By: Tom White
Firewalls, encryption, and sophisticated threat detection systems dominate the conversation in cyber defense. Many overlook that one of the most significant vulnerabilities is in the system. It lies in the people who operate it. Human error is the silent, pervasive threat behind most cyber incidents. According to a study by IBM Security, over 95% of data breaches can be traced back to human mistakes.
This statistic reveals that a single misguided click or poorly managed credential can result in devastating damage despite all the investment in digital infrastructure. GetSmart Cyber Defense, a firm specializing in cybersecurity, aims to illuminate this overlooked danger and reshape the conversation from the boardroom to the breakroom, offering organizations a pragmatic approach to securing their future. If traditional information technology (IT) security companies merely deploy tools and protocols, GetSmart builds tailored defense strategies grounded in adaptive, human-centric methodologies.
GetSmart acknowledges that today’s cyber defense landscape is wholly managed by IT and shaped by the sophistication of external threats and the internal chaos caused by miscommunication, misalignment, and complacency. To the extent that the workforce is engaged, it’s limited to redundant training exercises. Perhaps it is an unfair assumption that IT has the resources to even pick up the slack.
It’s worth noting that globally, a cyber attack occurs every 14 seconds. In 2024, the global average cost of a data breach was nearly $5 million. The implications are staggering, and yet, a culture of denial persists. “If the overwhelming majority of breaches are due to human error, then solving the problem requires more than software. A cultural shift needs to happen,” Rob Yates, GetSmart Principal, states.
GetSmart shares insights from real-world engagements. One example involves a national healthcare provider that believed its systems were secure simply because they had firewalls and used industry-standard software. “We did a deeper analysis and saw that a staggering percentage of network activity had nothing to do with healthcare operations. The issue wasn’t technical. It was cultural,” Ted Alben, GetSmart Principal, recalls.
GetSmart aims to lead the shift by employing a human-centered approach that goes beyond surface-level phishing simulations. It targets the human elements that present risks to cyber defense by implementing its Prepare-Defend-Respond model within business processes.
GetSmart conducts thorough risk assessments, including awareness of policies and procedures, and sentiment towards information security. Aligned with traditional IT security methodology, GetSmart unifies the technical and the human elements in the organization, all designed to evaluate the client’s current security posture.
(Ted Alben, GetSmart Principal)
GetSmart engages leadership teams to align business outcomes with secure operations. The foundation of its strategy revolves around the belief that responsibility and ownership are distinct. “Even if employees act responsibly, if ownership isn’t assigned through policies, enforcement mechanisms, and attestation, nothing truly changes,” Alben adds.
Employees are likely unaware of how their behaviors have created vulnerabilities, especially if leadership has never taken steps to align operations with cyber defense outcomes. GetSmart has observed that in many such cases, business leaders had outsourced all responsibility to IT departments, failing to realize that governance, risk, and compliance must begin at the board level.
GetSmart changes that paradigm, ensuring that every policy has a named owner. “Someone within the organization needs to attest in writing that procedures are implemented and actively enforced,” Yates explains.
Its emphasis on structured ownership and cultural accountability distinguishes GetSmart. Its cloud-based Adaptive Strategy Platform facilitates organizational alignment, bringing leadership, operational teams, and third-party partners into a cohesive defense model. With this, GetSmart can ensure that cyber defense becomes a shared responsibility, owned by everyone from the C-suite to the frontline. This means the platform doesn’t simply install firewalls or run phishing simulations. It constructs an ecosystem-wide culture of defense.
The platform’s intuitive interface delivers valuable insights. Meanwhile, its built-in education tools ensure continuous learning and awareness. Risk scoring and analytics allow leadership to assess exposure in real-time, and its “Digital Persona” services address external threats tied to impersonation and digital footprint management. GetSmart’s approach is holistic, combining artificial intelligence (AI) tools, governance modeling, and education.
GetSmart emerges as a trusted partner for SMBs trying to win larger contracts, meet compliance demands, or qualify for cyber insurance. It conducts assessments, helps draft legally sound policies, assigns internal policy owners, and manages ongoing attestations. This means clients meet contractual obligations and become genuinely more secure.
Human error has been the elephant in the room for so long. It’s acknowledged, but inadequately addressed. GetSmart Cyber Defense pairs awareness with action and policy with ownership. It empowers organizations to take a human-centered, adaptive approach to cyber defense to ensure that people become the strongest link in the chain, and ultimately to return IT to their primary mission and leadership to focus solely on success.
