News
Phishing Emails Drive 90% Of Data Breaches: Here’s How Your Business Can Avoid Falling Victim
April 2024 by Oliver, the CEO of CyberNut
Phishing attacks have evolved into a pervasive threat, posing substantial risks to organizations and individuals. Cybercriminals employ sophisticated tactics to deceive unsuspecting users, leading to data breaches, financial losses, and reputational damage. But with the right techniques, you can protect your business from phishing.
Oliver from CyberNut shows that with effective strategies, insights, and training, businesses and schools can bolster their defenses against phishing scams and protect sensitive information from falling into the wrong hands.
Oliver’s Actionable Tips And Best Practices
To combat phishing attacks effectively, organizations and individuals can implement the following strategies:
Train Employees And Students
‘This is the number one thing you can do to protect your business against phishing attacks,’ Oliver emphasizes. ‘Phishers are looking to trick users into giving them information, so making sure everyone can spot phishing tactics is crucial.’ Provide comprehensive security awareness training to educate users about common phishing tactics, including spear phishing, email spoofing, and social engineering. Emphasize the importance of skepticism and critical thinking when encountering suspicious emails or messages.
Verify Sender Identities
Encourage users to verify the authenticity of email senders by examining email addresses, domain names, and email headers for signs of spoofing or impersonation. ‘Remind users to avoid clicking on links or downloading attachments from unfamiliar or unexpected sources,’ notes Oliver.
Conduct Regular Security Audits
Oliver says, ‘Conduct periodic security audits and phishing simulations to assess user awareness, response rates, and vulnerabilities.’ Analyze campaign exports and data analysis to track progress, identify areas for improvement, and measure the effectiveness of training initiatives.
Deploy Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
Implement MFA solutions to add an extra layer of security beyond passwords. Require users to authenticate their identity using multiple factors, such as passwords, biometrics, or security tokens, to access sensitive accounts or systems.
Use Data-Driven Decision-Making
Utilize insights from campaign exports and data analysis to inform decision-making and prioritize security investments. Identify trends, patterns, and areas of weakness to develop targeted training programs and security enhancements tailored to the organization’s needs.
Oliver emphasizes the significance of data-driven approaches in combating phishing attacks. He states, ‘By leveraging insights from campaign exports and data analysis, organizations can identify vulnerabilities, measure the effectiveness of training initiatives, and refine their security strategies to stay ahead of evolving threats.’
Cybernut’s Data Proves That Cybersecurity Education Works
Oliver says, ‘Analyzing campaign exports and data analysis collected by Cybernut reveals key insights into phishing tactics and user responses.’
In the case of Deer Creek School:
• Before The Training Campaign: The initial phishing simulations at Deer Creek School showed a concerning 58% click rate, indicating a significant vulnerability among users. Moreover, 38% of users were failing the phishing test, highlighting the urgent need for intervention.
• After The Training Campaign: Following the implementation of Cybernut’s training initiatives, the click rate on phishing simulations decreased to 9%, representing a substantial improvement. Additionally, the report rate on phishing simulations increased to 22%, indicating heightened awareness and proactive reporting among users. Notably, only 4% of users failed the phishing test after training, demonstrating promising results in just a few weeks of training.
These findings underscore the importance of targeted training and awareness campaigns in mitigating the risk of phishing attacks and enhancing user resilience against social engineering tactics.
