Exploring the Human Factors in Cyber Security

We all know the type: too busy for security awareness training, avoids antivirus software because it slows down their machine, or uses public file share sites for convenience. They're a rockstar employee, so we hesitate to push too hard. However, ignoring these behaviors can lead to significant security risks.

So, how serious could it be to overlook one star employee’s actions?

Take the case of the US Department of Justice suing an American university for not meeting security standards required for Department of Defense contracts.

The lawsuit claims that a particular department failed to create and follow a proper security plan. They didn’t install or update antivirus and malware software, and they submitted a false cybersecurity score to the Department of Defense just to please the researchers in charge.

The lawsuit also points out a university culture where cybersecurity rules were not enforced. One employee noted that they felt, "somebody up the line is going to overturn me... so I might as well ignore the policy."

Former employees suggested that senior leaders gave in to these researchers’ demands to avoid compliance because of the significant funding they received from government contracts.

Now, the university is facing a lawsuit, reputational damage, and the risk of losing valuable government contracts.

Plus, what if their actions had led to a ransomware attack or the loss of sensitive data to bad actors or foreign governments? Thankfully, that wasn’t claimed to have happened.

This situation shows the serious consequences organizations can face when they neglect cybersecurity protocols.

Exploring the Human Factors in Cyber Security

There are numerous human factors that play a critical role in the area of IT Security Management, each contributing to the organizations cyber resilience. 

Understanding these factors is essential to developing strategies to mitigate risk and enhance protection from cyber threats.

Here is our list of the Top 5 Human Factors that significantly impact cyber security:

Security Awareness and Training:

Effective training programs are essential for educating employees about cybersecurity threats and best practices.

These programs should be comprehensive and ongoing, covering a wide range of topics from the basics of identifying phishing attempts to more advanced concepts like recognizing sophisticated social engineering tactics.

Awareness helps individuals recognize phishing attempts, understand the importance of strong passwords, and know how to respond to potential security incidents.

Additionally, training should include hands-on exercises and simulations to reinforce learning and ensure that employees can apply their knowledge in real-world scenarios.

Regular updates and refresher courses are also crucial to keep everyone informed about the latest threats and evolving best practices.

By investing in robust training programs, organizations can significantly reduce the risk of human error and enhance their overall cybersecurity posture.

Human Error:

Human errors, such as misconfiguring security settings, falling for phishing scams, or neglecting to apply updates, can create significant vulnerabilities within an organization's cybersecurity framework.

These errors often stem from a lack of proper training, insufficient awareness of current threats, or simply the complexity of the systems in use.

Additionally, workplace stress and heavy workloads can exacerbate these issues, leading to oversight or negligence in following proper security protocols. Employees under pressure may rush through tasks, overlook critical security steps, or fail to recognize suspicious activities.

Understanding and addressing these factors is crucial for strengthening an organization’s security posture. This involves not only providing comprehensive training and resources but also fostering a supportive work environment that prioritizes mental well-being and manageable workloads.

By doing so, organizations can reduce the likelihood of human error and enhance their overall resilience against cyber threats.

Cognitive Biases

Psychological biases that affect decision-making, such as overconfidence in one’s ability to recognize threats or underestimating the risk of cyberattacks, can significantly undermine an organization's cybersecurity efforts.

This ties directly back to the aforementioned lawsuit where the researchers felt they should be excused from security plans, policies and tools.

Overconfidence may lead employees to believe they are immune to phishing attempts or other forms of cyber deception, causing them to lower their guard and become more susceptible to attacks.

Similarly, underestimating the risk of cyberattacks can result in a lack of urgency in implementing necessary security measures, leaving the organization vulnerable to breaches.

These cognitive biases can create blind spots in an organization's security posture, making it crucial to address them through targeted training and awareness programs that emphasize the importance of vigilance and realistic threat assessment.

By understanding and mitigating these biases, organizations can foster a more security-conscious workforce that is better equipped to recognize and respond to potential cyber threats.

Organizational Culture:

The attitudes and values regarding cybersecurity within an organization greatly influence employee behavior.

When an organization prioritizes cybersecurity and integrates it into its core values, it sets a tone that resonates throughout the entire workforce.

