Despite all the buzz about high-tech threats like ransomware and malware, good old phishing has held on to its title as the number one trick in a cyber criminal’s toolkit.
Phishing is when someone tries to trick you into giving them your personal information, like your password or credit card number. They do this by sending you emails or text messages that look like they’re from a real company.
According to the latest annual cyber breaches survey, 79% of businesses were targeted with a phishing attempt in the past year. And if your employees aren’t trained in cyber security awareness, 1 in 3 of them are likely to fall for a phishing attack.
Scary.
You might be thinking, “Sure, it’s bad, but it can’t be that bad, right?” Well, let’s break down the consequences of a successful phishing attack.
The impact on your business
Let’s set the scene: one of your employees clicks on a bad link in an email. Next thing you know, sensitive company data is in the hands of cyber criminals. You’re looking at potential financial loss, damage to your reputation, and one giant headache.
The impact on your employees
There’s more… it’s not just your business that takes a hit. The employee who clicked that phishing link? They’re probably feeling as guilty as a dog caught stealing a steak from the dinner table. This can lead to stress, decreased productivity, and even increased employee turnover.
Turn lemons into lemonade
As a business owner, how you handle these incidents can make a big difference. Pointing fingers and placing blame? That’s a one-way ticket to a toxic work environment.
Instead, why not turn these incidents into learning opportunities? This way, you’re fostering a culture of understanding and open communication. Remember, everyone makes mistakes – it’s how we learn from them that counts.
How can we show phishing who’s boss? One word: training. Regular cyber security awareness training can significantly reduce the risk of phishing attacks being successful. And it can help protect you from a whole host of other cyber security risks too. It feels like a no-brainer.
If it’s something we can help you with, get in touch.