across the marketplace. No company is immune. Our team at SafeTitan offers a human-centric approach to security awareness training.
We work with individuals across the organization to support all members of the group in protecting the business against the newest evolving threats. Take the time now to review your options alongside our trusted experts. Your proactive commitment to educating your employees and testing their security awareness can safeguard your business, support your team, and give your customers peace of mind in using your services in the coming years.
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