“In just five minutes, as many as 1,800 new threats can be generated and unleashed; over 800,000 systems can be exposed to malicious URLs, malware, and spam emails; and 6,730 new customer records can be breached,” warned Raimund Genes, Global CTO at Trend Micro, during a recent press conference.
Raimund Genes, Global CTO, Trend Micro
In his presentation, the security expert pointed out that people, aside from technology, play an important role in ensuring security especially now that the lack of security awareness is still common in a lot of enterprises.
A recent cyber security benchmarking survey conducted by Trend Micro showed that less than one in 10 companies in APAC fully understand how cyber attacks are performed and close to 50% of firms do not have security awareness program. As a result, 59% attribute “employees’ lack of knowledge” as the biggest insider threat to cyber security.
Although enterprises are equipped with security solutions, these must be complemented with employees that are empowered against cyber threats, and become defenders against cyber crimes.
Talented employees are key
“You need to have the right people on your team. The strategy needs people and teams. All the best strategies and technologies are moot without people,” Genes noted.
With the continuing growth of cyber threats in both number and sophistication, Genes mentioned the need to empower people against cyber threats through cyber security awareness, saying in every five minutes, they have control of their systems and security solutions.
“You have control,” remarked Genes. “Don’t let cyber criminals take it away from you.”
In taking control, Genes emphasized the protection of server workloads wherever they maybe – physical, virtual, or cloud; detection and blocking of threats which hit data center and user environments to maximize network efficiency; and protection of user activities anywhere on any device to reduce initial point of infection.
Trend Micro emphasized the importance of security awareness or understanding of security issues in addressing or mitigating threats as there is a glaring gap to be filled in terms of IT skills. While 92% of respondents want to hire cyber security professionals, 86% of respondents believe there is a shortage of skilled cyber security professionals.
Education plays an essential role to widen users’ knowledge about cyber attacks and how to better addressed them. According to Myla Pilao, Marketing Communications Director, TrendLabs at Trend Micro, there is a need to modernize our curriculum on security.
