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The Human Element: How to Turn Your Biggest Risk into Your Best Defense

In an era where firewalls and encryption are stronger than ever, cybercriminals are increasingly targeting the one vulnerability that can’t be patched: people. From phishing emails to impersonation scams, attackers are exploiting human behavior to bypass even the most advanced security systems. The recent breach at Coinbase is just the latest reminder that while employees are a company’s greatest asset, they can also be its greatest cybersecurity risk.

Cybersecurity isn’t just about technology—it’s about behavior. And in today’s threat landscape, where attackers exploit human psychology more than system flaws, organizations must invest in shaping a culture of awareness.

According to Verizon’s 2025 Data Breach Investigations Report, 22% of all breaches resulted from social engineering attacks. This figure highlights the growing reliance of cybercriminals on manipulating human behavior rather than exploiting technical flaws. It also reinforces the need for organizations to invest in employee-focused cybersecurity training, not just to meet compliance standards, but to actively reduce one of the most common and costly sources of breaches. With nearly a quarter of breaches tied to social engineering, the solution isn’t just stronger software; it’s smarter people. That starts with understanding the true cost of a breach and the value of proactive training.

Counting the Cost: What a Breach Really Means for Business

Cybersecurity breaches are no longer just IT issues—they’re business-critical events with far-reaching consequences. The financial toll can be staggering: according to IBM X-Force’s 2025 Threat Intelligence Index, the average breach reached $4.88 million in 2024, with costs rising even higher in highly regulated industries like finance and healthcare. But the damage doesn’t stop at dollars. Breaches erode customer trust, invite regulatory scrutiny, and can take years to recover from fully.

What makes these incidents even more frustrating is that many are preventable. A significant portion of breaches stems from social engineering attacks, where cybercriminals manipulate employees into giving up sensitive information or access. These attacks don’t require sophisticated malware—just a convincing email or phone call.

Turning the Vulnerability into a Strength: Training the Human Firewall

You can turn a weakness into a strength — if employees are equipped with the tools to recognize and resist social engineering attacks. To turn employees into a cybersecurity asset, organizations must go beyond basic awareness and invest in meaningful, behavior-changing education. This starts with simulating realistic phishing and vishing attacks that mimic real-world scenarios. These exercises help employees build their instincts to spot and report suspicious activity before it escalates.

Training should also be tailored to specific roles and risk levels. Employees in departments like finance, HR, and customer service—who are often prime targets—need more advanced, scenario-based instruction. Making the training interactive and ongoing is equally important. Gamified modules, quizzes, and short refreshers keep engagement high and ensure that security stays top of mind.

Equally critical is fostering a “report without fear” culture. Employees should feel safe and encouraged to report anything suspicious, even if they’re unsure. Recognizing and rewarding proactive behavior helps reinforce this mindset. Finally, integrating cybersecurity training into onboarding and regular operations ensures that awareness becomes a natural part of the company’s rhythm, not just an annual checkbox.

By embedding these practices into the organization, companies can transform their workforce from a potential liability into a powerful line of defense.

Measuring What Matters: Monitoring Training Effectiveness

Implementing social engineering training is only the first step—ensuring it works is just as important. To reduce risk, organizations need to track how well their training programs are performing and continuously refine them based on real-world results.

One of the most effective ways to measure impact is through phishing simulation metrics. Tracking how many employees click on simulated phishing emails, how quickly they report them, and how those numbers change over time can provide a clear picture of awareness levels. A steady decline in click rates and an increase in reporting rates are strong indicators that training is taking hold. Other useful metrics include training completion rates, quiz scores, and incident response times. These data points help identify knowledge gaps and departments that may need additional support. Some organizations also use security culture surveys to gauge employee attitudes toward cybersecurity and their confidence in recognizing threats.

By regularly reviewing these metrics, companies can move beyond checkbox compliance and build a truly resilient workforce that understands the risks and is prepared to act when it matters most.

Conclusion: Strengthening the Human Element

In today’s cybersecurity landscape, the most advanced technology can still be undone by a single human mistake. However, when properly trained and empowered, that same human element can become an organization’s most effective defense. As social engineering attacks continue to rise, companies must recognize that cybersecurity is not just a technical challenge, but a behavioral one.

By investing in targeted training, fostering a culture of awareness, and continuously measuring effectiveness, organizations can transform their workforce from a vulnerability into a strategic asset. Because in the end, the best defense against manipulation isn’t just software—it’s people who know better.

How Centri Can Help

At Centri, our IT risk and cybersecurity advisory services are designed with your greatest assets in mind — your people. We’re here to offer you the support, resources, and expertise you need, exactly when you need it most. Our advisory experts work alongside your senior leadership to help understand your current needs and align them with the right solutions. Please contact us for more information or to explore how our expertise in cybersecurity risk management aligns with the specific needs of your company.

Karyn DiMassa

Managing Director | CPA, PMP, CISA, CFE

Karyn is a Managing Director in the IT Risk & Cybersecurity Practice at Centri Business Consulting. She has more than 15 years of combined experience in internal IT audit and external audit support (IT controls), third-party assurance (SOC 1 and SOC 2 reporting), internal controls consulting, project management, IT risk and cybersecurity, and system implementation support. View Karyn DiMassa's Full Bio

Rich Sowalsky

Managing Director | IT Risk & Cybersecurity Practice Leader | CISA

Rich is a Managing Director at Centri Business Consulting and the leader of the firm’s IT Risk & Cybersecurity Practice. He has more than 16 years of combined experience in internal control consulting, IT risk, cybersecurity advisory, and risk-based internal audits and accounting. View Rich Sowalsky's Full Bio

Ian O’Connor

Manager | IT Risk & Cybersecurity

Ian is a Manager in the IT Risk & Cybersecurity practice at Centri Business Consulting. He has more than 8 years of combined experience in internal control consulting, IT risk, cybersecurity advisory, and risk-based internal audits and accounting. View Ian O’Connor's Full Bio