Security Tip - What is a Human Firewall
Headline: Your Employees Are Part of the Human Firewall
Why it matters:
Technology plays an important role in cybersecurity, but even the best security tools cannot stop every threat. Cybercriminals know this, which is why they often target people instead of systems.
Phishing emails, fake login pages, fraudulent text messages, and convincing phone calls are designed to get employees to act before they have time to recognize something is wrong.
Being part of the “human firewall” means recognizing that every employee plays a role in protecting the organization. Simple actions like pausing before clicking, verifying unusual requests, and reporting suspicious activity can prevent a small mistake from becoming a serious security incident.
Quick Tips:
•Pause before clicking links, opening attachments, or responding to unexpected requests
• Verify unusual requests using a trusted method, especially when money, passwords, or sensitive information are involved
• Report suspicious emails, messages, or calls even if you did not click or provide information
What You Should Do:
•Treat unexpected requests involving money, credentials, or confidential information with extra caution
• Verify requests independently rather than using the phone number or link provided in the message
• Never approve an MFA request you did not initiate
• Report suspicious activity promptly instead of simply deleting it
• Remember that attackers often create urgency specifically to prevent you from stopping to think
Call to Action:
Cybersecurity is not just the responsibility of technology or the IT department. Every employee is part of the organization’s defense. Pause. Verify. Report. Those three simple actions can stop an attack before it succeeds.
