Which types of employees are the most vulnerable to cyberattacks?
A business is only as strong as its weakest link. When it comes to cyberattacks, this means that the most vulnerable employees are the ones who can be easily tricked into opening a malicious link or file. In this article, we will discuss which types of employees are the most vulnerable to cyberattacks.
- Human resources
The HR department’s job entails interacting with prospective employees, making them one of the most targeted individuals in your firm.
Cybercriminals frequently pretend to be job applicants and send dangerous files disguised as resumes to trick HR staff into downloading them. When opened, the document might contain malicious code that can corrupt systems or steal sensitive data.
To protect your HR department, create a dedicated portal to simplify the job search process and reduce the number of documents that they receive via email. Teach them as well to always verify the legitimacy of any email they receive before opening links and attachments.
- Accounting and finance
Finance and accounting staff are another high-value target for cybercriminals. Their departments handle sensitive information such as employee salaries, customer credit card numbers, and vendor contracts. If this data falls into the wrong hands, it could be used to commit fraud or blackmail your company.
Protect your accounting and finance staff by investing in data encryption software to safeguard sensitive information. You should also consider implementing two-factor authentication for any financial applications that your employees use.
- Executives
Executives are among the most vulnerable victims of cybercrime, due to their access to corporate information, control over workers, and ability to approve commercial deals.
Attackers often try to get executives to divulge sensitive information by sending them a phishing email or making a phone call that appears to be from a trusted source, such as a bank, government official, or IT support. They can then contact other employees and pose as the executive to request more confidential data.
Executives should be aware of the risks of sharing sensitive company information, as they may be interacting with cybercriminals who want to steal the data for their own gain. They should also learn to practice good cyber hygiene, such as using MFA and password managers, and regularly updating their computer’s software.
Other employees can also become a victim
While these three types of employees are more likely to get victimized by a cyberattack, other people in your business are also vulnerable. This includes people who always set weak passwords, negligently open links and download attachments, and those who do not lock their computers.
You can protect your business from future attacks by conducting regular cybersecurity awareness training. This should include identifying and responding to cyberattacks, developing good cyber hygiene, and keeping employees informed of the newest cyberthreats.
You can also partner with a managed IT services provider (MSP) in Portland for reliable protection from all IT issues. They will protect your IT infrastructure from cyberthreats 24/7/365 so you can focus on growing your business.
