Free Cyber-Security Risk Assessment

Karen - Your Accounts Payable Specialist Who Funded Cybercriminals

Karen has been a loyal employee for 15 years. She knows the ins and outs of the company’s finances and has always handled sensitive information responsibly. When she received an email asking to update the ACH bank account information for one of the company’s vendors, Karen thought she was just doing her job. The email looked legitimate—after all, it came from a vendor she had worked with for years.

What Karen didn’t know was that the vendor’s email had been hacked. Hackers had intercepted communication and sent her a spear phishing email that appeared to be from a trusted source. With the company’s payment information now directed to the hacker’s bank account, Karen unknowingly transferred $100,000 to cybercriminals.

The damage was immediate. The company’s financial resources were depleted, causing delays in operations and strained relationships with other vendors. And the worst part? The company’s insurance didn’t cover the loss because it was caused by human error, something that could have been avoided with the right cybersecurity measures in place.

Karen didn’t intend to cause any harm. She was simply trying to do her job. But without the proper training on how to identify phishing emails, she became the gateway for cybercriminals to steal from the company. This story illustrates the importance of educating your employees on recognizing phishing attempts and ensuring they have the tools and knowledge needed to protect your business.

Frank - The Self-Proclaimed "Tech Guy" Who Triggered Ransomware

Frank is your go-to “tech guy.” He’s been with the company for decades, has a deep understanding of your IT infrastructure, and always seems to have a solution to any technical problem. But over time, Frank’s knowledge became outdated. He was confident in his ability to handle the company’s cybersecurity needs, and you trusted him. He assured you that the company didn’t need complex, expensive cybersecurity systems—his solutions were enough to keep the business safe.

But Frank’s confidence was misplaced. His cost-saving measures and shortcuts left the company vulnerable. When a ransomware attack struck, it became clear that Frank’s security protocols were not up to the task. Hackers infiltrated the system, encrypted critical data, and demanded a hefty ransom to restore access.

The attack brought business to a standstill. Operations were halted, customer data was compromised, and the financial costs of recovering from the attack were astronomical. Worse yet, the company’s cyber liability insurance wouldn’t cover the damages because basic cybersecurity best practices weren’t being followed—Frank’s outdated methods didn’t meet the minimum security standards required.

Frank didn’t mean to let the company down. He genuinely thought he was doing the right thing by saving money and managing cybersecurity on his own. But his outdated knowledge left the business wide open to cybercriminals. This scenario underscores the importance of keeping your cybersecurity strategies up to date and ensuring that your IT team has the support and knowledge they need to protect your business from modern threats.

Bailey - The Eager Intern Who Gave Hackers Your Corporate Credit Card

Bailey was excited to start her new role as a marketing intern. She was eager to impress her boss and help the company in any way she could. One day, Bailey received a text message from what she thought was her boss. The message requested the company’s credit card information to cover expenses for an upcoming event. Bailey, wanting to be helpful and prove herself, quickly provided the information.

But the message wasn’t from her boss—it was from a hacker. The text had been part of a social engineering attack, a tactic where cybercriminals impersonate trusted contacts to gain sensitive information. Without realizing it, Bailey had just handed over the company’s corporate credit card to a cybercriminal.

The consequences were swift. Thousands of dollars in fraudulent charges appeared on the company’s account, and the credit card had to be canceled. But the damage didn’t stop there—the company’s financial security had been compromised, and Bailey’s actions, though innocent, had opened the door to future attacks.

Bailey’s story is a reminder that even the most eager and well-intentioned employees can fall victim to social engineering scams. Without the right training on how to verify requests and spot suspicious behavior, employees like Bailey can make costly mistakes that impact the entire business.

Jim - The New Employee Who Gave Hackers Access to Your Network

Jim was new to the company and eager to hit the ground running. In his first week, he received an email with the subject line ‘Benefits and Payroll.’ Thinking it was part of his onboarding process, Jim clicked on the attachment without hesitation. But the attachment wasn’t a form from HR—it was a phishing email designed to install malware on Jim’s computer.

By opening the attachment, Jim unknowingly gave hackers access to the company’s entire network. The malware spread quickly, allowing cybercriminals to infiltrate sensitive systems and steal valuable data. The company didn’t realize the full extent of the breach until months later, when the stolen data was discovered on the dark web.

Jim’s mistake was innocent—he was just trying to complete his onboarding paperwork. But without proper cybersecurity training, he fell for a common phishing scam that gave hackers control of the company’s network. This scenario highlights the importance of training new hires to recognize phishing attempts and teaching them how to handle suspicious emails.