Social Engineering Assessments: A Key Cybersecurity Strategy

Technology alone is not enough to defend critical systems and data from a security breach. As organizations increasingly rely on digital capabilities, the human element presents a critical weakness. Cybercriminals compromise an organization's security by using social engineering tactics to gain confidential information from employees. Organizations seeking to educate further and increase awareness of these attacks should perform social engineering assessments to assess staff susceptibility and implement customized training.

Social engineering assessments use various techniques to test the human factor of security. Phishing, vishing, SMS-based, and physical social engineering assessments comprehensively view an organization's vulnerability to social engineering attacks.

Phishing is one of the most prevalent social engineering schemes. Attackers send deceptive emails to trick recipients into disclosing personal information or clicking on malicious links. Phishing assessments simulate these attacks to evaluate employees' awareness and how they respond.

During a phishing assessment, security teams send realistic-looking emails to employees as a common phishing strategy to identify specific weaknesses for organizations to address through tailored training solutions. The email sender poses as a financial institution or online retailer, asking the recipient to click a link that goes to a fraudulent website or will use a fake login prompt in an attempt to steal password information.

Vishing, or voice phishing, involves cybercriminals making phone calls to manipulate someone into revealing sensitive information. Vishing assessments gauge employees' ability to identify and respond appropriately to these attacks.

Vishing assessments mimic real-world threats by having security experts pose as trusted individuals, such as IT support, to elicit personal information over the phone. This method tests employees' knowledge of security protocols and readiness to adhere to them before releasing any information.

SMS-based social engineering attacks, or smishing, occur when fraudulent text messages mislead recipients into divulging sensitive information, clicking malicious links, or requesting personal information. These assessments help determine an employee's ability to identify and properly handle a suspicious text message.

Employees receive text messages from security professionals during an SMS-based assessment designed to mimic actual smishing attempts. The text message usually claims to be from a banking institution, courier service, or other trusted source and encourages the target to click a link or provide information. This technique determines how well employees recognize and evade such threats.

Physical social engineering assessments evaluate an organization's vulnerability to unauthorized physical access to its premises. This assessment helps organizations pinpoint weaknesses in their security structure and provides recommendations on how to fight against these threats.

These assessments simulate real-world attack scenarios, such as impersonating employees, delivery personnel, or IT support to gain entry. Tactics include tailgating, where individuals follow others through secured doors, or dumpster diving to retrieve sensitive information that was discarded instead of shredded. By replicating these threats, organizations can identify gaps in security protocols and employee awareness. This allows them to address these issues through enhanced security measures and employee training.

Conducting routine social engineering evaluations keeps employees aware of the latest tactics and reduces the chance of a cyberattack. It also helps create a culture of security awareness, empowering employees to adopt best cyber practices.

Need guidance? Partnering with an external cybersecurity consultant can provide several benefits, including expertise, objectivity, and a fresh perspective. Clark Schaefer Consulting can help you develop and implement a comprehensive social engineering evaluation plan to establish a more resilient security posture. Contact us today to learn more.