Cybersecurity Awareness Month: Human Firewalls

October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month, and in recognition, USI has partnered with KnowBe4 to provide valuable cybersecurity information throughout the month.

In the final installment for this month, we will discuss the idea of human firewalls. 

The concept of human firewalls stems from the most critical aspect of security: people. By fostering a mindset that prioritizes security in daily activities, human firewalls protect real people, not just data or devices.

Here are five key concepts of the human firewall's manifesto, which can be used by anyone regardless of job title, role or location: 

Identify threats—Many attackers use deception and manipulation to scam people out of money or information. Human firewalls know how to recognize the subtleties of these scams by staying alert for warning signs and thinking before clicking or responding. 

Maintain physical security—Security isn't only a concern in cyberspace. Human firewalls understand that physical security is just as important. It includes simple actions such as locking workstations and properly storing physical copies of confidential information. 

Report incidents—When a suspected security incident occurs, human firewalls serve as the first responders by reporting the incident immediately. Timely reporting empowers organizations to investigate what happened and mitigate potential damages. 

Use common sense—Protecting people (and data) doesn't require a strong technical focus. Instead, it involves a commitment to common sense habits such as using strong passwords for every account and never sharing login credentials or badges. 

Follow policy—Policies exist to protect people, data and systems. Always following those policies is perhaps the simplest way to maintain security and privacy and is one of the top responsibilities shared by every member of an organization.