With all of the external risks cyber security professionals deal with every day, insider risk is often under resourced. What's more, IT professionals themselves are targets for insider espionage like never before. Here's why, and what you can do about it.
A recent survey from identity protection company Hitachi ID Systems reveals a concerning trend: about two-thirds of IT executives and employees have been solicited by hackers to participate in ransomware attacks.*
The survey findings emphasize the growing complexity of cybercriminal tactics. Hackers are leveraging social engineering to infiltrate organizations. This approach involves manipulating individuals within a company to, knowingly or unknowingly, assist in launching ransomware attacks.
Major New Attention Needed
“Hackers are leveraging social engineering to infiltrate organizations... manipulating individuals within a company to, knowingly or unknowingly, assist in launching ransomware attacks.”
For cybersecurity professionals, this article serves as an important reminder of the multifaceted nature of cyber threats. It highlights the importance of not only fortifying technical defenses against external threats, but also implementing training programs to educate employees about social engineering tactics and other internal threats.
Understanding the human element in cybersecurity is vital to a comprehensive cybersecurity stance. Professionals in this field must focus not only on technological advancements but also on fostering a culture of cybersecurity awareness within organizations. This involves creating a knowledgeable workforce capable of recognizing and reporting suspicious activities.
Take Action to Counter This Threat
As threats evolve, cybersecurity professionals must adapt their strategies to effectively counteract these increasingly sophisticated tactics. CyberZek provides a toolkit to help your organization protect against these ever-evolving tactics as well as educational resources to raise your employees’ knowledge about the many faces that insider threats can wear.