Organizations invest heavily in cybersecurity technology. Firewalls monitor network traffic. Endpoint protection detects malicious software. Email security systems filter suspicious messages. Multifactor authentication makes stolen passwords less useful.
But attackers understand something important:
Sometimes it is easier to convince a person to provide access than it is to defeat a security system.
That is why security awareness and training are essential parts of cybersecurity.
Employees do not need to become cybersecurity experts. They do need to recognize common threats, understand organizational security expectations, and know what to do when something seems suspicious.
What Is Security Awareness?
Security awareness teaches employees how their everyday actions affect cybersecurity.
Effective awareness programs commonly address:
Phishing
Social engineering
Password security
Multifactor authentication
Physical security
Data handling
Removable media
Remote work
Incident reporting
Insider threats
Security awareness should not be something employees hear about once during orientation and never encounter again.
Threats change, technology changes, and attackers change their techniques.
Training should evolve as well.
Phishing
Phishing remains one of the most recognizable forms of social engineering.
An attacker sends a message designed to convince someone to click a link, open an attachment, provide information, send money, or approve access.
Warning signs can include:
Urgency: “You must respond immediately.”
Fear: “Your account will be disabled.”
Unexpected attachments: Particularly files the employee was not expecting.
Credential requests: Messages asking users to verify passwords or sign-in information.
Financial changes: Requests to change banking or payment information.
Unexpected MFA prompts: Authentication requests the employee did not initiate.
Modern phishing messages may be polished and convincing. Poor grammar is no longer a reliable way to identify an attack.
Social Engineering Goes Beyond Email
Attackers can use telephone calls, text messages, social media, video calls, and in-person interactions.
Vishing uses voice communications.
Smishing uses text messages.
Pretexting involves creating a believable story to obtain information or access.
An attacker might claim to be:
IT support
A manager
A vendor
Human Resources
A financial institution
An executive
Authority and urgency are frequently used to pressure people into acting before thinking.
Tailgating
Cybersecurity also involves physical security.
Tailgating occurs when an unauthorized person follows an authorized individual into a restricted area.
Someone may approach an employee carrying boxes and ask them to hold the door.
Helping may seem polite, but bypassing access controls creates security risk.
Employees should follow organizational procedures for visitors and restricted areas rather than allowing someone to bypass established access controls.
Removable Media
USB drives and other removable devices can introduce malware or expose information.
Finding a USB drive in a parking lot does not mean it should be plugged into a company computer to determine who owns it.
Unknown devices should be handled according to organizational security procedures.
Employees should also avoid copying organizational information to personal removable media unless specifically authorized.
Insider Threats
Not every security threat comes from outside the organization.
An insider threat involves someone with legitimate access who intentionally or unintentionally creates risk.
A malicious insider might deliberately steal information.
An accidental insider might email confidential information to the wrong recipient.
A compromised insider may have an account taken over by an attacker.
Security controls must therefore protect information regardless of where the threat originates.
Unexpected MFA Requests
Multifactor authentication provides important protection, but attackers sometimes attempt to overwhelm users with authentication prompts.
If you receive an MFA request you did not initiate:
Do not approve it.
Deny the request and follow your organization's reporting procedure.
Repeated unexpected MFA notifications may indicate that someone already knows your password and is attempting to gain access.
Reporting Is Part of Security Awareness
Employees should know how to report suspicious activity.
Examples include:
Suspicious emails
Unexpected MFA requests
Lost devices
Unusual system behavior
Accidental information disclosure
Suspicious phone calls
Unauthorized people in restricted areas
Employees do not need to prove that an incident occurred before reporting something.
The security team can investigate.
Creating a Security-Aware Culture
Security awareness is most effective when employees feel comfortable reporting concerns.
If someone accidentally clicks a suspicious link, early reporting may allow the security team to respond before significant damage occurs.
Fear of punishment can discourage reporting.
A healthy security culture encourages employees to speak up quickly while still maintaining appropriate accountability.
Security Is a Team Effort
Technology can stop many attacks.
It cannot stop every attack.
Employees provide an additional layer of defense by recognizing situations that technology may miss.
Pause when something seems unusual.
Verify unexpected requests.
Protect credentials.
Follow physical security requirements.
Report suspicious activity.
Those actions turn security awareness into everyday cybersecurity.
Knowledge Check
1. What is phishing?
A. Physical theft of a computer
B. A social-engineering technique using deceptive messages
C. A backup procedure
D. An encryption method
Answer: B
2. What is smishing?
A. Social engineering using text messages
B. Malware scanning
C. Physical tailgating
D. Password cracking
Answer: A
3. What should you do with an unexpected MFA request?
A. Approve it
B. Ignore it indefinitely
C. Deny it and follow reporting procedures
D. Send the code to IT
Answer: C
4. What is tailgating?
A. Following another vehicle
B. Following an authorized person into a restricted area without proper authorization
C. Sending repeated emails
D. Monitoring network traffic
Answer: B
Security+ Quick Review
Phishing = Deceptive electronic communication
Smishing = SMS/text-based social engineering
Vishing = Voice-based social engineering
Pretexting = Creating a believable scenario to obtain information or access
Tailgating = Bypassing physical access controls by following an authorized person
Insider Threat = Risk involving someone with legitimate organizational access
Final Takeaway
Employees are not expected to recognize every attack.
They should recognize when something is unusual enough to stop, verify, and report.
Security awareness turns employees from potential targets into active participants in protecting the organization.
