When it comes to cybersecurity, only relying on hardware and software-based defenses is not enough. Implementing a robust security solution that also accounts for the human factor is vital, as staff and employees are the weakest links in any organization.
As cyberattacks are becoming more sophisticated by the day, a human firewall can be your first and best line of defense.
But what is a human firewall, and how does it help against cyberattacks? Should you consider building one for your organization?
What Is a Human Firewall?
Behind every cyberattack is a naive human being who does not know any better. In fact, a staggering number of cyberattacks today occur due to mistakes made by humans—falling for phishing emails, clicking on malicious links, installing malware inadvertently, not following best security policies—and their devastating consequences.
While firewalls and security solutions can mitigate certain attacks, you cannot prevent most of them without human intervention. Therefore, the security of any business or organization lies in the hands of employees as much as it depends on IT functions.
A human firewall is a structured and ongoing education for the staff on the cybersecurity threat environment. When developed fully, it works like a regular firewall where it blocks outside threats and creates a barrier between secured and controlled networks.
In essence, it is an environment of mutual trust where employees work towards the shared goal of protecting the network.
Why Create a Human Firewall?
Recently, there has been a huge shift in the way hackers conduct cyberattacks. Social engineering tactics and exploitation of the human aspect have taken center stage, and most cybercriminals are now focusing on plotting insider threats and ransomware attacks.
Also, the lack of resources, a rapid shift to cloud-based models, a huge influx of unmanageable IT accounts, and an ever-growing remote workforce all contribute to the growing data threats in today's workplace.
Needless to say, a human firewall can contribute significantly towards improving the security posture of any business or workplace.
Who Should You Include in Your Human Firewall?
As you embark on your journey of building a human firewall, the most important question to answer is, who do you want to be a part of your firewall?
A human firewall should be created by identifying and including employees who collaborate and perform their work using company systems.
These individuals should be trained to follow the best security practices and receive ongoing cybersecurity awareness training. Once trained, they could report suspicious activities when they spot them and also spread the word to others in the organization.
The more people there are in a human firewall, the better. Most organizations that value their security aim to include every employee in the human firewall.
The Benefits of Having a Human Firewall
Even the most sophisticated technology cannot protect your company if the people running the show do not know how to prevent basic data breaches.
Here are some major benefits that you can reap by developing a human firewall:
Prevention of Human Errors
Most breaches happen due to human error, proving the importance of implementing security solutions that focus on the human element first.
It only takes one person to fall prey to a phishing email which can put an entire network at risk. Most cybersecurity personnel agree that network users are the biggest challenge to an organization's security.
This is why you need a human firewall: not only does it educate your employees on how to be cautious when opening emails and attachments, but it also prevents a human error from escalating into a data breach.
Chances of Malware Reduction
Every time you visit a compromised website, you put your device at risk of malware infection. Malware usually gets installed when users click on malicious pop-ups or ads.
A human firewall can train employees on the ins and outs of malware—how malware works and gets installed—and how to deal with such situations. This ultimately helps in securing your network.
Curbing Insider Threats
An insider threat is a type of security breach that has its roots inside the targeted company. Typically, cybercriminals use various social engineering tactics to carry out insider threats.
These threats can also be carried out by any combination of current or former disgruntled employees, contractors, or business partners.
A human firewall can prevent such incidents from happening by teaching your employees how to keep company information safe and private.
Prevention of Data Loss and Theft
Data theft and loss of devices can leave your network vulnerable to intruders.
With an unprecedented shift towards working remotely, using personal devices for work purposes has become common. But what if your employees do not have anti-theft protection on their devices and lose them somehow? That would mean any sensitive information related to your organization inside that device will also be at stake.
This is where a human firewall comes into play. Educating employees on protecting their personal devices and information—such as securing phones with facial or fingerprint recognition— teaches them to be extra careful.
How to Build a Human Firewall
It is essential to foster a culture of security when building a human firewall. By taking a top-down approach, your organization should provide all-inclusive training to employees across the board.
As a part of the human firewall, you should be able to identify suspicious activity and know whom to report it to. Trained individuals should also use cybersecurity strategies independently instead of solely relying on the IT teams.
In essence, a human firewall should be built by keeping the following points in mind:
- Multifactor authentication (MFA) adds an extra layer of security by requiring an additional piece of evidence or security token for login. As part of human firewall training, all users should be encouraged to use this layered approach when logging into their devices and applications at work.
- A human firewall should help you identify attacks via suspicious emails, websites, and text messages. It should also ensure that everyone at home sharing the same network, including your children or roommates, also get cybersecurity training.
- Understand the importance of using robust passwords and setting different passwords for different accounts. How to create the right passwords should also be part of human firewall training.
- A human firewall should teach you how to secure home networks by adding or upgrading a security application to mitigate attacks.
Building a human firewall requires a lot of training and upkeep, but it can strengthen your organization's security systems once it's put together.
Keep Growing the Human Firewall
Having an ever-growing human firewall is vital to combat and outnumber threat actors. You should empower a strong security mindset in your employees that they can protect your network.
Your ultimate goal should be for every person in your organization to become part and parcel of the human firewall. And always remember that the bigger a human firewall gets, the stronger it becomes.