First Online Security Game Launched to Help Educate and Raise Awareness

  • May 27, 2015

IT security vendor IS Decisions has launched the first online game designed specifically to educate and raise awareness of user security and insider threat. ‘The Weakest Link: A user security game’ has been developed in response to IS Decisions’ research that found 48% of IT professionals believe training is key to raising awareness of user security, whilst 38% wanted to see more innovative training content and materials.

The game is now public, following an initial private beta period, during which time the contents have been developed with input from security experts and analysts including Bob Tarzey at Quocirca, Independent Advisor Neira Jones, Christophe Veltsos of DrInfoSec.com and Lead Assessor in Information Security at Metropolitan State University, and Paul Drury of Chatback Security. Input has also been sourced via the community on IT social network Spiceworks.

Taking a question and answer format similar to a ‘choose your own adventure’ style, the game tasks its players to make it through their first month at a new imaginary employer without too many security ‘slip ups.’ A different scenario is posed for each working day, with options for responses. The player then loses points for the choosing a non-secure option, or gains for making a secure choice. The aim is to survive the month without losing too many points.

François Amigorena, CEO of IS Decisions, said, “User security is obviously a serious issue, but we know that it’s often a struggle to educate users on the issue through a dry security policy document or even a presentation. You have to hold their attention, so we came up with a way to try and do that. The idea is to bring a fun element to user security, sneaking some education into a game you can play in 20 minutes.

“That said, we didn’t want to develop ‘The Weakest Link’ (a play on the fact your users are your weakest link) in isolation. We want it to be a credible independent resource for IT people to use, which is why we’ve developed it with the input of analysts, experts and IT people themselves. It’s completely free to use, and we hope that IT people will share it with their users to play to try and drive awareness of the issues of user security and insider threat.”

‘The Weakest Link: A user security game’ is free to play on ISDecisions.com, where IS Decisions is still gathering feedback for the continued development of the game.

Featured

  • It's Show Time

    I am one of those people that likes to see things get bigger and better. As advertised, ISC West is going to be bigger (more exhibitors) and better (more attendees). It’s show time in Las Vegas. Read Now

    • Industry Events
    • ISC West

  • SIA Releases New Report on Operational Security Technology

    The Security Industry Association (SIA) has released an impactful new resource – Operational Security Technology: Principles, Challenges and Achieving Mission-Critical Outcomes Leveraging OST. Read Now

  • Cyber Overconfidence Is Leaving Your Organization Vulnerable

    The increased sophistication of cyber threats pumped by the relentless use of AI and machine learning brings forth record-breaking statistics. Cyberattacks grew 44% YoY in 2024, with a weekly average of 1,673 cyberattacks per organization. While organizations up their security game to help thwart these attacks, a critical question remains: Can employees identify a threat when they come across one? A Confidence Gap survey reveals that 86% of employees feel confident in their ability to identify phishing attempts. But things are not as rosy as they appear; the more significant part of the report finds this confidence misplaced. Read Now

  • Mission 500 Debuts Refreshed Identity Ahead of Security 5K/2K at ISC West

    Mission 500, the security industry’s nonprofit charity dedicated to supporting children in need across the US, Canada, and Puerto Rico, has unveiled a refreshed brand identity ahead of ISC West. The charity’s new look includes a modernized logo with refined messaging to reinforce Mission 500’s nearly decade-long commitment to serving the needs of children and families in crisis. Read Now

    • Industry Events
Most   Popular

New Products

  • Connect ONE’s powerful cloud-hosted management platform provides the means to tailor lockdowns and emergency mass notifications throughout a facility – while simultaneously alerting occupants to hazards or next steps, like evacuation.

    Connect ONE®

    Connect ONE’s powerful cloud-hosted management platform provides the means to tailor lockdowns and emergency mass notifications throughout a facility – while simultaneously alerting occupants to hazards or next steps, like evacuation.

  • PE80 Series

    PE80 Series by SARGENT / ED4000/PED5000 Series by Corbin Russwin

    ASSA ABLOY, a global leader in access solutions, has announced the launch of two next generation exit devices from long-standing leaders in the premium exit device market: the PE80 Series by SARGENT and the PED4000/PED5000 Series by Corbin Russwin. These new exit devices boast industry-first features that are specifically designed to provide enhanced safety, security and convenience, setting new standards for exit solutions. The SARGENT PE80 and Corbin Russwin PED4000/PED5000 Series exit devices are engineered to meet the ever-evolving needs of modern buildings. Featuring the high strength, security and durability that ASSA ABLOY is known for, the new exit devices deliver several innovative, industry-first features in addition to elegant design finishes for every opening.

  • ComNet CNGE6FX2TX4PoE

    The ComNet cost-efficient CNGE6FX2TX4PoE is a six-port switch that offers four Gbps TX ports that support the IEEE802.3at standard and provide up to 30 watts of PoE to PDs. It also has a dedicated FX/TX combination port as well as a single FX SFP to act as an additional port or an uplink port, giving the user additional options in managing network traffic. The CNGE6FX2TX4PoE is designed for use in unconditioned environments and typically used in perimeter surveillance.