An IT Consultant Cautions About the Silent Risk of Overconfident Employees

You have trust in your group. They are intelligent and conscious. They know that they shouldn’t be clicking on strange links and attachments. However, having confidence does not equally mean having protection. An IT consultant explains. 

An IT Consultant Cautions About the Silent Risk of Overconfident Employees

Confidence Can Be Misleading 

Many employees think that they are not vulnerable to phishing. These are usually those who are aware that scammers use emails that appear genuine. However, they can also presume to always be able to distinguish between fake and real. But studies indicate otherwise, says an IT consultant.  

An outstanding 86 percent of employees believe that they can tell a phishing email from a legitimate one. Nevertheless, more than half have previously become victims of scams. That is why the disparity is a critical issue, states an IT consultant. 

Phishing Tactics Have Evolved IT Consultant

Cybercriminals do not rely on blatant scams anymore. Forget the “foreign prince” emails. Nowadays, they can imitate banks or suppliers and produce real-looking invoices to complete the part. In the same vein, they can also pose as a coworker, sending you an email asking for sensitive data. And because these communications now appear very real, even the most security-conscious individuals make mistakes. Mostly, blinded by overconfidence. 

The Dunning-Kruger Effect at Work 

This overconfidence, as explained by an IT consultant, is known as the Dunning-Kruger effect. It is when humans believe they know it all. Unfortunately, this can also get people in serious trouble in cybersecurity.  

It happens when staff members assume they are too smart to fall victim to the basics of phishing. And because they think that they are too smart, they skip validating links or suspicious messages. This then results in a single errant click that provides threat actors with access to information and systems.  

IT Consultant Stresses on Right Attitude and Culture of Caution 

The right attitude will help you minimize these risks, according to an IT consultant. Never think that your team is safe. Because of this, employers and business owners must provide phishing awareness training regularly. Employees must also need to feel safe reporting anything odd. If they fear embarrassment, they’ll stay quiet. That silence is what the hackers want. 

Moreover, it is imperative to provide a free atmosphere. Allow your team to be comfortable asking questions. Similarly, make them get into the habit of checking twice before clicking. And since cybersecurity is not about intelligence but about awareness, even the best employees can be misled. Therefore, it would be best to consider all messages suspicious rather than being too trustful.  

Here at EB Solution, we can help your company deal with this. Our team of IT management and cybersecurity experts are able to put in place an impressive cybersecurity system which will include staff training. 

Get to know more about our service and schedule a consultation today!