Cyber Awareness: What You Need to Know

Introduction

In the morning, you wake up, grab a coffee or tea, and see what is happening worldwide. Some local news, some social media, and at some point, you will see a new cyberattack, some companies being breached, and one (possibly) involving your personal data.

A couple of years ago, something like this was big news—something out of the ordinary. Today, it is practically nothing, just another breach. And this is not going away; it will continue until we do something about it. ??

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Just because we need to have this conversation means there is much to do.

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It’s like you know exercising is good for your health. You see all this news about the rate of heart failure diseases, but you keep saying, ‘It’s not going to happen to me.’

You know that 30 minutes of exercise a day will reduce the chance of getting ill, or worse, having a heart attack, but you choose to ignore it.

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This is similar to cyber awareness. You know about everything that might happen, but you don’t do anything about it, not even 30 minutes a day.

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·????? As citizens, we should demand more due diligence from our institutions to protect our identities.

·????? As professionals, we need to help people become aware of what’s happening and what must be done for a more secure future.

·????? As business owners, we must understand the basics and build healthy foundations.

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Here is the thing: We need to work together to change something. Everyone has a part in this puzzle. The public and private sectors should start working more together. What is more important in this equation is that nothing will change as long as we are only driven by profit.

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“Hey Codrut, what are you doing to change this?” you might ask yourself.

You are reading this, aren’t you? It’s a tiny piece of what I have been doing for years: raising awareness through articles, conferences, talks, panels, and, starting this year, through my own company. Much is and will be done to help those who need it the most: people and small/medium-sized enterprises. I also started the FreeCyber platform two years ago “To lead, inspire, and motivate the next generation of cyber professionals”.

For those who connected with me or know me, you know already how passionate I am about the subject. For everyone else, it’s up to you. If you like the content and want to know me or my work, click the follow | connect | subscribe button. I don’t do it for the likes or to increase my sales. Hitting that like | repost | subscribe button only means that I have shared valuable information with you or helpful to a friend (or someone in your network). If you want to work with me, do it because you trust me to do my best to protect what’s important to you.

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Now, back to the business issue.

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Imagine this: A single employee at your company clicks on a seemingly harmless email link. Within minutes, your business’s data is compromised, confidential information is exposed, and your operations grind to a halt. This isn’t some far-fetched scenario—this is the reality of modern cyber threats.

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Now, what if I told you that these kinds of attacks are often not the result of highly sophisticated hacking? In most cases, it’s simple human error that opens the door. And the solution? It’s not just about expensive software or the latest technology. It’s about something far more basic - you already knowit: cyber awareness.

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Why Cyber Awareness is Important

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Cyber awareness is a critical element of business security. It refers to employees' knowledge and understanding of cyber threats and how to avoid them. As businesses continue to digitize, the risks of cyberattacks increase. And yet, many companies are underprepared, mistakenly believing that security is the sole responsibility of the IT department.

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The truth is that 90% of successful cyberattacks start with human error—often through phishing emails, weak passwords, or unsecured devices. Cyber awareness must be a priority across every department, from the top executives to the newest hires. When employees are aware of potential threats and know how to react, they become the first line of defense against cybercriminals.

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The Problem

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Many businesses have robust technology in place—firewalls, encryption, and anti-virus software—but fail to realize that human error remains the weakest link. Some common misconceptions:

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“It’s not our problem; that’s IT’s job.”?

Many companies believe cybersecurity is only relevant to the IT team. However, cybercriminals frequently target employees outside of IT, like those in finance, HR, or even marketing. Are you the big boss? You are first on the list.

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- “We’re too small to be targeted.”?

Small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) are prime targets for cyberattacks because criminals assume they have weaker defenses than larger organizations. Make them a surprise and become a lesser target by building a solid foundation.

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- “We’ve got the latest tech, so we’re safe.”?

While advanced technology is essential, it’s not enough. The best security systems can be rendered useless if an employee unknowingly grants a cybercriminal access by opening a malicious attachment or sharing a password. This happens often by accident, conflicting priorities, and tiredness.

