Why is human error a major threat to information system security?

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information system A woman taking a driver's license test on a computer, an example of a government using an information system to provide services to citizens.

Human error is considered a major threat to information system security because it is estimated to cause greater financial and operational losses than computer crime and abuse, despite the latter receiving more media attention.1

Because modern organizations and critical infrastructure—such as power, water supply, and air traffic control—are deeply dependent on the secure operation of these systems, even unintentional mistakes can have significant consequences. To mitigate these risks, organizations must implement strict controls, including regular audits and ongoing countermeasures, to ensure the integrity and safety of their system resources.1