Cybersecurity now evolved much more than just firewalls, encryptions, and antivirus software in a world of rapid digital growth. Since security breaches increase a lot these days, today, a brand-new front in the battle against online threats has opened up and is known as the “Human Firewall.” But exactly, what is a human firewall?
A human firewall, in contrast to being an actual barrier formed by humans, refers to the crucial role that people play within an organization to defend their digital assets and confidential data. These individuals operate as the first line of defence against potential cyber threats since they are knowledgeable about and skilled enough at adhering to cybersecurity best practices.
In this post, we will delve into the topic and understand what is a human firewall?, exploring its importance in the current digital era, how it can safeguard your business, and strategies to strengthen it!
What Is a Human Firewall? How Important It is?
A strong human firewall is now essential in the modern digital environment where the idea of perimeter security has become outdated. The core of a human firewall is education and training, which gives each employee in a company the awareness of cyber risks and skills necessary to defend against potential threats.
The rise in remote work is one of the strongest reasons to invest in a human firewall. As more businesses accept flexible work arrangements, employees connect to corporate networks from various locations, making them vulnerable to a variety of cyber threats.
Apart from being skilled in identifying obvious dangers like phishing attempts, employees also need to be on the lookout for practical flaws, like leaving private documents unattended or connecting to unsecured networks.
A human firewall represents a team effort to strengthen an organization’s defences by making sure that its workers are well-informed, prepared, and proactive in guarding against cyberattacks. Also, it includes a business culture of cybersecurity awareness among staff members.
How a Human Firewall Can Safeguard Your Business
Looking at the consequences of not investing in cybersecurity education and training makes the importance of a human firewall quite clear. The National Cyber Security Centre has released a report stating that in 2021, cyber breaches linked to working remotely cost UK businesses £374 million.
A shocking 82% of respondents blamed tech issues or behaviour-related problems for these breaches. This highlights the crucial part that employees play in the cybersecurity equation.
As cyberattacks continue to develop and become more advanced, even the strongest cybersecurity measures can occasionally fall short. Well-trained team members serve as the last line of defence, in these circumstances. It can be the difference between expensive fines and service interruption if they are able to identify and stop potential cyberattacks early on.
5 Key Cyberthreats to Be Aware Of
Knowing the broad spectrum of cyber risks that can arise is the first step in building a robust human firewall. Phishing is a common and widespread issue, but it’s not the only one. Social engineering attacks can take many different forms, all aimed at tricking people into disclosing private information:
1. Phishing:
Attackers/Scammers use email or messages to trick people into releasing private information, such as passwords, and banking details. Modern phishing attacks are getting harder and harder to identify, as fraudsters use social media to profile targets and give the impression that their efforts are more legitimate.
2. Baiting:
Baiting is the act of drawing individuals using tempting rewards or offers in the hope of getting their personal data. Usually, this results in the installation of malware, which makes it possible for private information to be stolen.
3. Pretexting:
Pretexting is defined as when cybercriminals manipulate victims into disclosing sensitive information. They typically do this by pretending to be HR or management people or any other powerful person. Pretexting could expose a company’s online vulnerabilities, which may then be used as an opportunity for additional cyber attacks.
4. Quid Pro Quo:
This one is an attack strategy in which a scammer offers something in exchange for the desired action. It takes a lot of communication between the attacker and the victim to pull off this kind of attack, which frequently leads to more destructive ones like ransomware or Business Email Compromise (BEC) breaches.
5. Tailgating:
Tailgating, which occurs both online and offline, is when attackers follow employees through secure doors, often by pretending to be a coworker or maintenance personnel. Once inside, they look for confidential data to use for large-scale data breaches.
How to Strengthen Your Human Firewall
Now that we know the importance of a human firewall and the various threats it guards against, let’s have a look at how to strengthen this vital line of defence:
1. Awareness & Knowledge:
Increasing awareness and expertise among your employees is the cornerstone of a strong human firewall. When employees possess the appropriate insights, they can examine suspicious behaviour in both the physical and digital spheres. Your defence will be stronger as a result of this enhanced judgment in addition to your other cybersecurity solutions.
2. Design a Training Program:
An effective cybersecurity training program allows teams and individuals to identify and counter particular types of cyberattacks. This includes recognizing phishing emails, reacting against malicious pretexting attempts, and reducing actual security concerns.
3. Testing Employees:
By regularly assessing your employees, you may reinforce their understanding of questionable activity and their readiness to react to it. These tests don’t have to be boring; many programs are adopting gamification features to make training and testing interesting while highlighting how crucial it is to recognize possible risks.
4. Monitoring and Evolving:
The threat landscape is constantly evolving, with new risks and tactics emerging regularly. Knowing what kinds of challenges your company is subject to might help you modify your cybersecurity strategy and strengthen your human firewall.
Conclusion
Let’s conclude this, a human firewall is an essential layer of defense in the field of cybersecurity, not just a theoretical idea. The business landscape is changing due to remote work, thus it is critical to invest in cybersecurity awareness, education, and training. With their human firewall skills, your employees can be the difference between a devastating cyberattack and safeguarding your company’s assets and reputation.
By being proactive and understanding what is a human firewall, you can protect your business from the ever-present and evolving cyber threats that exist in the digital realm.