Blog

Did you know that most cyber breaches occur due to human error? That’s because most people aren’t aware of the cyber security threats that put themselves and their organisations at risk! Without basic security awareness, we're more likely to click on phishing links or...

Language is at the heart of communication. Every time we speak or write, we choose language appropriate to our audience to get our desired message across. Why should it be any different in cyber security? Yet, the cyber security industry has a problem. Too often,...

Healthcare services are under pressure. The Covid-19 pandemic has stretched them to their limit. As if the strains of a pandemic weren’t enough, healthcare organisations have also been subject to cyber attacks.  We’d like to think our healthcare services are immune to...

In today's society, we are more interconnected than ever before. The devices we use are linked in unprecedented ways. A big factor behind this is the rise of the Internet of Things (IoT). It brings internet connectivity to a range of devices. From watches and phones...

Every time you access the internet you leave a data trail that contributes to your “digital footprint”.  Each of us has a digital footprint. It’s the accumulation of our online data produced over time. Together, this data creates a rich picture of our habits and...

Nobody likes being punished. So why are we so quick to punish those who fall victim to cyber-attacks? A recent study by CybSafe found 4 in 10 organisations choose to discipline staff who make cyber security errors. There’s no doubt we need to respond when such...

Last week, the Irish Health Service Executive (HSE) suffered a cyber attack which forced a temporary shutdown of its IT systems. This caused huge disruption across the service. Following the attack, patients’ personal and medical information was shared online and a...

Most cyber security solutions take a one-size-fits-all approach. Everyone gets the same training and the same simulated phishing emails.  Yet, we all respond to cyber threats in different ways. Our personalities and differences often play a key role in how we act. For...

We need to talk about burnout. Sadly, it’s something most of us will be all too familiar with, particularly in the tech industry. A post-pandemic study revealed 62% of cyber security professionals found their role stressful. This year, the lines between work and home...

People are central to cyber security. Empowered with the right skills and tools, people can protect themselves and their organisations from cyber attack. But people aren’t all the same. Each of us has our own personality. And studies show links between our...

We are all creatures of habit. Some habits we’d rather get rid of. But others can be beneficial. When it comes to cyber security, building good habits is essential. By building better security behaviour into our lives, we reduce our cyber risk. So how do we go about...

The way we work is changing. Our approach to cyber security needs to change too.   Remote working is here to stay. Even when we reach the day where workplaces open their doors again, things won’t be as they were. CybSafe will be joining a growing list of...

Phishing attacks are a problem. Over the past year, 88% of professionals  reported an increase in phishing attacks. It can happen to anyone, at any time.  For many, the go-to solution to this problem is a simulated phishing attack. But for this to be a success, it has...

Phishing attacks are the most common cyber threat to UK businesses. This form of cyberattack can be remarkably unsophisticated. Yet, the disruption caused can be huge.  So why are phishing attacks such a problem? What can be done to limit their success?  ...

In 2016, the government launched its National Cyber Security Strategy (NCSS). The five-year plan (2016-2021) was underpinned by £1.9 billion in funding. Its purpose was to make the UK “secure and resilient to cyber threats.” Has the NCSS achieved its aims? Let’s look...

Phishing attacks are on the rise.  In 2020, 93% of UK organisations were targeted by Covid-19-related malware. 88% of security professionals reported an increase in phishing attacks. Typically, criminals behind phishing attacks aren’t attempting to steal money....

When Covid-19 swept the world, businesses moved rapidly to enable remote working.  Before the pandemic, less than 30% of people in the UK had ever worked remotely. In April 2020, nearly half of UK employees worked at home.  Looking ahead, a wholesale return to office...

Almost half of UK businesses (46%) and a quarter of UK charities (26%) reported cyber security breaches or attacks in the last 12 months. The figures are higher for medium-sized businesses (68%) and large businesses (75%). Cybercrime is on the rise. So it’s just as...

Data breaches cost UK organisations an average of £2.9 million per breach.  In 2019, human error accounted for 90% of breaches.  Those facts alone are usually enough to convince people security awareness training is important. Usually.   Only 1 in 9 businesses...