EP 26 - Human Firewalls, Why Your Team is the First and Best Cyber Defense

2025-08-08

"I think the most common thing that I see are payroll or payable scams. That's the most common one I see. Here's an invoice. Click on it and it tries to take you to a fake SharePoint type address where you end up having to put in your Microsoft credentials." Welcome back to the Business and Bytes Podcast! In today’s episode, “Human Firewalls: Why Your Team is the First and Best Cyber Defense,” host John Hansman, co-host and IT specialist Emilio Mejia, and guest Ryan dive deep into the realities of cybersecurity in the workpl...

Welcome back to the Business and Bytes Podcast! In today’s episode, “Human Firewalls: Why Your Team is the First and Best Cyber Defense,” host John Hansman, co-host and IT specialist Emilio Mejia, and guest Ryan dive deep into the realities of cybersecurity in the workplace. Forget just relying on firewalls and antivirus software—your employees are the frontline heroes (or potentially the weakest link) in defending your business from cyber threats.

Through real-world anecdotes and practical insights, the team explores why phishing attacks are still the number one way hackers infiltrate organizations, how stress and multitasking contribute to costly mistakes, and what can happen when a simple email leads to a major breach. You'll hear about the financial and reputational ripple effects of cyber incidents and learn why regular training, simulations, and a culture shift are essential for fostering a security-minded workplace.

Whether you’re a business owner, IT pro, or just someone interested in keeping your company safe, tune in for actionable tips, bite-sized brilliance, and a few laughs as the crew shares best practices for turning your team into your strongest defense against cyber attacks.

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00:00 Importance of Email Security

03:58 Email Security and Training Needs

10:06 Phishing Attempt on Engineering Client

12:49 Reevaluating IT Services Costs

14:25 Monthly Compliance Training Initiative

19:28 Promoting Basic Security Awareness

20:18 In-Person vs Online Training Scenarios

24:23 Cybersecurity Compliance and Responsibility

29:23 Social Engineering Simulations Thriving

30:27 Team Security Quiz & Office Test

34:48 Email Security and Employee Awareness