Secure Human Behavior – Managing Sensitive Data

Despite technological safeguards, human error remains a leading cause of data breaches. Employees may inadvertently mishandle sensitive information—sending files to unauthorized recipients, using unsecured personal devices for work, or neglecting encryption protocols.

A 2024 Ponemon Institute report found that 59% of data breaches stem from employee negligence or mishandling of sensitive data. This underscores that data security isn’t solely about technology; it’s fundamentally about behavior.

Even with advanced security solutions, employees must adopt secure habits when handling data. Managing sensitive information securely should become second nature, much like locking doors or safeguarding valuables.

In this post, we’ll explore:

• Why managing sensitive data is essential for cybersecurity.
• The business and cybersecurity benefits of secure data handling.
• How to deploy sensitive data management behavior using Keepnet’s tools.

What Is Sensitive Data Management and Why Is It Critical?

Sensitive data includes any information that, if exposed, could harm the organization, customers, or employees. This encompasses:

• Personally Identifiable Information (PII): Names, addresses, identification numbers.
• Financial Data: Credit card numbers, transaction details.
• Intellectual Property: Trade secrets, designs, proprietary software.

Why Sensitive Data Management Fails:

• Carelessness: Employees accidentally share data via email or cloud services.
• Lack of Awareness: Employees may not recognize which data is considered sensitive.
• Convenience Over Security: Employees bypass encryption or data protection measures for speed and ease.

Keepnet’s Security Awareness Training helps employees correctly classify sensitive data and reinforces secure data-handling practices through real-time nudges and micro-training.

Explore Awareness Educator.

The Financial Impact of Sensitive Data Breaches

Sensitive data breaches can lead to severe financial penalties. Here are three critical considerations:

Table 1: The Financial Impact of Sensitive Data Breaches

The Business and Cybersecurity Benefits of Secure Data Handling

By implementing robust security measures, businesses can prevent data breaches, reduce financial losses, and protect their reputation:

Business Benefits:

• Regulatory Compliance: Proper data handling ensures adherence to regulations like GDPR and CCPA, avoiding hefty fines.
• Reduced Financial Risk: Avoid costs associated with data breaches, including legal fees and settlements.
• Improved Trust: Secure data handling enhances customer confidence and brand reputation.

Cybersecurity Benefits:

• Prevent Data Leaks: Secure data management reduces accidental leaks and insider threats.
• Protect Intellectual Property: Safeguard sensitive business information from falling into competitors' hands.
• Detect Risky Behavior: Use Keepnet’s Threat Intelligence tool to monitor for signs of leaked data across the web.

Discover how Threat Intelligence can protect your organization:

• Explore Keepnet Threat Intelligence
• Watch the Threat Intelligence overview video on YouTube

The Role of Behavior in Data Protection Tools

Enterprises often deploy data classification and loss prevention tools (DLP) to safeguard sensitive data. However, these tools alone cannot prevent breaches.

The most significant security risk remains employee behavior.

• DLP solutions can classify data and enforce restrictions, but employees must consistently label, encrypt, and handle data properly.
• Automation complements secure behavior but cannot replace human vigilance.
• By embedding behavioral nudges and continuous training, organizations can bridge the gap between technology and employee habits.

Why Behavior Is the Key Element:

• Classification starts with employees – Misclassified data creates blind spots.
• Employees must verify classifications and follow DLP protocols.
• Behavioral reinforcement through simulations and recognition strengthens long-term adherence to secure data handling.

Encouraging Employees to Manage Data Securely

Behavior change thrives on a mix of policy, training, and reinforcement.

• Create a Data Security Ambassador Program – Identify and train ambassadors to lead by example and promote data security within departments.
• Host Awareness Campaigns – Organize quarterly or annual data protection events.
• Continuous Feedback and Nudges – Use Keepnet’s platform to send reminders about encryption, data labeling, and secure sharing.

Keepnet’s Security Awareness Educator automates feedback, delivering timely nudges that help employees adopt secure data habits in real time.

Launch Continuous Security Awareness Training

Check out the YouTube video below to learn more about Keepnet's Security Awareness Training Library and how to easily assign training to your team.

Recognizing and Rewarding Secure Data Management

Recognition plays a critical role in solidifying new behaviors.

• Highlight Top Performers – Use leaderboards and recognition to showcase employees who consistently demonstrate secure data practices.
• Offer Incentives – Reward employees with gift cards, extra time off, or other perks for:

1. Catching potential data breaches.
2. Classifying and encrypting sensitive data.
3. Reporting phishing attempts targeting sensitive information.

