What is the impact of inadequate security awareness training?

Inadequate security awareness training directly leads to an increased vulnerability to social engineering attacks. When employees lack sufficient training, they are less likely to recognize and respond appropriately to attempts aimed at manipulating them into divulging confidential information or granting access to sensitive systems. Social engineering attacks often exploit human psychology, using techniques such as phishing, pretexting, or baiting. Without proper awareness, employees may fall victim to these tactics, unwittingly compromising security and exposing the organization to data breaches and other risks.

In contrast, improved employee productivity, reduction in data storage costs, and enhanced compliance with data regulations do not stem from insufficient training. In fact, without adequate security training, productivity can suffer due to increased incidents of security breaches, and the overall compliance with regulations could be weakened, resulting in potential legal penalties and financial loss. Therefore, the primary impact of inadequate security awareness training is heightened vulnerability to social engineering attacks.