Recent reports reveal over 2 million VPN passwords have been stolen through malware attacks over the past year. This alarming trend affects not only individual users but also organisations that rely on VPNs (Virtual Private Networks) to secure their remote connections. With the increasing use of VPNs to protect online activities, the theft of credentials poses a serious risk to businesses across all sectors.

Why VPN Password Breaches Matter to South West Organisations

VPNs are essential for securing internet connections and ensuring the privacy of online activities, especially for businesses where remote work is becoming more widespread. However, when passwords are compromised, criminals gain access to sensitive data, potentially leading to significant breaches within your organisation.

A successful attack on your VPN credentials can expose customer information, disrupt operations, and cause financial losses. The fallout from such a breach could be devastating for small to medium-sized businesses (SMEs) without dedicated IT teams.

How Can Your Business Protect Itself?

At the South West Cyber Resilience Centre, we know that cyber security training is critical in helping organisations prevent and manage these kinds of attacks. Investing in your staff’s awareness and preparedness is one of the most effective defences against cyber threats.

Here’s how your organisation can boost its security through training and awareness:

1. Staff Cyber Security Training

Your employees are often the first line of defence against cyber threats. It’s crucial that they are equipped to recognise phishing attacks, suspicious links, and other online dangers that could compromise your organisation.

Our Security Awareness Training programmes teach staff to spot potential threats and take action to prevent them from escalating. Regular, structured training ensures that cyber security stays at the top of mind, helping to reduce the risk of breaches caused by human error.

2. Password Security and Best Practices

Strong, unique passwords are vital for protecting access to critical systems. Through training, we can help your employees adopt the best password creation and management practices, reducing the likelihood of their credentials being compromised.

Password security is a vital part of our awareness sessions, ensuring your staff understand the importance of avoiding weak passwords and reusing credentials across different services.

3. Recognising and Avoiding Phishing Attacks

Phishing is one of the most common methods of stealing credentials, including VPN passwords. Criminals often use convincing emails or websites to trick users into providing their login details.

Our training sessions will equip your team to identify phishing attempts and avoid falling victim to these scams. This proactive approach helps employees feel more confident and prepared when dealing with potential cyber threats.

The Importance of Continuous Learning

Cyber security isn’t a one-time effort. As threats evolve, so too must your organisation’s defences. Regular training and updates keep your staff aware of the latest tactics used by cyber criminals and ensure they’re prepared to respond effectively.

At the South West Cyber Resilience Centre, we provide ongoing Security Awareness Training tailored to the unique needs of SMEs in the region. We aim to empower your workforce with the knowledge they need to keep your organisation safe.

Take Action Now: Schedule Your Training

Don’t wait for a breach to happen before taking action. With VPN credentials increasingly being targeted, it's more important than ever to ensure your employees are trained to recognise and prevent cyber attacks.

Contact the South West Cyber Resilience Centre today to schedule Cyber Security Awareness Training for your team. Together, we can ensure your organisation stays protected from emerging threats.

Protect Your Business with the South West Cyber Resilience Centre

Contact our team today for more information on our training programmes and how we can support your organisation’s cyber security needs.