Keepnet’s Gamification Dashboard tracks secure behaviors and facilitates reward distribution.

Learn About the Power of Gamification in Security Awareness Training

How to Deploy Secure Data Management Behavior (Step by Step)

This section walks you through a step-by-step process to deploy secure data management practices, ensuring your organization stays resilient against data breaches and cyber threats.

Step 1: Educate Employees on Data Sensitivity

Secure data handling starts with educating employees on classifying, encrypting, and sharing sensitive information safely. Keepnet’s Security Awareness Educator ensures continuous learning and reinforcement to build strong, lasting habits.

Training Focus Areas:

• How to classify sensitive data.
• How to encrypt files and use secure storage.
• Secure data-sharing practices (e.g., encrypted email).

Keepnet’s Awareness Educator delivers ongoing training and nudges that promote secure data-handling behavior.

Learn how to Launch Data Security Training

Step 2: Simulate Data Mishandling Scenarios

Simulating realistic data mishandling scenarios helps employees recognize and respond to potential risks:

Phishing Simulations May Include:

• Sending mock emails with sensitive data to external addresses.
• Simulated insider threats requesting unauthorized data.
• Scenarios prompting employees to recognize and encrypt sensitive files.

Keepnet’s Phishing Simulator can be adapted to simulate data-sharing risks and uncover behavioral gaps.

Simulate Sensitive Data Phishing Scenarios

Also, check out common phishing examples that you can use during your security awareness training.

Step 3: Nudge Employees Towards Secure Data Handling Practices

Real-time nudges and clear policy reinforcement guide employees toward better data security habits

Real-Time Nudges:

• Automated prompts reminding employees to encrypt sensitive emails.
• Alerts when attempting to share data with unauthorized recipients.

Policy Reinforcement:

• Regular updates to data handling policies, communicated clearly to all staff.
• Accessible resources outlining best practices for data security.

Keepnet’s security awareness training nudges provide real-time feedback and policy reinforcement to encourage secure data handling behaviors.

Implement Behavioral Nudges

Step 4: Reward and Recognize Secure Data Handling

Acknowledging and rewarding employees for practicing secure data handling motivates continued vigilance and fosters a culture of security awareness across the organization:

Incentivize Teams:

• Recognize departments that consistently demonstrate secure data practices.
• Offer rewards for employees who identify and report potential data security risks, fostering a proactive approach to data protection.

Gamification:

• Motivate employees by introducing leaderboards and badges to track adherence to data security protocols.
• Create healthy competition among teams to encourage ongoing participation in secure data handling activities.
• Provide tangible incentives such as gift cards, time off, or public recognition for top performers.

Keepnet’s Gamification Dashboard helps organizations:

• Track engagement and performance in data protection initiatives.
• Visualize employee progress through interactive dashboards.
• Reward secure behavior consistently, reinforcing data protection habits across the workforce.

This approach not only strengthens data security but also builds a positive, security-conscious culture within the organization.

Step 5: Create and Update Secure Data Handling Policies

A robust data handling policy serves as the foundation for secure behavior. However, policies must evolve alongside emerging threats and operational changes.

Key Elements of a Secure Data Policy:

• Clear definitions of sensitive data categories (PII, financial data, intellectual property).
• Guidelines on data encryption, storage, and sharing.
• Procedures for reporting data incidents or breaches.
• Regular employee reviews and acknowledgment of the policy.

Keeping Policies Up to Date:

• Conduct annual reviews to incorporate new regulations (e.g., GDPR, CCPA).
• Engage data security ambassadors to communicate updates across teams.
• Use Keepnet’s Awareness Educator to distribute and reinforce new policies, ensuring employees understand and comply with updates.

A well-maintained data policy builds a framework that fosters continuous behavioral improvements.

Launch Data Policy Awareness Programs with Keepnet!

Final Thoughts: Building a Data-Secure Organization

Sensitive data breaches represent not just technical failures but behavioral gaps that expose organizations to financial penalties, regulatory action, and reputational harm. While enterprises deploy tools to classify and protect data, employee actions remain the most critical element in preventing data leaks.

By fostering secure data handling habits through:

• Education and policy updates
• Phishing simulations and hands-on practice
• Behavioral nudges and recognition programs

Organizations can transform employee behavior and build a culture where sensitive data is consistently safeguarded.

Protect your organization today. Let Keepnet help you build a security-conscious workforce.