The human element is often viewed as the weakest link in cybersecurity
Indeed, according to the Verizon Data Breach Investigations Report, 68% of all breaches involved human error. However, with the right training, tools, and culture, employees can become one of the most valuable layers of defence against cyber threats. Instead of seeing users as potential liabilities, modern cybersecurity strategies should focus on empowering them to be proactive defenders of their organisation’s security. At Gamma, we believe in placing humans as a central security layer—here’s why and how you can leverage this approach.
Understanding the human factor in cybersecurity
Cybercriminals are increasingly targeting humans rather than systems, with phishing, social engineering, and credential theft becoming key attack vectors. As previously mentioned, 68% of all breaches involve human error, making it a very significant vulnerability – and business email compromise scams have seen a rise 20%, making up nearly half of all spam emails.
However, this human vulnerability can be turned into a strength. By equipping employees with the right knowledge and tools, organisations can build a culture where each person plays a role in identifying and stopping attacks. Security strategies that focus on human behaviour are becoming more prevalent as companies realise that people are the ultimate defence against threats, particularly as automated systems often cannot detect socially engineered attacks.
Embedding a security-first mindset
To make employees a robust security layer, organisations must foster a security-first culture. This goes beyond formal training and includes everyday behaviours. Employees should feel encouraged to be vigilant, ask questions, and report suspicious activity without fear of repercussions.
Creating this culture involves leadership buy-in and visible support for security initiatives. Leaders should model secure behaviour and emphasise the importance of security in every aspect of the organisation. When employees see that security is valued at all levels of the organisation, they are more likely to take ownership of their role in it.
Furthermore, integrating security practices into daily workflows ensures that employees view cybersecurity as part of their job rather than an added responsibility. Simple measures like reinforcing the use of multi-factor authentication (MFA), regularly updating passwords, and verifying the authenticity of external communications can have a big impact.
Training: Turning weaknesses into strengths
One of the most effective ways to build a security-first culture is through ongoing security awareness training. Many cyberattacks, especially phishing and social engineering, rely on tricking individuals into giving away sensitive information or taking compromising actions. By training employees to recognise and respond to these threats, organisations can significantly reduce their exposure. Threats, of course, are only ever becoming more sophisticated, and techniques are always changing – so a “one and done” approach isn’t the way to deal with them.
It’s important to go beyond one-time training sessions. Continuous learning, where employees are regularly updated on emerging threats and best practices, ensures that security stays top of mind. Organisations that invest in continuous security awareness training are seeing positive results, including improved ROI and a reduction in security incidents. Indeed, security awareness investment can improve phishing resilience by 86%. When employees feel empowered and knowledgeable, they are less likely to fall victim to attacks, and more likely to report suspicious activity promptly.
Recognising and reporting threats
A key element of using humans as a security layer is ensuring that employees know how to identify and report potential threats. Whether it’s a suspicious email, a strange network request, or unusual behaviour from a colleague, employees should feel confident in escalating concerns.
Human error remains the Achilles’ heel of cybersecurity, with many breaches caused by negligence. However, 86% of CISOs believe employees are beginning to understand their role in protecting the organisation, thanks to better education and training.
Encouraging a no-blame reporting culture is essential to prevent attacks from slipping through the cracks. Employees need to know that reporting a potential phishing attempt or a security lapse will be met with support, not blame. By fostering a culture of openness and quick reporting, organisations can catch and mitigate threats before they cause damage.
Tools and support for a human-centric defence
Even with training and a security-conscious culture, employees need the right tools to stay ahead of threats. Providing access to easy-to-use security tools—such as email filters, secure file-sharing platforms, and one-click phishing report buttons—can help employees act on their training effectively.
Moreover, security teams can support employees by monitoring reported threats and providing feedback on actions taken. Real-time feedback encourages employees to stay engaged and reassures them that their efforts are valuable in keeping the organisation secure.
Automated systems such as AI-driven threat detection can work in tandem with human input, helping employees respond quickly to emerging threats and lowering the workload on security teams. This combination of human vigilance and technological support creates a more resilient security posture for the organisation.
Continuous improvement: The power of human insights
As cyber threats evolve, so must the defence strategies. Humans bring context and adaptability that technology sometimes lacks. By collecting data from employee reports and feedback, organisations can fine-tune their security measures and adapt them to address the most pressing threats. Crowdsourced intelligence from employees can even feed into broader security measures, creating a stronger, collective defence.
Employees can provide crucial insights into which phishing tactics are most effective, where the organisation’s vulnerabilities lie, and how security processes can be improved. Regular debriefs and reviews of incidents ensure that employees are part of a continuous learning loop, strengthening the human layer of defence.
Conclusion
At Gamma, we believe that the human element is not a weakness but a strength in cybersecurity when supported by the right culture, training, and tools. Empowering employees to become active participants in security not only reduces the risk of cyberattacks but also fosters a culture of responsibility and vigilance across the organisation.
Want to learn more about how to turn your workforce into a powerful security layer? Contact Gamma today to explore our human-first cybersecurity solutions.