A castle may have the tallest walls and the deepest moat, yet it only takes one distracted guard to open the gate and let the enemy in.
We once consulted for government agency whose IT director boasted of having “the best firewalls in the region.” During the session, we asked a staff member to log into her email on the projector. In minutes, the room gasped as we demonstrated how her password could be cracked, her inbox spoofed, and her boss tricked into approving a fraudulent payment. The real risk was never the firewall. It was the human sitting behind the keyboard.
That is why in 2025, the smartest investment is not another expensive box, but a free discipline, cybersecurity awareness. October is a world cyberawareness month. Join us as a partiicipant, speaker, or sponsor.
Here is what I teach in free sessions for executives and staff:
- Phishing reality check. I send a simulated phishing email during the session. Half the room always clicks. Then we unpack why. Lesson: the weakest link is human.
- Password muscle. I demonstrate how a simple password takes seconds to crack. Then show how a passphrase, three unrelated words, becomes unbreakable. Staff leave with a new habit.
- Data hygiene. Simple rules: lock your screen, verify links, never reuse passwords. Easy, but often ignored.
- Incident drills. I simulate a “fake CEO” call demanding urgent payment. Staff role-play the right response. They never forget.
“That is how strategy breathes. Leaders who rely on anecdotes run on hope. Leaders who master analytics run on evidence. And in this age, only evidence wins..”
If you want to build resilience, start here: one hour, once a month. No slides. Only lived hacks, simulations, and staff in the hot seat. Leaders, stop saying “our IT team will handle it.” Cyber risk is a boardroom issue. Awareness is the cheapest firewall you will ever buy.
The open gate behind your tallest firewall.
A castle may have the tallest walls and the deepest moat, yet it only takes one distracted guard to open the gate and let the enemy in. I once trained a government agency whose IT director boasted of having “the best firewalls in the region.” During the session, I asked a staff member to log into her email on the projector. In minutes, the room gasped as I demonstrated how her password could be cracked, her inbox spoofed, and her boss tricked into approving a fraudulent payment. The real risk was never the firewall. It was the human sitting behind the keyboard.
That is why awareness is your cheapest firewall. It is not just an IT issue. It is a boardroom survival matter. Join IFIS this year as we observe the Cybersecurity Awareness Conference. Come, see the threats exposed live, learn how to close your weakest gates, and prepare your people to be your first line of defense, not your biggest risk. Please register now
