Earlier this year, a Disney employee unwittingly facilitated a security breach that led to the exposure of more than 44 million internal messages online. The attack occurred after the employee downloaded a free AI tool from GitHub, not realizing that it contained malware. The malicious software infected the employee’s computer, eventually reaching Disney’s internal communication system. This mistake has led to the termination of the employee and a whole lot of negative publicity for Disney.

Many organizations tend to underestimate the impact of employees’ actions on the company’s security posture. According to IBM’s 2024 Cost of a Data Breach Report, IT failures and human error make up almost half of all breaches, which includes compromised credentials from phishing. The report emphasizes that security awareness training and strict access controls can significantly reduce these risks.

Employees unknowingly enable cyber attacks because they are not cautious enough in their everyday online interactions. As the Disney incident demonstrates, it is common for many to think that the software they install on their devices is usually harmless, or to click on links transmitted by unknown senders. Organizations need to provide employee training to emphasize the risks that come with employee actions at the workplace.

Reduced Risks and Optimum Defense

It’s true that employee training does not completely eliminate cybersecurity risks. However, it significantly reduces the likelihood of successful attacks and materially mitigates the worst possible outcomes.

In the case of phishing, for example, attack tactics tend to evolve and become more sophisticated. Employees who have not undergone training to keep up with these adversarial upgrades are less likely to identify the threats compared to those who have received training.

Employee phishing training is particularly impactful if it is customized and adaptive. Different organizations and departments have different needs. It would be unreasonable to subject all employees to the same training if they have different circumstances and levels of cybersecurity proficiency.

For example, executives should receive additional training for whaling attacks with emphasis on the identification of AI-aided impersonation and the strict verification of transactions. Those working in finance and accounting should gain mastery in identifying fake invoices and payment requests. Customer support and frontline employees must become proficient in distinguishing fake customer inquiries and requests. Additionally, remote and hybrid workers need to learn how to properly secure their devices, both for work and personal use.

Moreover, cybersecurity training yields optimal results if it is participative and engaging. Training is most effective if it is designed to be interactive through gamification and other similar approaches. These can encourage everyone to get involved in establishing a human firewall against phishing and other cyber attacks.

Systematic Threat Detection and Response

Threat detection and response require coordination, and everyone in an organization has a role to play. One of the fundamental cybersecurity roles of employees is the reporting of security incidents to update threat intelligence and response plans. This necessitates training or, at the very least, an orientation session outlining the reporting procedures.

Security data logs need to be standardized to accumulate meaningful information for threat detection and response purposes. Also, it is important to emphasize timeliness. Reports should be made as soon as possible to enable prompt response and empower others to detect similar threats based on the information shared.

Employees should follow a clear framework when responding to specific attack scenarios. For instance, upon discovering indications of a possible ransomware infection, they should immediately report the incident and disconnect affected devices from the network—without shutting them down.

It is advisable to keep the device running so the security and IT teams can analyze the activity and behavior of the malware and implement suitable recovery solutions. Similarly, when dealing with viruses, employees who discover the infection first can initiate isolation procedures on their own.

Device isolation is not as simple and straightforward as it sounds, though. There are complexities involved, especially for devices that are crucial to everyday operations. Disconnecting a device may result in disruptions across an organization or even for branch locations.

That’s why it is crucial to provide appropriate training regarding threat detection and control. Employees need to know the best courses of action and coordinate with higher-ups to ensure effective threat containment and mitigation.

Fostering a Culture of Security Consciousness

Embracing a security-conscious workplace culture does not only encourage employees to be mindful of the security impact of their actions. It also requires everyone to contribute actively to an organization’s cyber defense.

Continuous training promotes a proactive security mindset with which employees become more vigilant in protecting their network and IT assets against rapidly evolving threats.

Moreover, this ensures compliance with industry regulations and data privacy laws. As organizations go global and governments impose a variety of regulations to protect consumers from cyber threats, employee cybersecurity training becomes essential in ensuring adherence to these frameworks.

Proper training contributes toward ensuring compliance.

The Growing Role of Employees in Cybersecurity

As cybersecurity threats evolve, training must go beyond the basics and integrate emerging risks such as artificial intelligence-driven cyber threats, deepfake impersonation, and cloud security vulnerabilities.

Organizations should ensure that their training programs include real-world simulations of cyberattacks to help employees recognize and respond effectively. Additionally, training should incorporate best practices for securing personal and mobile devices, given the increasing adoption of bring-your-own-device (BYOD) policies.

Furthermore, organizations should implement ongoing assessments and refresher courses to reinforce cybersecurity awareness. Periodic evaluations through phishing simulations, cybersecurity drills, and knowledge assessments help employees retain critical security concepts and apply them in real-life situations.

The Takeaway

Ultimately, effective employee cybersecurity training enhances risk management, strengthens cyber defense, improves incident response, and promotes compliance. To overcome resistance to training, organizations should ensure programs are relevant, adaptive, and engaging. Well-designed training not only protects businesses but also empowers employees to be active participants in cybersecurity efforts.