The Weakest Link in Your Cybersecurity Plan

Technology exists to empower individuals, bridging personal and professional needs. People, the driving force behind technology adoption, bring an element of unpredictability while technology tends to remain predictable. The question arises – why are humans considered the weakest link in cybersecurity? Let’s explore this by examining the three pillars of data protection: people, processes, and technology.

Technology

When it comes to technology, it is devoid of error. People design and program technology, which then executes their instructions. Although even technology can have flaws, as demonstrated by software vulnerabilities, it adheres to logic and follows commands. These flaws can be rectified with objective solutions like security patch updates, enabling us to redefine its functionality. With a firm grasp on the interaction between people and technology, we can delve deeper into the challenges faced by individuals in maintaining cybersecurity.

Processes

Processes are like technology, they don’t have a life of their own. Instead, they are sets of steps that people follow to consistently achieve desired outcomes. When a process breaks, it provides an opportunity for review, problem-solving, and immediate updates. Just like fixing a glitch in technology, fixing a broken process has a clear and effective solution.

People

Unlike technology and processes, people are inherently complex. They possess the ability to think independently and make their own decisions – sometimes wise, sometimes unwise; sometimes rational, sometimes irrational. One undeniable truth is that people are prone to error, with no easy solution in sight. It is both predictable and yet unpredictable, for we know mistakes will be made, though uncertain of their nature. Despite awareness training, individuals often find themselves repeating past mistakes. It is a constant struggle to prevent people from committing the same error more than once while simultaneously anticipating new ones. This ongoing challenge renders people the weakest link in the chain, where the quest for improvement lingers and the next unforeseen blunder awaits.

Cybersecurity Risks from Employees

One of the most prevalent factors contributing to cybersecurity vulnerabilities is human error. This article explores various types of cybersecurity concerns stemming from human mistakes and offers practical solutions to mitigate these risks.

Weak Passwords: A Recipe for Disaster

As the use of cloud-based technologies becomes increasingly widespread, individuals find themselves juggling an ever-growing number of passwords. Unfortunately, the fear of forgetting these passwords often leads people to adopt poor practices that compromise their security and productivity.

Common issues include:

1. Password Recycling: Many individuals resort to using the same password across multiple platforms, leaving them dangerously exposed to potential breaches.

2. Personal Information as Passwords: Remembering loved ones or favorite seasons can be convenient for password recall, but it also opens the door for cybercriminals to guess weak passwords more easily.

3. Simplistic Numeric Sequences: Opting for simplistic numeric patterns like 12345 may seem convenient, but they severely compromise security.

These “tricks” may help users remember their passwords, but they create easy targets for cybercriminals. Simple passwords can be rapidly cracked using brute-force techniques. Moreover, even complex passwords can be stolen from one website and sold on the dark web, where they may be leveraged to breach unrelated platforms. Impersonating a banking website and using the obtained login credentials to access an ecommerce account is just one example of how interconnected vulnerabilities can expose users’ sensitive information.

Insufficient or No Authentification

People hate making new passwords, and it’s the same reason they avoid multi-factor authentication (MFA). The extra steps, like clicking on an authentication application or waiting for a code, create a barrier to adopting MFA. Everyone wants quick access to their resources, after all.

Wrong Delivery

The 2023 Verizon Data Breach Investigations Report (DBIR) identifies misdelivery as the most common miscellaneous error. It’s a simple yet embarrassing mistake that can happen to anyone. Chances are, every reader of this blog has experienced it. While the consequences may differ based on the content that was misdelivered, the accompanying embarrassment presents a human challenge that often leads to delays in reporting the error.

System Admin Errors

System administrators and developers are human, capable of making mistakes that result in data breaches. Misconfigurations, though less prominent in recent versions of the DBIR, can have significant impacts. For instance, forgetting to change a default password on a server increases the likelihood of threat actors gaining unauthorized access. Misconfigurations are especially prevalent in Cloud environments. Examples encompass exposing secret keys publicly, neglecting access control, failing to enable security logging, and inadvertently copying and pasting configurations between different serverless functions for convenience. Remember, even professionals can slip up and it’s important to stay vigilant!

