Human Error Costs UK Businesses Billions

Cyber-attacks that target small to medium-sized businesses have increased sharply in recent years, fuelled by advances in AI technology. While the focus is on AI as the biggest threat the most exploited vulnerability for many businesses is human error.

A few of the most common ways that small medium-sized businesses are targeted include phishing scams and ransomware. Hackers are harnessing the power of AI to increase the speed, scale and sophistication of these damaging cyber-attacks so that they can steal sensitive data for financial gain with greater ease than ever before.

And as many employees are not keeping pace with these fast-moving cyber threats, they are easier targets, which puts businesses at significant risk.

It is estimated that more than 95% of data breaches in the UK are caused by human error which amounts to an astonishing £14.7billion worth of damages per year to the UK economy.

The most common human errors include using weak or compromised login credentials, falling for phishing scams, inadequate security settings, and falling victim to social engineering.

This highlights a massive opportunity for businesses to create a strong security posture through their employees:

• Create a culture where cyber security feels simple and relevant to everyday work.

• Keep training short, frequent and practical by using real examples that staff might encounter.

• Reinforce cyber security through reminders, clear policies and easy routes to report suspicious activity.

• Lead by example so employees feel responsible and motivated to protect the organisation.

Don’t wait until an attack disrupts your business — contact us today to strengthen your cybersecurity, protect your data, and gain peace of mind knowing your business is secure.