The world is entering a new era of cyber threats - one where attacks are faster, smarter, and increasingly politically motivated. While attackers leverage sophisticated tools like ransomware, DDoS, and AI-powered misinformation, one powerful defense remains underutilized: humans.

Cybercrime is booming: The stakes are higher than ever

By 2028, global damages from cyberattacks are expected to reach a staggering $13.82 trillion from $9.22 trillion estimated for 2024 (Statista). In the European Union alone, over 11,000 major cyber incidents have been recorded, with the most targeted sectors including:

• Critical infrastructure (healthcare, telecom, energy)
• Public institutions and government
• Financial services
• Digital infrastructure and manufacturing

These attacks are not just about stealing money anymore. They’re designed to undermine democracies, spread misinformation, and disrupt societal trust often coordinated by state-backed actors in geopolitical conflicts.

From weak link to strongest asset: Humans in cyber defense

There’s the saying in cybersecurity: that humans are the weakest link. But the truth is, when properly empowered and trained, humans are the strongest link.

Most successful cyberattacks still rely on social engineering - tricking people into clicking links, sharing credentials, or overriding protocols. This means the human layer isn’t a vulnerability - it’s the front line.

“By 2028, global cost of cybercrime is expected to reach a staggering $13.82 trillion.” (Statista, 2024)

Cyberdefense isn’t just about tools - it’s about values, ethics, and trust. Artificial Intelligence lacks context, empathy, and moral judgment. That’s why building a cybersecurity mindset - rooted in awareness and shared responsibility - is critical.

SMEs are left behind - and that’s a problem

Many small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) don’t have the resources or personnel to protect themselves adequately. With fragmented defense systems and growing attack surfaces, they’re becoming soft targets for cybercriminals.

It’s time to change that by:

• Offering accessible and scalable cybersecurity awareness training
• Focusing on human-centric simulations (e.g., deepfake calls, phishing, AI-based attacks)
• Building a shared ecosystem of proactive defense and intelligence

Large enterprises remain vulnerable

‍Despite having dedicated security teams and budgets, many big organizations still fall victim to sophisticated attacks - from ransomware incidents that shut down operations to deepfake-enabled fraud targeting executives. The scale and complexity of these organizations often create gaps between departments, making it harder to detect and respond quickly to threats. Regulatory pressure is increasing (NIS2, DORA), but compliance alone doesn't guarantee security. Without a human-centric defense strategy - one that combines AI-powered tools with continuous employee training -even the most advanced security infrastructure can be breached.

Rethinking cyber defense: Faster, smarter, human-centered

Unlike traditional military defense, cybersecurity must be:

✅ Faster - able to adapt in real time
✅ Collaborative - between public and private sectors
✅ Proactive - anticipate threats, not just react
✅ Education-first - make awareness part of daily operations

The future of cybersecurity isn’t just tech. It’s people who understand the risks, act mindfully, and are empowered to respond. Read the latest CISO portraits to understand what moves leading CISOs.

Conclusion: Build resilience where it matters most

As the digital threat landscape evolves, so must we. To create real resilience, we need to stop relying solely on firewalls and start investing in the human firewall. Let’s turn awareness into action and people into the strongest link in cybersecurity.

Want to test your team against deepfake attacks? Book a demo with revel8 →