Which of the following is an effective strategy for handling social engineering threats?

Conducting staff awareness training is an effective strategy for handling social engineering threats because it equips employees with the knowledge and skills to recognize and respond to manipulation tactics used by attackers. Social engineering relies heavily on exploiting human psychology, rather than technical vulnerabilities. By educating staff about the various forms of social engineering—such as phishing emails, pretexting, baiting, and tailgating—organizations can foster a culture of vigilance and skepticism.

Training programs often include practical examples, which help illustrate how these attacks can occur in real-life scenarios, and provide guidance on how to report suspicious activity. When employees are aware of the tactics and risks associated with social engineering, they are more likely to follow security protocols, effectively reducing the likelihood of successful attacks.

While implementing strong access controls, limiting internet use, and removing all external devices all contribute to an organization's overall security posture, they primarily focus on technological and procedural defenses. These measures may mitigate certain risks but do not address the human element, which is critical in preventing social engineering attacks. Therefore, awareness training stands out as pivotal in preparing employees to defend against such threats.