Email Collaboration Threat Protection

    Why SMBs Need Proactive Human Risk Management

    Human risk management can be an effective tool for helping small business proactively manage cyber risk and human risk

    by Kiri Addison

    Wichtige Punkte

    • People are the most important part of any organization, but they can also be the greatest source of risk.
    • The cybersecurity industry has a renewed focus on human risk management and delivering a comprehensive, proactive human risk management platform for organizations of all sizes.
    • Human risk can be a particularly problematic challenge for SMBs, but smaller organizations can also greatly benefit from an HRM platform.
    • Mimecast stands ready to helps SMBs focus on human risk and deploy their own much-needed HRM platform with customized solutions designed to meet budget and available resources.

    Small Businesses Are at Risk 

    People are the lifeblood of every organization, but they’re also the greatest source of risk. This can be especially true for smaller businesses that don’t have as many resources to dedicate to security awareness training and AI-based cybersecurity tools. Mistakes are inevitable, and more than three-quarters of data breaches today are caused by human error. 

    In today’s hyperconnected world, employees at even the smallest organizations have access to an increasing number of collaboration tools and data sources. Unfortunately, bad actors are taking advantage of this broader human attack surface, leaving people – and small businesses – more exposed and vulnerable than ever before.

    Humans take actions that can have consequences, like sharing corporate data, or clicking on links. They are constantly under attack, as adversaries target them with social engineering threats designed to trick them into making mistakes.

    Human Risk Management

    To combat these problems, organizations across the globe are focusing on human risk and turning to human risk management platforms.

    In the past, organizations have tried to address the problem of human risk via multiple, disconnected solutions. However, today it’s more important than ever to ensure that organizations can protect themselves from internal or insider risk. This leads organizations, especially smaller businesses, to ask their employees to not only identify threats that come in via email and collaboration tools, but also to properly handle organizational data.

    By utilizing a connected human risk management platform, organizations of all sizes can solve multiple use cases covering areas across the spectrum from external risks, like business email compromise, uncontrolled collaboration channels, and secure data retention to insider threats like exfiltration of critical company data and identification of compromised users.

    Human Risk Management Platforms

    HRM platforms deliver a comprehensive analysis of an individual's risk profile, offering insights into behavior patterns, attack factors, and an overall risk score. The attack factor, a key metric, quantifies an individual's risk exposure, such as the quantity of phishing emails received. While end users cannot control their attack factor, this data is invaluable to security professionals due to its direct influence on overall risk.

    An integral part of HRM platforms is the action log, which chronicles all recent system responses to an individual's behavior. This includes email nudges, matched rules, and the status of each action. By filtering and analyzing this information, organizations can gain a profound understanding of an individual's behavior and the system's response.

    Another primary function of HRM platforms is the risk analysis page. It offers a holistic view of all users within an organization, facilitating a detailed analysis of high-risk individuals and areas, and providing numerous filters, such as attack factor and specific behavior types, enabling organizations to delve deeper into their data.

    Additionally, HRM platforms feature watch lists, which are sets of users that meet predefined criteria. These lists are directly linked to specific nudges that can be activated, enabling organizations to effectively identify and monitor high-risk individuals.

    HRM Platforms and SMBs

    SMBs need proactive human risk management to identify and mitigate potential issues related to their employees, thus preventing significant business disruptions, financial losses, and reputational damage, while also ensuring compliance with regulations and maintaining a positive work environment. A human risk management platform essentially allows SMBs to be prepared for potential issues before they escalate and impact operations significantly. 

    Here are some of the key reasons why proactive human risk management is crucial for small businesses:

    • Cost-effective: Identifying and addressing risks early can prevent costly security incidents that can damage an SMBs reputation.
    • Compliance with regulations: Proactive management helps ensure adherence to cybersecurity laws and regulations, minimizing potential legal issues. 
    • Improved employee morale: A proactive approach to human risk management can foster a culture of safety and confidence within the workplace, leading to higher employee satisfaction. 
    • Operational efficiency: By identifying and mitigating risks early, SMBs can avoid disruptions to daily operations and maintain productivity. 

    The Bottom Line

    The evolution towards human risk management and the HRM platform marks a pivotal transformation in cybersecurity. It underscores the importance of recognizing employees' risk potential and tailoring strategies to mitigate this. It transcends mere training; it necessitates a holistic blueprint for human risk management, factoring in an array of elements. This paradigm shift promises a future of enhanced cybersecurity for organizations of all sizes.

    The HRM platform provides organizations with an extensive, insightful perspective of their human risk topography. It empowers them to pinpoint high-risk individuals, decipher their behavior patterns, and execute effective interventions. With this platform at their disposal, organizations can substantially elevate their security stance and curtail human-centric security risks.

    Mimecast is leading the way in human risk management and HRM platforms. Our mission to advance security and transform the way organizations manage and mitigate risk is now bolstered by our very own HRM platform, human risk dashboard, and Mimecast Engage, our new security awareness product. By integrating security into the very fabric of human interaction, organizations can set a new standard for protection in an increasingly complex digital world.

    Mimecast successfully helps secure some of the world’s largest organizations, but we are equally adept at helping SMBs secure their people and environments with customized solutions designed to meet the needs and budgets of smaller organizations.

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