Major skills gap in Pak workforce

ISLAMABAD:

Pakistan's workforce remains critically underprepared to handle rising digital threats, with a new Kaspersky survey revealing that fewer than half of employees in the country have received any formal training to counter cyber risks, despite escalating incidents targeting organisations nationwide.

The survey found that only 41% of employees had undergone cyber-threat training, underscoring a widening skills gap as companies increasingly shift operations to digital platforms. Researchers noted that poor awareness continues to expose businesses to avoidable breaches and financial vulnerabilities.

According to the findings, 68.5% of employees reported receiving fraudulent messages or emails over the past year, reflecting a surge in phishing attempts that often rely on human error as the primary entry point for cybercriminals.

Kaspersky said 51.5% of surveyed participants admitted making IT-related mistakes due to insufficient cybersecurity knowledge, a trend that companies fear could lead to compromised systems, data leaks, and prolonged operational disruptions if not addressed urgently.

The report showed that 36% of employees prioritised training focused on mobile device security, as workplace reliance on smartphones and tablets increases and exposes organisations to a wider range of potential security breaches.

Another 34.8% considered the protection of accounts and passwords a key area requiring further guidance, particularly as remote work and cloud-based tools heighten the need for stronger authentication practices across different sectors.

According to the survey, 31.3% of employees expressed a desire for training on safeguarding sensitive office data and improving email security, while 27.3% indicated that learning to use social networks safely should also form part of workplace cybersecurity programmes. (WITH INPUT FROM NEWS DESK)