Empowering Employees as the First Line of Cyber Defense

Many organizations are now grappling with the growing consequences of security breaches, largely due to a lack of cybersecurity skills. In the Philippines, the Fortinet Cybersecurity Skills Gap 2024 report revealed that 94% of surveyed organizations experienced one or more security breaches in 2023, primarily driven by the skills gap. Recovering from these breaches consumes significant time and resources, with corporate leaders facing increasing accountability.

According to the report, 62% of IT and cybersecurity decision-makers in the country said that their board members or C-suite executives faced penalties, including fines, jail time, or even loss of employment, following successful attacks. Fortunately, cybersecurity is now a top priority at the board level for 94% of respondents, highlighting the urgent need for stronger cybersecurity measures and strategies.

As cybercriminals continue to evolve their tactics and cybersecurity professionals contend with persistent challenges, such as more sophisticated threats, evolving compliance regulations, and an ongoing shortage of skilled workers, organizations need a comprehensive approach to mitigate risks.

In observance of Cybersecurity Awareness Month in the country, it is a timely reminder that cybersecurity is a shared responsibility across the entire organization, not just the security team. Every employee plays a crucial role in protecting the company. Here’s why:

Employees as the best first line of defense

Beyond having a skilled security team and the right tools, it is crucial to train employees in cybersecurity best practices, as cybercriminals often exploit human vulnerabilities to infiltrate organizations’ networks. The same Fortinet study showed that 57% of respondents in the country identified a lack of employee awareness as a critical issue and 79% of organizations indicated plans to implement security awareness and training programs for all employees after experiencing a cyberattack.

Properly trained employees can recognize and prevent potential threats, making them the first line of defense against cyberattacks. That is why creating an effective cybersecurity awareness training program is essential when refining cybersecurity strategies. It equips employees with the knowledge and skills they need to identify and respond to risks, strengthening the organization’s overall defense.

Essential components of a cybersecurity training program

When developing or updating a cybersecurity awareness training program, organizations should begin by clearly defining the program’s goals, ensuring they align with the company’s specific needs. Once the objectives are established, leaders can determine the appropriate training format and schedule for rolling out the program. It is important to collaborate with various teams across departments to gather feedback to help refine the initiative and foster organization-wide support.

While training programs should be customized to meet the unique requirements of businesses in different industries, there are key cybersecurity topics that all employees must be familiar with.

• Utilizing strong passwords. Passwords are essential for protecting data from cybercriminals. Employees should learn how to create strong, complex passwords that are difficult for attackers to guess. This training should also highlight the importance of using password managers to generate and store passwords securely.
• Using multi-factor authentication (MFA). Multi-factor authentication adds an extra layer of security by requiring users to provide two or more verification factors before accessing an account. This significantly reduces the risk of unauthorized access. Employees should be trained on how MFA works and why it is an effective protection, helping to secure sensitive information from potential threats.
• Understanding social engineering attacks. Cybercriminals frequently use social engineering techniques to trick individuals into revealing sensitive information, which can compromise an organization’s security. Phishing is one of the most common methods used to gain access to networks. Employees should be trained to recognize the signs of a social engineering attack and know the appropriate steps to take if they are targeted.
• Updating software regularly. Keeping software and applications updated is crucial for patching vulnerabilities that cybercriminals might exploit. Employees should understand the importance of regularly installing updates and following the company’s policy regarding patching to minimize security risks. Frequent updates ensure that systems remain protected against the latest threats.

Empowering everyone with cyber training and awareness initiatives

Implementing cybersecurity training and awareness programs is important for equipping employees with the knowledge they need to identify and avoid cyber threats. These programs play a significant role in strengthening an organization’s defense against cyberattacks. While some companies can develop their own training initiatives, others may lack the necessary resources.

Fortunately, there are external training and certification programs available, such as the Fortinet Training Institute’s Network Security Expert (NSE) program, that can educate employees and enhance the skills of security teams.

Organizations in the country can encourage their employees to take advantage of the NSE program, which offers self-paced and instructor-led courses. These courses, combined with hands-on practical exercises, can help individuals build cybersecurity expertise from basic to advanced levels.

As cyber threats grow more sophisticated and attacks become frequent, now is the ideal time for organizations to create or reassess their cybersecurity training and awareness programs. Organizations can significantly reduce risks and enhance their protection against evolving threats by involving every employee in these initiatives. This emphasizes that cybersecurity is a shared responsibility that strengthens the overall defense of organizations against cyberattacks.