Human Skills Help Cybersecurity Resilience

Cybersecurity. It’s a huge topic for good reason. In 2023, 70% of UK businesses identified a cyber attack. (Gov.uk)

Government research shows that 31% of businesses and 26% of charities estimate they were attacked at least once a week. The report states that of the businesses attacked “the most common threat vector was phishing attempts (83%). Around one in five (21%) identified a more sophisticated attack type such as a denial of service, malware, or ransomware attack.”

£229 billion of Britain’s economic growth is at risk between now and 2026 if the nation does not tackle the digital skills gap (AND Digital research). Organisations need to increase their cybersecurity resilience now. Closing the digital skills gap is an important part of the solution.

4 Ways to Tackle the Digital Skills Gap

1. Recruit Flexibly

When hiring new employees, consider soft skills such as willingness to learn, enthusiasm and curiosity. These strengths offer the potential to hone understanding and implementation of digital best practice. This flexible approach to recruitment therefore offers organisations the potential to close digital skills gaps.

2. Retain

Employee turnover is one of the biggest causes of skills gaps across all areas of business operation. Creating a culture of continual learning and providing ongoing development opportunities improves employee retention, therefore keeping the digital skills already available within the company.

3. Upskill

Investing in training so that employees implement best practice in core areas, such as creating safe passwords and identifying phishing threats, proactively improves cybersecurity. Filling knowledge gaps and encouraging employees to develop their digital skills benefits both the individuals and the organisation. Mentoring is a productive way of supporting employees in applying new skills, offering opportunities to mentees and mentors alike.

4. Outsource

Involving a specialist, external company to provide IT and cybersecurity support is fast, efficient and cost effective. This approach reduces overheads and deploys up-to-date, professional skills at all times. You need to work with the experts who provide the best fit for your business. To ensure a smooth, productive working relationship agree expectations regarding quality, availability and communication. It’s best to avoid lengthy retainer contracts to give flexibility.

“With cybersecurity risks increasing and 95% of data breaches caused by human error, it’s essential to close the digital skills gaps within your company,” says Eric Hughes of EMH Technology. “We work with businesses to improve their cybersecurity, helping with data back up and security, for example. This is often implemented alongside supporting employees with issues such as identifying compromised emails, for example.”

Improve your organisation’s cybersecurity resilience by closing your digital skills gap. Explore the possibilities without obligation – simply contact the friendly experts at EMH Technology. Ask about online training modules for ultimate flexibility and scalability.