Cyber attacks, phishing schemes, and ransomware are mostly influenced by user actions. They succeed because humans engage with them, so thinking that technology alone will solve these problems is a mistake. We need to change our approach to security. It’s about the people who need access, whose identities we must manage, and who need the right authentication. Often, it’s these very users who inadvertently contribute to failures. This is a people issue, not just a tech issue.
When we focus on the human side of security, we strengthen our defenses against cyber threats. This isn’t a new problem, even if we sometimes treat it like one. Identity and access management (IAM) has been around for a long time, focusing on principles like least privilege and need to know. We need to understand what information we have and who really needs access to it. If we make access more seamless and align it with how people actually do their jobs, we can improve user experience and security simultaneously.
Training and awareness often take a back seat, while shiny new technologies get all the attention and funding. Numerous reports from security experts drive home the point: effective training is key to better protecting ourselves from attacks. It’s time to invest in training and awareness—they’re critical to a solid security strategy.
Technology can support our efforts against attacks, but it relies on people to make smart decisions. To build a strong defense, we need well-trained, security-aware individuals equipped with the right tools. Rather than IT dictating access rules, let’s involve teams in figuring out what they actually need. When we prioritize collaboration and understanding, we create a security framework that safeguards both our people and our organization.
We should also be careful that overly strict security measures don’t drive people to take risks, especially if they struggle to do their jobs effectively. Just like laws can vary in approach, security policies shouldn’t be overly restrictive. Instead of limiting users to only what’s explicitly allowed, we should enable them to perform their jobs securely. Security teams should work alongside employees to find solutions that allow safe, effective performance, fostering a culture of trust and responsibility.
Moving away from rigid rules is necessary for progress, though it’s understandable that some security professionals find comfort in clear-cut guidelines. User-centric security should be the way forward for real resilience.