We live in a hyper-connected digital world, cyber threats are no longer just a matter of firewalls and encryption. They’re about people. From phishing emails to insider threats, human behaviour is now the single biggest vulnerability in cybersecurity AND the most powerful opportunity for resilience!
📉 The Human Factor: A Growing Cybersecurity Challenge
Despite billions spent on sophisticated technology stacks, breaches continue unabated. Why? Because 95% of data breaches involve human error. Whether it’s a misclicked phishing link, a weak password, or a misconfigured cloud setting, the human element is at the heart of most incidents.
🕵️♂️ Case Study: TfL’s Costly Phishing Incident
In September 2024, Transport for London (TfL) suffered a major breach after an employee fell victim to a sophisticated phishing attack. The result? Service disruptions across London’s transit network, affecting over 4 million daily commuters and costing an estimated £35–£50 million in recovery and compensation.
🧠 Human Risk Management (HRM): A Strategic Shift
HRM is a proactive framework that identifies, assesses, and mitigates risks associated with human behaviour. Rather than relying solely on blanket awareness training, HRM focuses on:
- Targeted interventions for high-risk individuals.
- Behavioural analytics to predict and prevent risky actions.
- Continuous education tailored to roles and threat profiles.
🎓 Training That Works: From Awareness to Action
Cybersecurity training can reduce risk by up to 85% when done effectively. But not all training is created equal. The most impactful programmes:
- Use real-world scenarios to simulate phishing, social engineering, and insider threats.
- Include interactive simulations and gamified learning.
- Are regularly updated to reflect evolving threats like AI-enabled scams and deepfakes.
🧑💼 HR’s Role in Cyber Defence
HR departments are uniquely positioned to drive cybersecurity culture. By integrating HRM into recruitment, onboarding, and performance management, HR can:
- Identify behavioural risk factors early.
- Promote a culture of security ownership.
- Ensure compliance with data protection regulations.
🧍♂️ What You and Your Team Can Do Better: Tips & Tricks to Stay Cyber-Safe
Even the most advanced security systems can be undone by a single careless click. Here are some practical ways you and your colleagues can strengthen your cyber hygiene and become your organisation’s first line of defence:
🔐 Top Tips for Staying Secure
- Think before you click: Hover over links to check where they lead. If something feels off, don’t click — report it.
- Use strong, unique passwords: Avoid reusing passwords across accounts. A password manager can help keep things secure and simple.
- Enable multi-factor authentication (MFA): It’s one of the easiest ways to block unauthorised access.
- Lock your screen: Whether you’re in the office or working remotely, always lock your device when stepping away.
- Be cautious with attachments: Unexpected files from unknown senders could contain malware — don’t open them unless you’re sure.
- Keep software up to date: Updates often include critical security patches. Don’t ignore them.
- Speak up: If you spot something suspicious — a dodgy email, a strange login alert, or unusual behaviour — report it immediately.
🧠 Watch Out For These Common Threats
- Phishing emails that look like they’re from HR, your bank, or delivery services.
- Social engineering tactics that play on urgency, fear, or trust.
- Tailgating — someone following you into a secure area without credentials.
- USB baiting — never plug in unknown USB drives, even if they look harmless.
🔧 Velocity Technology Group’s Human Risk Management (HRM) Services
At Velocity, we understand that cybersecurity starts with people and that people can also be the greatest risk. Our Human Risk Management (HRM) services are designed to help organisations identify, measure, and reduce human-driven vulnerabilities across their digital environments.
Our HRM solutions include:
- Behavioural risk analysis to pinpoint individuals or roles most susceptible to cyber threats.
- Targeted awareness training tailored to specific risk profiles and threat vectors.
- Engineering support for secure integration of identity and access management systems.
- Ongoing monitoring and reporting to track behavioural improvements and risk reduction over time.
Whether you're managing a hybrid workforce or scaling across multiple platforms, our team helps you build a culture of cyber awareness where every individual becomes part of your defence strategy.
💬 Final Thought: Cybersecurity Is Everyone’s Business
Technology alone can’t protect your organisation. But empowered people can. By investing in Human Risk Management, you’re not just reducing risk — you’re building a culture of resilience.
🚀 Ready to See Where Your Organisation Stands?
👉 Get your free HRM assessment now and discover how your people affect your cyber security posture.