9TH MAY 2024
Cybercriminals don’t just hack computers; they can also hack humans. Without adequate security awareness training for employees, all it takes is one wrong click, one shared password, or one unencrypted device. Just about all industries need security awareness training. And here's why
A staggering 82% of breaches involve human elements like phishing or social engineering. But here's the good news: humans are also the best defense against cybercriminals. With a little training, we can easily spot phishing emails, outsmart social engineering attacks, and create complex passwords that even the most skilled hackers can't crack.
Experts project that cybercrime will cost the world $10.5 trillion annually by 2025. This is especially prevalent in industries where the threats are ever-evolving. We take a look at some major industries that need security awareness training.
Let's take a look at 7 industries that are particularly vulnerable to cyber attacks:
Marketing agencies have a responsibility to protect the brands they work with. A study revealed that 78% of people would never use a marketing brand’s services if they suffered a breach. This means that a single cyberattack can damage your brand’s reputation and lose customer trust.
Marketing departments are staffed with creative individuals who want to build great brands. And while they're tech-savvy, they won't necessarily sit for hours of video lectures about boosting your cybersecurity posture. A game-based security awareness training platform however can be a better fit for such dynamic environments.
Startups need to scale quickly to stay competitive but this rapid growth can lead to cybersecurity vulnerabilities. The reality is stark: 60% of small businesses fold within six months of a cyber attack. More crucially, 47% of businesses with less than 49 employees do not allocate a specific budget for cybersecurity.
Cybercriminals don't discriminate by company size. In fact, startups may be more attractive targets because of limited resources and lack of cybersecurity expertise.
Today's startups need the absolute best people. They also need the best security awareness training programs that respect their time and work schedule. A bite-sized cybersecurity game with episodic content can strike a good balance in such environments.
Imagine a hacker compromising a hospital's computer system, endangering patients and causing disruptions to critical medical services. Such incidents underscore the urgent need for stricter cybersecurity measures in healthcare. A survey showed that 23% of respondents experienced a cyber attack resulting in increased patient mortality rates due to a lack of security awareness training for healthcare providers.
Healthcare remains one of the most targeted industries in regards to cybersecurity. During the COVID-19 pandemic, cyber attacks on healthcare entities accounted for 79% of data breaches in 2020. Within the same period, NHS staff faced a barrage of 140,000 phishing emails.
Here's how employee education in healthcare organizations enhances cybersecurity:
Similarly, an interactive and gamified phishing simulator can help staff from medical institutions learn the warning signs so that they are not susceptible to social engineering scams.
E-commerce platforms process vast volumes of customer transactions and personal information, making them lucrative targets for cybercriminals. In 2023, credit card fraud was the most common type of identity theft, with 318,000 reported cases.
An awareness training program that doesn't put you to sleep can work wonders here. One that can help you meet compliance requirements while teaching you data security concepts in an intimate setting - like playing the lead character in a cybersecurity game.
Journalism and media organizations play a crucial role in handling sensitive news sources, using social media, confidential information, and digital publishing platforms. However, they are also prime targets for cyberattacks. News and media sites face an average of 30 million attacks per day.
A concerning statistic reveals that only 50% of journalists passed a quiz on basic cybersecurity training, despite attending multiple security workshops and training sessions. This underscores the urgent need for more effective and comprehensive security education within media organizations.
On one hand, existing lecture and video-based approach to cybersecurity awareness has garnered mixed reactions. On the other hand, gamified security awareness training experiences are making the learning experience fun, engaging, and respectful of the constraints journalists work with every day. Empathy is key to building training experiences that help you boost your security posture.
Insurance firms store vast amounts of sensitive customer data, including financial records and insurance policies. However, they are increasingly targeted by cybercriminals. Whaling attacks, specifically targeting insurers, have surged by over 100% in a year. Moreover, in about 2% of cyber insurance claims, the total cost of a breach exceeded $100 million.
While insurance companies work with a lot of boring data, they can benefit from security awareness training, especially game-based ones that boost short-term knowledge retention.
Government agencies play a critical role in protecting citizens and national security, but they are also a prime target for cybercriminals.
The government sector faces 1,136 cyber attacks per week. A single attack can cost over $4 million and compromise sensitive information and undermine public trust. Moreover, 95% of these cyber breaches are caused by human error.
Governmental organizations usually deal with procedural and mundane processes as part of their day to day working. Investing in a fun yet practical security awareness training platform can make it easier for supervisors to impart and monitor security alertness levels among employees.
The escalating cyber threats faced by industries such as marketing, startups, healthcare, e-commerce, journalism, insurance, and government highlight the urgent need for proactive measures.
By investing in employee training, organizations can turn their greatest vulnerability into their greatest strength. And it's not just a matter of security best practices – the stakes are high.
The benefits of cybersecurity training are far-reaching, encompassing protection against cyberattacks, reduction of human error-related breaches, maintenance of customer trust, and adherence to industry regulations. Gamified cybersecurity training products represent one of the best ways to accomplish your security training needs.
