You are sipping your morning coffee, casually scrolling through your emails, when you see an urgent email from your CEO. It asks you to transfer some funds right away. Do you quickly act on it to impress the boss, or stop and think, “Could this be a scam?” But to activate this mode of thinking, employee cybersecurity training is a must.
Cybercriminals send emails that look trustworthy but are meant to trick employees into leaking data or clicking malicious links. The results? Devastating financial losses and data breaches. However, your employees do not have to become a weak link in the cybersecurity chain.
This blog will discuss the hazardous world of email compromise and employee training to prevent it.
Email Compromise and Employee Cybersecurity Training
What is email compromise? It is when cyber attackers manipulate or exploit emails to steal sensitive information, money, or access to your systems. However, the common form is called BEC-Business Email Compromise, where attackers pretend to be someone you trust. They pretend to be your CEO to trick employees into sharing confidential data or transferring funds.
Further, it is kind of an online version of those pesky phone scam artists demanding your credit card information. Moreover, email compromise can lead to financial losses, data breaches, and bruised brand reputation if left unchecked.
Why is that your problem?
- Money Loss: Cybercrooks steal not just your data but also clear out the contents of your bank account.
- Lacking in Trust: Customers and partners may think twice about helping your brand if it allows itself to be a victim of fraud.
- Legal problems: Data breaches can get you in trouble with regulators.
Hence, email compromise is not something that should be taken lightly. So, what can one do to prevent against this kind of attack? The answer comes through one key area which is employee cybersecurity training for employees.
Role of Employees in Email Security
Your employees are like your brand’s gatekeepers in the digital kingdom. However, without proper training, they might leave the gates wide open to cyber criminals. But don’t blame them after all, phishing emails are crafted to resemble the real deal.
What is phishing?
Phishing is when attackers flood email accounts with spam emails that will trick someone into providing personal info. For instance, an email like “Your account will be deactivated unless you update your password here.” It sounds urgent, right? That’s exactly the point.
Types of Phishing Attacks
1. Spear Phishing: Targeted emails that seem personal, such as “Hi [Your Name], we noted unusual activity in your account.”
2. Whaling: However, this targets high-level executives with emails like, “Approve this wire transfer urgently.”
3. Clone Phishing: Attackers duplicate a real email but replace the links or attachments with malicious ones.
4. Smishing and Vishing: However, these utilize text messages and phone calls instead of emails. (Indeed, cybercriminals are THAT creative!)
Without email security for brands, such attacks are easily able to have employees compromise sensitive information.
Why Employee Cybersecurity Training is Essential
Cybercriminals send malicious emails or links that, if clicked by someone can lead to data breaches. So that’s why employee cybersecurity training is so crucial. Here’s how and why it works:
1. Employees Become Cyber Aware
Trained employees will no longer mindlessly click on every link but, rather, identify phishing email examples. For example, they may look for:
- Odd email addresses such as ceo@yourcompany.com (on notice).
- Grammar and spelling mistakes. (Businesses usually do not send emails with full grammatical and spelling errors)
- Use urgent or threatening language to demand they take swift action.
2. It’s like a Digital Immune System
Employee training is a vaccine for your brand. So the smarter the people are, the less likely they are to get pranked. Thus they are less likely to experience a data breach.
3. Reducing Human Error
According to research, over 90% of cyberattacks happen due to human error. So the education provided to employees cuts off the attackers’ easiest route into your systems.
4. Toughening Your Brand’s Reputation
Nothing says “we’ve got this” like a brand that takes cybersecurity seriously. So training employees to prevent email compromise shows customers, partners, and stakeholders that you prioritize security.
What Should Cybersecurity Awareness Training Include?
If you’re wondering, “What should this training cover?” So don’t worry—we’ve got you. However, effective training programs should focus on these areas:
1. Phishing Meaning and Examples
Start explaining what phishing is and show real-life examples of phishing emails. The more employees see them, the better they’ll recognize them.
2. Recognizing Suspicious Emails
Teach your team to spot red flags in emails, such as:
- Requests for sensitive information
- Unfamiliar senders or email domains
- Unexpected attachments or links
3. Safe Email Practices
Implement the following practices:
- Verify email addresses for accuracy
- Do not click on links without first placing your cursor over them to preview their destination
- Do never open attachments from unknown sources
4. Phishing Types
Discuss these types of phishing, spear phishing, and whaling. So that when specific types occur, employees are not caught off guard.
5. What to Do When Unsure
Let everyone know: “If something doesn’t feel right, don’t hesitate to report it. As the safety is always better than caution.”
6. Actual Phishing Attack Examples
Discuss case studies that reflect successful phishing attacks, and walk employees through how they started and the damage caused.
Implement a Good Email Security Policy
Training is one thing, but policies are quite another thing. So here’s how to further enhance your email security:
a) Two-factor authentication (2FA)
Always insist that employees activate 2FA for their email accounts. So even if a person’s password is stolen, 2FA makes it difficult for an attacker to gain access.
b) Regular Security Audits
Imagine the security of your email systems as a health check-up. These audits will alert you to vulnerabilities before anyone else does.
c) Use Email Security Tools
Tools like anti-phishing software and email encryption can block suspicious emails and protect sensitive information.
d) Limit Access to Email
Not all members of the company need access to sensitive emails. So restrict access based on roles to reduce the risk of compromise.
Conclusion
In the battle against email compromise, your employees are your greatest asset. However, investing in employee cybersecurity training and having some of the strong email security practices will protect your brand.
So the next time when a suspicious email arrives in your inbox. Keep in mind that the best way to protect your brand is by training your team on phishing. And who knows? You might also enjoy transforming your employees into cyber superheroes as you go along!
