Cybersecurity Begins with People: The Essential Role of Soft Skills

Humans drive cybersecurity

Cybersecurity begins with people: the essential role of soft skills as the digital landscape grows more complex, cybersecurity is no longer just the domain of IT professionals. It requires broad, human-centered competencies. In their article Humans Drive Cybersecurity, Heidi Myyryläinen and Laura Palovuori argue that technical measures alone are not enough: human judgment, awareness, and communication skills are equally crucial.

The authors emphasize that as cyber threats become more sophisticated, recognizing and responding to them requires more than just software updates. It involves cultivating soft skills: alertness, critical thinking, and teamwork. These are necessary not only to prevent breaches but also to recover effectively when systems are compromised. In both individual and organizational settings, cybersecurity must be viewed as a shared responsibility. This article invites reflection on how training, policy, and culture should evolve to prioritize human factors alongside digital defenses.

Based on: Heidi Myyryläinen & Laura Palovuori (2025), Humans drive cybersecurity. LAB Pro.
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