In today’s cybersecurity landscape, one thing remains constant: humans are both our greatest asset and our biggest risk. Despite increasingly sophisticated technology, human risk, insider threats, and social engineering attacks like phishing,continue to lead the charge when it comes to successful breaches.
In a recent joint webinar, cybersecurity leaders Adam Marrè (CISO, Arctic Wolf), Neil Clauson (CISO, Mimecast), and Christopher Garcia (Product Marketing Manager, Arctic Wolf) explored the growing challenge of human risk and how organizations can better manage it through security culture and strategic alignment. Here are the key takeaways from their conversation.
Why Human Risk Still Matters
It’s no secret that human-driven incidents, whether accidental or malicious, are among the most common causes of security breaches. The rise of hybrid work, sophisticated phishing campaigns, and insider threats have only compounded this issue.
“You can’t eliminate human risk, but you can manage it,” said Neil Clauson. “It starts by understanding your vulnerabilities. Are your employees completing their training? Are they following processes? How are they interacting with sensitive data?”
Creating a Culture of Security from the Top Down
A core theme of the discussion was the importance of culture. Building a security-first mindset across an organization requires more than mandatory training. It needs to be woven into everyday behavior.
Adam Marrè emphasized leadership’s role in setting the tone.
“Security isn’t just an IT problem; it’s a business issue,” he said. “Executives must model secure behavior, allocate resources, and promote accountability across all departments.”
Key strategies include:
- Regular security simulations
- Clear, consistent messaging around responsibility
- Encouraging incident reporting without fear of blame
The Role of Technology: Making It Work for People
Technology plays a pivotal role in helping security teams detect, monitor, and respond to human-driven risks. But tools alone aren’t enough. They need to be designed to support human behavior, not replace it.
“AI can’t solve every problem, but it can stack the deck in your favor,” Garcia stated. “It’s about having the right combination of automation, behavioral analytics, and real-time visibility to make smarter decisions faster.”
Measuring What Matters: KPIs for Human Risk Management
One of the biggest challenges in human risk management is proving progress. The panel outlined several key metrics organizations should track:
- Phishing simulation success rates
- Response times to incidents
- Frequency of policy violations
- Changes in behavior over time
“You can’t improve what you don’t measure,” said Clauson. “Training isn’t just a checkbox. It needs to be dynamic, adaptive, and constantly evolving based on real feedback.”
Continuous Feedback: Staying Ahead of Human-Centric Threats
As threats evolve, so too must your security programs. A recurring recommendation from the panel was the need for continuous feedback loops, the combination of:
- Threat intelligence
- Behavioral insights
- Employee training data
- Cross-functional reviews
“Security is not static,” Marrè said. “The organizations that stay ahead are those that constantly refine their approach. They learn, adapt, and improve every day.”
Better Together: Mimecast + Arctic Wolf
The webinar wrapped with a reminder of the value that strategic partnerships bring to the fight against human risk. Combining Mimecast’s email and collaboration security with Arctic Wolf’s expertise in security operations and managed detection and response can help organizations’ improve visibility, support faster response, and gain a deeper understanding of risk.
Final Thoughts
Human risk isn’t going away, but with the right mindset, tools, and training, it can be managed more effectively. The insights from this session underscore a simple but powerful truth: Cybersecurity isn’t just about protecting systems. It’s about empowering people.
