Cyber attacks and intrusions target a company's employees, to whom malicious links and downloads are directed that allow attackers to gain access to an organization's sensitive data.
Although there are several mechanisms that protect these people, if they do not know how to identify the risks, they become an easy target.
This is precisely where the human firewall comes in. This is a people-based line of defense, so it is a protective measure that relies on the human factor to preserve the organization from intrusions and data leaks.
For years, institutions have been investing in a variety of firewalls, but as threats become more sophisticated and target human vulnerabilities, they need to invest in another type of firewall.
This is because the human firewall is an extra layer of security, and all people in an institution have the role of protecting sensitive data and information.
Do you want to know more about the human firewall and why it is important for risk mitigation? Keep reading this text and learn more.
But after all, what is a human firewall?
Before we actually talk about what a human firewall is, let's go to the definition of a firewall. A firewall is a software or hardware-based network security system that protects businesses from intrusions.
It is responsible for controlling data traffic between an organization's internal network and the internet. In this way, it blocks unauthorized access, such as:
Attempted intrusions;
Malware;
Malicious links.
Well, now that you understand the definition of a firewall, it's easier to understand the human side of this strategy.
We define human firewall as a training-driven approach to cybersecurity. This way, you teach employees how to identify and avoid cyber threats.
Just as a network firewall can block malicious link traffic and data, with a human firewall, people are trained to fight cyberattacks.
This strategy requires training to identify suspicious activity and so that people know how to report potential incidents. After all, well-trained employees know how to act.
As a result, employees contribute to effective cybersecurity and don't rely solely on the IT department to deal with issues. In this way, companies give more autonomy to these people.
For the human firewall-focused approach to security to work, it is necessary for all areas to work together and create awareness campaigns.
Only when people understand their role in preserving safety can risks be mitigated. Therefore, the human firewall is the protection measure carried out by employees.
These are the people who refuse improper access, don't click on suspicious links, and evaluate unusual traffic. In this way, technology works together with people.
What is the role and benefits of the human firewall?
As you may have already noticed, the main role of the human firewall is to create an extra layer of security and act directly on the problem of attacks, the human factor.
It is responsible for protecting organizations from intrusions that have not been blocked by technological solutions. With this, it monitors and prevents any type of attack, through the people who assume this responsibility of mitigating the risks.
Its main benefit is to increase the digital defenses of organizations. This action is important, as many of the attacks are successful thanks to the intervention of the victims themselves.
After all, many people are not aware of the risks and, as a result, end up clicking on suspicious links, accepting the sending of unknown documents, not using strong passwords and not updating their systems, opening security holes in organizations.
The following are the main challenges when investing in the human firewall.
Identify security breaches
Through awareness campaigns and employee engagement on topics related to cybersecurity, it is easier to identify possible breaches and security flaws.
This action is emphasized by the simulations of phishing attacks that are based on the actions of the exposed people. In this way, it is possible to know the maturity level of each team and the risks associated with them.
People's awareness
The human firewall is a very important measure in the entire process of employee awareness. With the necessary actions, it is possible to make people more aware of security factors and prevent the institution from suffering from cyberattacks.
Creates an extra barrier of safety
When companies invest in human firewall, they add an extra security barrier. In this way, they are able to combine technology with the human factor and make their protection even more precise and effective.
That's because cyberattacks are targeted at people, and many of them come through emails, promotions, SMS, and the dreaded phishing. With the human factor, this safety barrier becomes much more robust.
Prevents data leakage
The human firewall is an important support to prevent organizations from suffering data leakage. This is because, with people who are aware of the risks and have mechanisms to identify them, the risk of leakage is lower.
After all, employees become aware of their role in the institution and, with that, protect themselves from these invasions and attacks.
People need to be security agents
When organizations treat people as security agents, the culture of cybersecurity becomes more present and effective in everyone's routine.
It is necessary to understand that people are not the weakest link, but the strongest link when it comes to information security. Employees need to gain knowledge about the risks.
After all, we don't know how to deal with the unknown. That's why cybersecurity needs to be part of everyone's life. Only with training and security policies is it possible to truly put an end to cyber threats.
To do this, organizations need to inspire their employees and empower them so that everyone can contribute and extract knowledge on the main cybersecurity topics.
While automated technologies and techniques are better at managing the volume of potential threats, people are still essential to control attacks and gain knowledge on the subject.
PhishX as a solution for the human firewall
PhishX is an ecosystem capable of bringing cybersecurity knowledge to people, everywhere.
Our platform not only aims to protect organizations from cyberattacks, but also to educate and empower employees so that everyone knows how to recognize and mitigate threats.
Here's how PhishX can help your company implement the human firewall into your strategy.
Educating employees
Our platform enables businesses to create and execute cybersecurity awareness campaigns, tailored to the specific needs of each team.
We have several materials, such as videos and booklets, focused on the main topics of cybersecurity. With this, it is easier and more effective to start the human firewall process.
With the right content, people gain knowledge about risks and learn how to defend themselves.
Additionally, our platform makes it easy to send important cybersecurity-related communications, ensuring that employees are always up-to-date on the latest threats and best practices.
You can also run simulations of phishing attacks to gauge people's readiness and response. With this, the IT team identifies areas that need improvement.
These simulations help you identify your team's maturity level and know what training and awareness actions need to be implemented.
Trainings don't have to be boring and monotonous. That's why our platform has interactive quizzes to engage employees and reinforce learning about cybersecurity effectively.
Work with data and metrics
In addition to all the help of training and simulations, we have a data analysis platform designed to provide a detailed view of your organization's cybersecurity landscape.
Our platform provides real-time data on all campaigns. In this way, it is possible to track the performance of each action, allowing a quick response to possible threats.
You can see how many people fell for the phishing simulations and how many of them took the trainings. For the firewall to work, everyone needs to be engaged.
In this way, it is possible to identify gaps and create improvement actions. Our platform offers tools to manage and analyze key cybersecurity indicators, assisting organizations in identifying areas of improvement and making informed decisions.
In addition, it is possible to identify repeat offenders in security breaches, allowing for a proactive approach to resolving compliance and behavior issues.
Start the Human Firewall Process
Understand that the true resilience of companies is only possible if they rely on the human firewall. This is because each person will be trained and empowered to protect the organization.
Investing in cybersecurity should be a priority for your company, because only with effective actions is it possible to combat attackers and their attacks.
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