75% of European Enterprises Cite a Lack of Awareness Training a Challenge to Establish a Proper Cybersecurity Stance

The latest data from VMware and Forbes Insights shows organizations across EMEA are deficient in a number of fundamental cybersecurity needs.

Cybersecurity preparedness is crucial today. Organizations simply cannot afford to not have preventative, protective, and responsive measures in place for when a cyberattack occurs. According to the Enterprises Across Europe, the Middle East and Africa Slowly Embrace Cybersecurity Challenges report from VMware and Forbes Insights, organizations in EMEA simply aren’t prepared:

• 83 percent need more budget
• 79 percent need stronger policies and guidelines
• 78 percent lack skilled staff
• 76 percent lack awareness training

While most organizations concentrate on building a strong defense, 84 percent of organizations find traditional security solutions don’t work, with only 28% of security investments focus on reducing the attack surface – as in the case of Security Awareness Training.

According to VMware, 36 percent of European organizations have experienced password phishing in the last year, 23 percent social engineering attacks, and 20 percent ransomware attacks, it’s evident that users and their interaction with malicious email and web content plays a significant role in the success or failure of an organization’s security stance.

Organizations need to prop up a stronger effort to reduce the attack surface rather than simply put solutions in place designed to detect attacks as they occur. Security Awareness Training reduces the attack surface by engaging the user to participate in your organization’s security. By teaching them how to spot malicious email and web content, organizations can reduce the likelihood of a successful attack.