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Most businesses get it wrong when it comes to cybersecurity training. They often focus heavily on the IT department, thinking they’re the primary target for hackers. However, the reality is quite different, especially for mid-sized companies.
The Real Targets: Finance and The Board
If you’re a cybercriminal looking to make a quick buck from a business, your first stop wouldn’t be the IT department. Instead, you’d be looking at the finance team or even the board of directors. Why? Because these are the people who actually control the money and have the authority to approve payments. They hold the keys to the company’s financial resources.
Key Takeaways
- Hackers often target finance teams and boards of directors, not just IT.
- These individuals control money and payment approvals.
- They are frequently overlooked in standard cybersecurity training.
- Cyber awareness training needs to include these key financial personnel.
Why Finance is the Prime Target
Think about it from a hacker’s perspective. If your goal is to steal money, who do you need to influence? It’s the people who can authorise transfers and access company accounts. The finance team fits this bill perfectly. They have direct access and the power to move funds, making them the most obvious and lucrative targets.
Rethinking Cyber Awareness Training
This is why it’s so important to shift the focus of cyber awareness training. It shouldn’t just be a box-ticking exercise for the IT team. We need to make sure that the people who are most likely to be targeted and who hold the financial keys are properly trained. This means including the finance department and potentially the board in these training sessions. Protecting these gatekeepers is absolutely vital for the overall security of any organisation.