Targeting the Human Factor: Understanding and Defending Against Various Attacks

In today’s digital landscape, threat actors recognize that human error can leave organizations vulnerable to cyberattacks. As a result, they are constantly devising strategies to exploit these weaknesses. Let’s delve into some of the most common types of attacks:

1. Social Engineering Attacks: Manipulating Human Nature
Social engineering attacks specifically prey on the vulnerabilities inherent in human nature. Phishing campaigns, for example, thrive by leveraging emotions and urgency, tricking individuals into taking actions that serve the cybercriminals’ interests, often at the expense of their own.

2. Credential Attacks: Cracking the Password Barrier
In a credential attack, cybercriminals attempt to gain unauthorized access to password-protected devices or resources. By systematically trying various weak passwords or utilizing stolen password lists obtained from breaches, attackers find success. It serves as a stark reminder for the importance of strong, unique passwords.

3. Malware and Ransomware Attacks: Exploiting Patching Negligence
Malware and ransomware attacks frequently thrive due to the failure of users to promptly install security updates that patch common vulnerabilities. Cybercriminals actively search for entry-stage vulnerabilities in devices, capitalizing on delayed or neglected patch installations. This negligence opens the gateway for devastating malware and ransomware attacks. By understanding these various attack vectors that target the human factor, individuals and organizations can take proactive steps to bolster their defenses and safeguard against potential breaches. Stay vigilant, informed, and prioritize cybersecurity practices to protect yourself and your assets.

Why Should You Invest in Security Training and Resources?
We all make mistakes – it’s a part of being human. However, relying solely on training and resources may not always equip individuals with the necessary skills. While they do provide awareness, it’s important to understand that awareness is not the same as education. Let’s talk about cybersecurity training. Unfortunately, most cybersecurity awareness programs fail to incorporate the best educational practices.

So, what sets an effective cybersecurity training program apart?

1. Application to Real Life: An effective program should be relatable to our everyday lives. It should address practical scenarios that individuals encounter, allowing them to apply their knowledge in real-world situations.

2. Hands-On Learning: Offering hands-on capabilities is crucial for effective learning. By engaging individuals in practical exercises and simulations, they can gain valuable experience and develop their skills.

3. Building on Previous Knowledge: People learn best when new information builds upon what they already know. An effective cybersecurity training program should provide a way for individuals to enhance their understanding and skills by building upon previously learned information.

Unfortunately, many security awareness programs fall short by simply relying on a series of videos and multiple-choice tests. These methods may not provide adult learners with the immersive and comprehensive learning experience they truly need.

Tools and Technology Needed

Organizations often overlook the importance of supplementing cybersecurity awareness training with the right tools and technology. While investing in multifactor authentication is a step in the right direction, it is only a partial solution. Providing password management technology has also become more common, but many organizations still fail to offer this essential tool to their employees. As a result, employees are burdened with multiple applications and passwords, leading to a never-ending cycle of poor password hygiene.

The challenges associated with remote work further exacerbate cybersecurity concerns. Employees often connect from vulnerable home networks, and securing these networks can be daunting for individuals without technical expertise. Even virtual private networks (VPNs) do not always guarantee complete security. Unfortunately, many employees lack the technical knowledge and experience necessary to safeguard sensitive data. In order to address these issues, organizations must prioritize not only cybersecurity training but also providing the right tools and support. By doing so, they can empower their employees to navigate the evolving cybersecurity landscape with confidence.

Managed Detection for Employee Risk

By adopting Managed Detection and Response (MDR), companies can effectively mitigate the risk of data breaches caused by human errors. MDR offers a proactive approach to monitor for new threats, vulnerabilities, and misconfigurations, significantly reducing the chances of being attacked. In the event of compromised devices, systems, or networks, MDR enables rapid detection, notification, and response guidance.

Organizations striving to minimize the impact of human error on their environments can bolster their security posture with MDR. Fortra’s Alert Logic’s MDR solution provides comprehensive coverage across cloud, network, system, application, and endpoint, empowering companies to leverage threat analytics. Through the collection, analysis, and enrichment of data, advanced threat detection and response capabilities are enhanced, ensuring robust security measures.

In conclusion, understanding and addressing the risks caused by human behavior is crucial to safeguarding personal and organizational cybersecurity. By adopting robust password management practices and fostering a culture of security awareness, individuals can significantly reduce the likelihood of falling victim to cyber threats.