Without complementarity between humans and technology, cybercriminals will always find a way to break into information systems. Companies must therefore change the role of employees, transforming them from victims to genuine contributors to the organization's security.
The challenge? To establish an IT security culture that incorporates awareness, ongoing training, and individual responsibility. This is how a new link in the security chain, called the " Human Firewall," is being built.
What is a Human Firewall?
Security incidents caused by employee negligence have become a recurring problem for organizations.
Despite the actions implemented by the CISO, employees continue to engage in risky behavior:
- dissemination of personal information on social media;
- sharing of credentials;
- use of unapproved software...
All of these are dangerous practices that leave the door open to cybercriminals.
According to a 2024 study by Proofpoint, 80% of CISOs now consider human risk to be a major cybersecurity risk for the next two years.
And to stem this problem, simply raising awareness about phishing is no longer enough. Employees must now be involved at the heart of the company's security culture, moving from being targets to becoming watchdogs. This is known as the Human Firewall.
How is a Human Firewall constructed?
To achieve this, companies must implement a series of awareness-raising and training initiatives as part of their employees' daily routine.
- Educate employees about cybersecurity: train them to recognize risky behavior and potential threats, such as phishing emails or suspicious links.
- Provide ongoing training: organize regular interactive sessions (gamification) and crisis simulations to maintain a high level of vigilance.
- Emphasize individual responsibility: ensure that employees understand their role and responsibility in protecting the company's data and information system.
- Develop and establish a strong security culture within the company: do everything possible to ensure that IT security is perceived as an integral part of the organization's daily activities and mission.
Such a paradigm shift in corporate security culture seems like a good idea... but it is often non-existent or underutilized. However, while its implementation requires more budget and effort than a traditional awareness campaign, the Human Firewall has many advantages.
The 4 advantages of the Human Firewall in cybersecurity
#1 Reduce the risk of cyberattacks
The principle behind the Human Firewall is to make employees active participants in cybersecurity. They can act as the first line of defense against cyberattacks, particularly by identifying and reporting suspicious activity before it causes damage.
One example among many: an employee trained in cyber threats will find it easier to recognize a phishing attempt —and will be able to alert the IT department quickly.
#2 Improve incident response
The concept of Human Firewall implies that each employee knows how to react in the event of a successful attack. If employees know the right reflexes to have in these situations, they will be able to act proactively to limit the damage.
One of these good habits is to disconnect an infected machine from the network without turning it off, which allows IT equipment to access the log.
#3 Strengthen compliance and governance
It's no secret: cybersecurity regulations are multiplying and becoming more complex.
And this is where the Human Firewall comes in handy: raising employee awareness is another string to the bow of companies seeking to comply with legal and industry standards, thereby reducing the risk of sanctions and penalties.
The same applies to internal policies: employees who are informed about company procedures are more likely to follow them. The result: better cyber governance and more engaged employees!
#4 Reduce costs
More broadly, preventing attacks through trained personnel saves on the costs associated with security incidents:
- financial penalties;
- business interruptions;
- remediation measures...
By investing in employee training and awareness, companies can reduce the likelihood of incidents and thus minimize crisis management expenses.
How to build your own Human Firewall
#1 Organize training sessions on cybersecurity issues
Step one: Set up ongoing training sessions on cyber threats, phishing techniques, and security best practices. Don't hesitate to organize attack simulations as well! These prepare employees to recognize threats and respond to them, but also to identify their own risky behaviors and adopt good cyber hygiene.
#2 Encourage employees to report suspicious activities
In order for employees to fully embrace the Human Firewall approach, companies must encourage the reporting of suspicious activities.
As such, implementing reward systems for successful security reports can motivate employees to be more vigilant (gifts, public recognition, etc.).
You must also maintain open and transparent communication: employees need to know where and how to report suspicious activities without fear of repercussions.
#3 Ensure that company cybersecurity policies are understood and followed
Employees must be informed about what they can and cannot do within the company. These rules, which are set out either in the Information Systems Security Policy (if the company has one) or, at a lower level, in the IT charter, must be communicated to each employee. This ensures that they are aware of their obligations and responsibilities.
But that's not enough: for these rules to be respected, appropriate processes and tools must also be put in place. One example is a web interface that allows users to submit exceptional requests for exemptions from granted rights.
This is where Tenacy can prove to be very useful! By centralizing communications and standardizing information gathering, the solution enables companies to manage their cybersecurity. With clear instructions and action traceability, Tenacy helps to establish a proactive and informed security culture within companies.
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