The age-old menace of phishing attacks has taken on a new and more sinister form as cybercriminals employ AI-driven tools to craft highly believable phishing emails and text messages. According to the Fortinet 2023 Global Ransomware Report, phishing has emerged as the leading tactic employed by malicious actors, constituting a staggering 56% of their methods to infiltrate networks and launch successful ransomware attacks.
Traditionally, phishing attempts were riddled with obvious errors in spelling and grammar, making them relatively easy to spot. However, the integration of AI-powered content generation tools has enabled cybercriminals to produce phishing communications that are remarkably realistic. The consequence is that unsuspecting victims are increasingly likely to click on malicious links, leading to compromised data and security breaches.
With the proliferation of AI-crafted phishing attempts, employees now play an even more crucial role in safeguarding their organizations against these attacks. Simple advisories to identify the “traditional” attributes of phishing are no longer sufficient to maintain organizational security. Beyond technology-based solutions such as spam filters and multi-factor authentication, employee education has become a make-or-break factor in the battle against phishing and ransomware threats.
Phishing Persists as the Prime Ransomware Delivery Method
The connection between phishing and ransomware remains as strong as ever, with phishing serving as the primary attack vector for ransomware delivery. The success of this approach is evident from recent data provided by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, which revealed that a startling 80% of organizations had at least one employee fall victim to a simulated phishing attempt.
Ransomware continues to plague organizations of all sizes, across various industries and geographic regions. Despite 78% of business leaders believing they are well-prepared to defend against ransomware, half of them fell prey to ransomware attacks in the past year.
Educating Employees for Enterprise Protection
Given that most ransomware is delivered through phishing, employee education is pivotal in protecting organizations. However, there is no one-size-fits-all education program. Training efforts should be tailored to the specific needs of the enterprise, and several services and programs can serve as a foundation for comprehensive employee security awareness programs.
- Security Awareness Training: Recognizing employees as high-value targets for threat actors, an ongoing cyber-awareness education program, frequently updated to reflect the evolving threat landscape, is imperative. The Fortinet Security Awareness and Training Service delivers timely and current awareness training on the most relevant security threats, fostering a culture of cyber-awareness where employees are better equipped to recognize and avoid falling victim to attacks. Moreover, it helps organizations meet regulatory or industry compliance training requirements.
- Phishing Simulation Services: Conducting simulated phishing emails allows employees to practice identifying malicious communications. The FortiPhish Phishing Simulation Service employs real-world simulations to evaluate user awareness and vigilance regarding phishing threats, enhancing users’ ability to respond when targeted by a phishing attack.
- Free Fortinet Network Security Expert (NSE) Training: The Fortinet Training Institute offers free, self-paced NSE training modules that educate users on identifying and protecting against various threats, including phishing attacks. These modules can be seamlessly integrated into existing internal training programs, reinforcing critical concepts. Fortinet Authorized Training Centers (ATCs) also provide instructor-led training to expand access to the NSE curriculum worldwide.
Staying Ahead of Threat Actors through Security Awareness Programs
The integration of AI into cybercriminal activities necessitates greater diligence on the part of security teams and employees. Therefore, organizations must continually evaluate and evolve their cyber-awareness programs to equip learners and employees with the most up-to-date and pertinent knowledge, thereby safeguarding both individuals and the organization’s valuable data.
the rise of AI-enhanced phishing attacks underscores the need for organizations to prioritize employee education and awareness as a cornerstone of their cybersecurity strategy. In an age where cybercriminals are using advanced technology to deceive, informed and vigilant employees can prove to be the first line of defense against these ever-evolving threats.
