Workers in Northern Ireland are the least prepared for cyberattacks in the United Kingdom, with a staggering 75 per cent of the workforce receiving no formal guidance or training from their employers.
New research from Herkess Marketing reveals that only 25% of employees in Northern Ireland have been made aware of cyber risks by their employers. This is significantly lower than the UK national average of 39%.
The lack of preparedness comes at a critical time for the local economy. With cybercrime estimated to cost the UK nearly £30 billion a year, the survey suggests that Northern Irish businesses may be disproportionately at risk.
The survey found that there was a clear disparity in cyber risk training between workers at different stages of their career. Digital natives were the least likely to be prepared, with only a quarter (28%) of respondents aged 18 to 24 saying that they had received cyber risk training. Among 25 to 44 year olds, this figure shot up to 42 per cent., but lowered again for those aged over 45, with just 37 per cent saying they’d been trained on cyber risk.
Founder Emma Radcliffe commented: “It’s concerning that so few businesses in Northern Ireland are communicating with their staff on such a critical issue. Cyber security is often viewed as a purely technical matter, but the reality is that employees are a company’s first line of defence and are all equally likely to be targeted.”
“Social engineering, for example, is a growing issue that all staff need to be aware of, no matter where they work, especially as criminals are increasingly using AI to trick people into giving them sensitive information.
“Small businesses, in particular, tend to put staff communication at the bottom of their ‘to do’ list, but it’s absolutely crucial in avoiding security breaches. Good communication is also a fundamental pillar of consistent business growth.”