UK Employees Still Believe Their Employer’s Cyber Security Is Not Their Responsibility, New Research Reveals
- New research shows that when it comes to company’s cyber security, the majority of employees (81%) believe it’s the IT department’s responsibility to ensure it
- 18% of employees believe they cannot be targeted by cybercriminals
- Businesses need to do more to support employees – nearly a third (31%) say there is no cyber training at all in their workplace, and nearly half (44%) haven’t had any cyber training
- Educating employees and building a cyber-aware culture is the first line of protection
Terranova Security by HelpSystems, a global leader in security awareness training, has announced the results of a study that showcases the level of cyber security awareness among workers in the UK, France, U.S., Australia and Canada.
The study, conducted in partnership with research company Ipsos, surveyed 500 UK employees. It concluded there is confusion among employees over who is responsible for protecting company data. Despite the fact that human error causes 95% of cyber issues, 81% of UK employees believe it’s the IT department’s responsibility.
In addition, 1 in 4 employees do not think cyber security is necessary for them, and 18% believe they can’t be targeted at all by cybercriminals. The findings come at a time when the danger from a data breach is at an all-time high – businesses suffered 50% more ransomware attacks in 2021 compared to 2020. As of 2022, the average cost of a data breach to a large organisation increased to $4.35 million.
The research also highlighted that UK businesses aren’t doing enough to support their employees when it comes to providing education on common cyber threats and security best practices. Only 42% of employees say they work in a company where cyber security awareness training is mandatory. Of the 44% who haven’t participated in any cyber security training, nearly a third (31%) indicated that their company doesn’t offer any relevant training.
These low training rates aren’t due to a lack of interest from employees, as 76% believe cyber security training is interesting, and 56% have started or completed the training when it’s offered to them.
“It’s concerning to see such a high percentage of employees who believe a company’s cyber security is not their responsibility – especially in larger organisations,” said Theo Zafirakos, Chief Information Security Officer, Terranova Security. “It’s clear that many British businesses have room to grow security awareness training strategies, especially in the face of rising cybercrime. Our research also shows there’s still quite some work to do on educating people about the important role they play in protecting data at work. These people are the first line of defence against any cyber-attack, and on a positive note, our research demonstrates a strong appetite for learning more about it. By taking responsibility to invest more in education and build a security-aware culture around data protection within the business, companies will set up a powerful barrier against any cyber threats.”
To read the full report and learn more about Terranova Security, visit: www.terranovasecurity.com
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About Terranova Security
Terranova Security by HelpSystems has been transforming the world’s end users into cyber heroes for more than 20 years. Using a proven pedagogical framework, Terranova Security training solutions empower organisations worldwide to implement programs that change user behaviours, reduce the human risk factor, and build a security-aware organisational culture. As a result, any employee can better understand phishing, social engineering, data privacy, compliance, and other critical best practices. With the addition of new features like its Security Awareness Index and upcoming Content Hub, Terranova Security consistently innovates to support all organisations’ cyber security objectives. These industry-leading solution additions also strengthen long-term information security for all professionals, regardless of region or sector, in an era where remote work and borderless productivity are standard. Learn more at terranovasecurity.com.
About HelpSystems
HelpSystems is a software company focused on helping exceptional organisations secure and automate their operations. Our cybersecurity and automation software protects information and simplifies IT processes to give our customers peace of mind. We know security and IT transformation is a journey, not a destination. Let’s move forward. Learn more at www.helpsystems.com.
About IPSOS
Ipsos is the third largest market research company in the world, present in 90 markets and employing more than 18,000 people.
Our research professionals, analysts and scientists have built unique multi-specialist capabilities that provide powerful insights into the actions, opinions and motivations of citizens, consumers, patients, customers or employees. Our 75 business solutions are based on primary data coming from our surveys, social media monitoring, and qualitative or observational techniques.
“Game Changers” – our tagline – summarises our ambition to help our 5,000 clients to navigate more easily our deeply changing world.
Founded in France in 1975, Ipsos is listed on the Euronext Paris since July 1st, 1999. The company is part of the SBF 120 and the Mid-60 index and is eligible for the Deferred Settlement Service (SRD).
ISIN code FR0000073298, Reuters ISOS.PA, Bloomberg IPS:FP