And, The Solution

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So, what can businesses do to address these vulnerabilities? The answer is simple but powerful: invest in cyber awareness. Cyber awareness educates employees to recognize, avoid, and respond to potential threats. This isn’t a one-off training session; it’s an ongoing process that keeps employees informed about the latest risks and best practices.

Here are some essential steps to begin strengthening your company’s cyber awareness:

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- Train employees regularly: Make cyber awareness training a regular part of your employee development plan. Cover essential topics such as phishing, secure password practices, and how to identify suspicious activity.

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- Simulate real-world threats: Test your employees by running mock phishing campaigns or simulated attacks. This reinforces training and highlights which employees may need extra guidance.

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- Foster a culture of vigilance: Encourage employees to take security seriously and make it part of your company culture. Reinforce the idea that everyone plays a role in keeping the company safe.

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Now that we understand cyber awareness's critical importance let’s dig deeper into what it entails.

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Cyber awareness is about understanding potential cyber threats and empowering your team to recognize and prevent them. It’s an ongoing process that includes continuous learning, training, and vigilance.

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What is Cyber Awareness?

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At its core, cyber awareness means ensuring that your employees:

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• Understand the nature of cyber threats such as phishing, malware, ransomware, and social engineering.
• Recognize suspicious behaviors like unexpected emails requesting sensitive information or links that seem out of place.
• Adopt best practices, such as using strong, unique passwords, securing devices, and ensuring that sensitive data is never shared without proper encryption.

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It also involves creating a company-wide culture that prioritizes cybersecurity at every level. Cyber awareness turns your employees into active participants in your defense strategy rather than passive observers relying solely on IT.

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Why Isn’t Technology Alone Enough?

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While technology like firewalls, encryption, and anti-virus software are essential, they don’t address the root cause of most cyber breaches: human error. If an employee inadvertently clicks on a phishing email or falls for a social engineering scam, even the best technology may not stop the breach.

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Cybercriminals know this and increasingly focus on manipulating employees instead of trying to break through robust technological defenses. They exploit weaknesses in human behavior, which is why raising awareness and training employees are critical components of a comprehensive cybersecurity strategy.

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Five Steps to Strengthen Cyber Awareness in Your Business

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1. Provide Regular Cybersecurity Training?

Cyber threats evolve constantly, so your training should, too. Hold regular sessions to update employees on the latest phishing techniques, social engineering scams, and best practices for securing company data.

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2. Use Real-Life Simulations?

Test your employees with phishing simulations or mock attacks. This will give you a clear sense of how well they understand the threats and where more training is needed.

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3. Create a Security-First Culture?

Foster an environment where security is taken seriously. Encourage employees to report anything suspicious, reward vigilance, and remind staff that cybersecurity is everyone’s responsibility.

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4. Implement Strong Access Controls?

Restrict access to sensitive data based on job roles and ensure employees use multi-factor authentication (MFA) for additional protection. This limits the damage if a breach occurs.

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5. Encourage a ‘Think Before You Click’ Mindset?

Remind employees to be cautious with emails, links, and attachments. If something looks suspicious or unexpected, they should verify it with the sender before taking action.

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Relying solely on technology to keep your business safe is no longer enough. Cyber awareness is the key to mitigating human error, risks, and business resilience.

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CTA

For professionals: If you haven’t already, ask your supervisor/manager about cyber awareness and what your company is doing to protect your data, safety, and job (a breach could mean financial loss, and for you, it could be a salary cut—or, if the business is closing, losing your job—I am sure you didn’t look at this like this before).

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For business owners: Is your business ready to build a culture of cyber awareness? Protect your company by empowering employees with the knowledge they need to stay secure. Contact us today for a tailored cyber awareness training program to prepare your team for the modern threat landscape. Don’t wait for a breach to happen—take action now!

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Discover Cyber Solutions Hub | Cyber Awareness - and see how we can solve this cyber challenge for you: https://www.cybersolutionshub.com/services/cyberaware