An Investigation of Social Engineering Threats and Employee Awareness: A Study of Financial Institutions in Kaduna State
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Background of the Study
Social engineering is a technique used by cybercriminals to manipulate individuals into divulging confidential information, typically by exploiting human psychology rather than relying on technical hacking skills (Okafor & Anya, 2024). In the financial sector, social engineering poses significant threats to the security of sensitive financial data and systems. Financial institutions, which handle large volumes of sensitive customer information, are prime targets for such attacks. Employees, being the weakest link in the cybersecurity chain, are often manipulated into falling for social engineering schemes, which can lead to data breaches and financial losses (Duru & Ikegbunam, 2023).
In Kaduna State, financial institutions are increasingly recognizing the importance of enhancing employee awareness and training on social engineering threats. However, there is limited research on the effectiveness of employee awareness programs in mitigating these threats. This study seeks to investigate the level of awareness among employees in financial institutions in Kaduna State regarding social engineering threats and how it impacts the institutions' overall security posture.
Statement of the Problem
Despite the growing threats of social engineering in the financial sector, many employees in financial institutions in Kaduna State remain unaware or inadequately prepared to identify and respond to these threats. This lack of awareness increases the vulnerability of financial institutions to security breaches, which can harm their reputation and customer trust (Ismail & Bello, 2024). This study will evaluate the effectiveness of employee awareness programs in mitigating social engineering threats and safeguarding financial institutions in Kaduna State.
Objectives of the Study
1. To assess the level of awareness of social engineering threats among employees in financial institutions in Kaduna State.
2. To evaluate the effectiveness of employee awareness programs in combating social engineering attacks in financial institutions in Kaduna State.
3. To investigate the impact of employee awareness on the overall cybersecurity posture of financial institutions in Kaduna State.
Research Questions
1. What is the level of awareness of social engineering threats among employees in financial institutions in Kaduna State?
2. How effective are employee awareness programs in mitigating social engineering attacks in financial institutions in Kaduna State?
3. What is the impact of employee awareness on the overall security of financial institutions in Kaduna State?
Research Hypotheses
1. H₁: There is a significant relationship between the level of employee awareness and the effectiveness of social engineering attack mitigation in financial institutions in Kaduna State.
2. H₂: Employee awareness programs significantly reduce the occurrence of social engineering attacks in financial institutions in Kaduna State.
3. H₃: The level of employee awareness of social engineering threats significantly improves the overall cybersecurity posture of financial institutions in Kaduna State.
Scope and Limitations of the Study
This study will focus on financial institutions in Kaduna State, specifically examining the awareness and effectiveness of employee training on social engineering threats. The research will be limited to financial institutions that have implemented employee awareness programs, and the results may not apply to institutions without such programs.
Definitions of Terms
• Social Engineering: The use of psychological manipulation to trick individuals into revealing confidential information or performing actions that compromise security.
• Employee Awareness: The extent to which employees are informed about potential security threats and the actions they can take to prevent or mitigate such threats.
• Cybersecurity Posture: The overall security status of an organization, including the protection of its data, systems, and networks from cyber threats.
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