A strong security culture encourages proactive security practices, where employees are not only aware of potential threats but are also motivated to take preventive measures.

This culture fosters diligence, ensuring that employees remain vigilant and consistently adhere to security protocols. Moreover, it instills the belief that everyone, regardless of their role or position, plays a crucial part in maintaining the organization's security.

This collective responsibility creates a unified front against cyber threats, where employees feel empowered and accountable for protecting sensitive information and systems.

By embedding cybersecurity into the organizational ethos, companies can cultivate a more resilient and security-conscious workforce.

Enforcement of Security Policies and Communication:

Effective enforcement of security policies is crucial for ensuring compliance among employees.

This includes regular monitoring of activities to detect any deviations from established protocols, implementing accountability measures to ensure that individuals are held responsible for their actions, and establishing clear consequences for non-compliance to deter potential violations.

Regular audits and assessments can help identify areas of weakness and ensure that policies are being followed consistently across the organization.

Additionally, fostering open communication channels for reporting security incidents or vulnerabilities without fear of retribution is essential.

This encourages employees to come forward with any concerns or observations, knowing that their input will be valued and acted upon.

Creating a culture where employees feel safe to report issues promotes a collective commitment to cybersecurity, enabling a proactive response to potential threats.

Regular feedback sessions, anonymous reporting options, and a transparent process for addressing reported issues can further enhance this environment, ensuring that the organization remains vigilant and responsive to emerging security challenges.

Implementing a cyber security risk management framework

The human factor plays a significant role in improving your security posture; however, addressing the human element alone is not sufficient.

While human awareness, training, and behavior are critical components of a robust cybersecurity strategy, they must be complemented by a structured and comprehensive approach to managing security risks.

This is why we recommend implementing an ITSM Security and Risk Management framework that is comprised of multiple interconnected processes and practices designed to provide a holistic defense against cyber threats.

This framework not only addresses the human aspects but also integrates technological solutions, procedural safeguards, and governance structures to ensure a well-rounded and resilient security posture.

By combining these elements, organizations can create a multi-layered defense strategy that mitigates risks from various angles, ensuring that both human and technical vulnerabilities are adequately managed.

ITSM Security Management Process

The IT Security Management process protects an organization's IT assets and data from threats by implementing activities, tasks, procedures, roles, and technologies to prevent unauthorized access, use, disclosure, disruption, modification, or destruction of information.

It includes risk assessment, security controls, incident response, and compliance with laws to maintain confidentiality, integrity, and availability of information, supporting the organization's objectives.

Learn more at: Building an IT Security Management Process

ITSM Risk Management Process

The ITSM Risk Management process identifies, assesses, and mitigates risks to safeguard IT products and services while aligning with strategic objectives.

It establishes governance, defines risk appetite, and uses quantitative and qualitative methods to prioritize and address risks. The process includes ongoing monitoring and management of risks.

Learn more at: Building an ITSM Risk Management Process

Integrating ITSM Security and Risk Management

Integrating IT Service Management (ITSM) Security and Risk Management is crucial for a resilient IT infrastructure.

Aligning these processes helps organizations identify, assess, and mitigate threats proactively. This integration ensures both reactive and predictive security measures, continuous monitoring, and a dynamic response to evolving threats, fostering a culture of security awareness and safeguarding assets.

Learn more at: The Synergy Between ITSM Security and Risk Management

ITSM Governance and Processes

IT Service Management (ITSM) and IT Security goes hand in hand.  In fact, virtually every ITSM process enhances IT security and safeguards your environment. 

In addition to the implementation and execution of ITSM processes, ongoing oversight and governance is critical. 

One of the best ways to ensure all your process are aligned and supportive of IT Security Management is through the establishment of a Service Management Office (SMO).   

To learn more about the role of ITSM Governance and Processes in IT security, check our our articles on:

• Boosting Cyber Resilience with IT Security Assessments and ITSM Processes
• The Benefits of Having a Strong Foundation of ITSM Processes
• What is a Service Management Office? Everything you need to know.

In conclusion, understanding and addressing the human factors in cyber security is crucial for creating a robust defense against cyber threats. By recognizing the pivotal role that human behavior, awareness, training, and enforcement play in safeguarding digital assets, organizations can implement more effective strategies to mitigate risks.