Priya PatelTLDR:
- A report by KnowBe4 found that untrained users are the greatest weakness in a cyber defense plan.
- Regular security awareness training can drastically reduce the likelihood of employees falling for phishing scams.
In a recent report by KnowBe4, it was found that untrained users are the greatest weakness in a cyber defense plan. The 2024 Phishing by Industry Benchmarking Report analyzed 54 million simulated phishing tests involving more than 11.9 million individuals from 55,675 organizations across 19 industries. The report found that without security awareness training, 34.3% of users were likely to click on malicious links or follow through with scam requests. However, when phishing tests are integrated into regular security awareness training, this number drastically declines to 18.9% within 90 days and to 4.6% after a year of training.
This highlights the importance of managing the human element in cybersecurity to properly secure an organization. Regular training and education can significantly reduce the risk of employee falling for phishing scams and social engineering tactics. It is crucial for organizations to prioritize security awareness training as part of their overall cyber defense strategy to mitigate the risk of cyber attacks.
