Decisions made by employees in cybersecurity-related situations are often influenced by deep psychological factors. Although many companies focus on technology to maintain cybersecurity, they often overlook human factors. However, psychological factors such as stress, fatigue, cognitive bias, and risk perception can influence how employees respond to cyber threats. In this article, we will discuss some of the key psychological factors that influence cybersecurity decisions and their impact on businesses.
High work pressure often causes employees to make careless decisions. When employees feel pressured to meet tight deadlines or work under high-stress conditions, they tend to neglect safety measures. For example, they may rush to open emails without thinking twice, increasing the risk of phishing attacks.
Studies show that employees working under stress are more likely to make mistakes in identifying cyber threats, especially if security training is inadequate. Therefore, companies should monitor employee workloads and provide support to reduce stress.
Read: Improving Cybersecurity Behavior Among SME Employees
Cognitive bias is a tendency in thinking that can influence decision-making. In the context of cybersecurity, some common cognitive biases that influence employees include:
Confirmation Bias: Employees may ignore signs of threats because they are already convinced that the company's security system is strong.
Overconfidence Bias: Overconfidence in personal security capabilities can cause employees to underestimate threats that are actually significant.
Recency Bias: Employees may be more alert to recent threats but overlook older threats that are still relevant.
Overcoming these biases requires ongoing training designed to help employees recognize irrational thought patterns they may have when dealing with security threats.
Risk perception varies from person to person, and this greatly influences how they respond to cybersecurity threats. Some employees may not fully understand the consequences of a cyberattack and assume that the risk of being attacked is low. As a result, they may not feel the urgency to follow established security procedures.
Factors such as age, technological background, and work experience also play a role in shaping risk perception. Companies need to communicate the real consequences of security breaches, such as data loss or financial loss, to raise employee awareness about the importance of cybersecurity.
Security fatigue is a phenomenon in which employees become tired of complex and constant security rules and guidelines. If employees are constantly asked to follow lengthy and complicated security procedures, they may feel exhausted and eventually begin to ignore these procedures.
This fatigue can lead to cutting corners in security measures, such as using weak passwords or not verifying suspicious emails. To overcome security fatigue, companies can implement automated systems that make the security process more efficient and user-friendly.
Work culture within a company can have a major impact on cybersecurity decisions. If an organization does not have a culture that supports security compliance, employees may be reluctant to report security incidents or take the necessary measures. Social pressure from coworkers can also influence how employees respond to cyber threats.
For example, if an employee sees their colleagues not following security protocols, they may feel comfortable doing the same. Conversely, if security is considered a shared responsibility and there is a culture of mutual protection, employees are more likely to make safer decisions.
A lack of cybersecurity training and education can hinder employees' ability to make the right decisions. Employees who are not adequately trained tend to be unaware of potential threats, such as phishing emails or malware. In addition, if training is too technical or irrelevant to employees' roles, they tend not to understand it or feel that security is not their responsibility.
Effective training should be tailored to employees' needs and level of understanding, using relevant and comprehensive simulations. Employees need to feel that they have an important role to play in maintaining the security of the organization.
Read: How Behavioural Science Reduces Human Error & Improves Cyber Security
Psychological factors play an important role in decision-making related to cybersecurity in the workplace. Stress, cognitive biases, risk perception, and fatigue can all lead to poor decisions that increase risk for the company. To mitigate the impact of these factors, companies must pay attention to employee well-being, provide effective training, and build a work culture that supports security compliance. With the right approach, organizations can better mitigate risks arising from human factors and maintain strong cybersecurity.