Islamabad — Only 41% of professionals in Pakistan have received formal training on digital threats, according to a new regional survey conducted by Kaspersky. The findings highlight significant gaps in workplace awareness as cyber incidents linked to human error continue to rise.
The survey, titled Cybersecurity in the Workplace: Employee Knowledge and Behavior, covered professionals across the Middle East, Türkiye and Africa (META) region.
Cybersecurity training in Pakistan and exposure to scams
The survey found that 68.5% of Pakistani professionals encountered scam messages over the past year, often disguised as communications from colleagues, employers or suppliers. Around 40% reported facing negative consequences after interacting with such deceptive messages.
These attacks largely rely on social engineering tactics that exploit trust and urgency rather than technical vulnerabilities. Other common risks linked to human error included weak passwords, data leaks, unpatched systems, and unsecured devices.
Human error remains a major factor in cyber incidents
More than half of the respondents (51.5%) admitted they had made IT-related mistakes due to a lack of cybersecurity knowledge. When asked about the most effective ways to improve awareness, 32% identified training as the preferred option, while others cited learning through real threat cases and awareness of legal responsibility.
The results indicate that employee education plays a central role in reducing cyber risks within organizations.
Priority areas for cybersecurity training in Pakistan
When participants were asked to select specific training areas, 36% prioritized mobile device security, followed by account and password security (34.8%). Protection of confidential work data and email security were each selected by 31.3% of respondents, while 30.8% chose website and internet security.
Training on the safe use of social networks and messaging platforms was selected by 27.3%, secure remote work by 25.8%, and the use of AI-based tools such as chatbots by 25.5%. Nearly 20% of respondents said they preferred comprehensive training covering all areas.
Kaspersky official comments on employee awareness
Commenting on the findings, Rashed Al Momani, General Manager for the Middle East and Pakistan at Kaspersky, said cybersecurity awareness should not be limited to IT departments and that employees at all levels need to understand digital risks.
The survey also highlighted the importance of internal reporting mechanisms for suspicious activity and encouraging employees to adopt safer digital habits.
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