When it comes to phishing attacks, businesses often can’t deploy security technology fast enough to keep cybercriminals at bay – which is why the ultimate protection comes in the form of a combination of security technology and a human firewall.
A human firewall is created when individuals within an organisation are educated about how to interrogate their emails: when to click on a link or open an attachment, and when to delete it.
It only takes one wrong click to compromise an entire network, and the human is the often the weakest link when it comes to maintaining a good security framework – so empowering the user to make safe choices is key.
A two-pronged strategy of education and automation is critical to creating a safe, effective ‘human firewall’.
Here are three ways to improve your “Human Firewall” and strengthen email security:
1. Start with technology: Cybersecurity technology is your first line of defence when it comes to protecting data. Technology is not a security guarantee, but if you have the right controls in place, like Targeted Threat Protection, then fewer threats will actually break through.
2. Train your employees: When a threat actually does reach your “human firewall”, your employees must be properly trained to recognize and react to it. The best training stresses their ability to recognize and respond to threats, as well as the motivation to understand the consequences of whatever action they take, right or wrong.
3. Teach new behaviours: Identify employees’ current behaviors putting your organization at risk, such as clicking on malicious links or attachments. Then determine the desired alternatives.
Mimecast is helping businesses build a human firewall while encouraging decision makers to do their part by educating their staff about the dangers of sharing personal information via malicious links.
Mimecast’s enhanced Targeted ThreatProtection teaches people why links are malicious when they click on them, by alerting them to the URL which may look legitimate, but isn’t.
