CybSafe’s recent research has brought to light a concerning trend in modern workplaces. Over half of the office workers surveyed (54%) are neglecting critical cybersecurity alerts, primarily due to an overload of digital communications.
Only 23% of employees are actively engaged with their cybersecurity training, while a significant 41% feel overwhelmed by the sheer volume of information, hindering their retention and application of crucial cybersecurity knowledge.
The study’s findings are especially troubling given the 41% year-on-year increase in data security incidents and a staggering 157% rise in cyber incidents, as reported by ICO data. This spike includes notable increases in ransomware and malware events, underscoring the urgency of addressing these issues.
The survey further reveals that digital overload is not just affecting productivity but also leading to a decline in cybersecurity engagement. Employees are increasingly ignoring important notifications and engaging in risky behaviors, such as clicking on phishing emails or neglecting Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) prompts. This situation is exacerbated by the frequent interruptions from notifications and messages across various platforms.
The survey shows that 36% of employees occasionally bypass cybersecurity practices, with 7% often ignoring steps like using safe networks or setting strong passwords. This indicates a need for organisations to rethink their approach to cybersecurity training and engagement.
Oz Alashe, CEO of CybSafe, highlighted the need for a change in approach, stating, “As time goes on, organisations understand the question ‘do our people have access tocybersecurity information?’ is the wrong one. Instead, many are now asking, ‘How do we give cybersecurity support in a way that will engage workers and lead to genuine behavioural change?’
“We must empathise with the workforce of today. Employees are caught in an erratic stream of emails with varying levels of importance and instant messages on multiple platforms, not to mention social media-it isn’t surprising cybersecurity information is getting lost along the way. Importantly, however, this inconsistency isn’t merely inconvenient or irritating— it’s actively undermining the goal of informed cybersecurity behaviour. This is the issue we now need to tackle as security professionals.”
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