User testing in cybersecurity refers to the evaluation of a system or application with real users to identify potential security vulnerabilities, weaknesses, and areas for improvement from a user-centric perspective. This type of testing usually complements more traditional, technical forms of cybersecurity testing like penetration testing, vulnerability scanning, and code review. The primary objective is to see how end-users interact with the system and whether their behavior could inadvertently introduce security risks.

Here are some common forms of user testing in cybersecurity:

1. Phishing Simulation Tests: Organizations often conduct simulated phishing attacks to see if employees are able to recognize phishing emails. This helps gauge awareness and readiness against social engineering attacks.
2. Access Control Testing: Organizations may test if users are able to access only those resources and data for which they have authorization.
3. User Interface Evaluation: Sometimes, a poor user interface can lead users to make security mistakes, like failing to set strong passwords or improperly handling sensitive data. User interface evaluations can identify these potential problem areas.
4. Usability Testing of Security Features: This involves seeing how effectively users can operate security features, such as multi-factor authentication, encryption utilities, or firewall settings. Poor usability could mean that users will bypass these security features, making the system more vulnerable.
5. Awareness Training and Evaluation: After undergoing cybersecurity awareness training, users may be tested on their knowledge and awareness through various interactive scenarios that mimic real-world security challenges.
6. Behavioral Analytics: By observing how users typically interact with a system, organizations can establish behavioral baselines. Any deviation from these baselines, like unusual login times or data access patterns, could be a sign of a security incident.
7. Red Team Testing: This involves ethical hackers attempting to exploit vulnerabilities in an organization’s defenses, sometimes leveraging user behavior as part of their attack strategy. After the test, the findings are shared with the organization to improve their security posture.
8. Password Policies Testing: Users are asked to create passwords that meet certain criteria to evaluate how effectively those criteria are encouraging the creation of secure passwords.

User testing is important because technical safeguards alone cannot make a system secure. Human error is often cited as one of the most significant factors in security breaches, making it essential to understand how users interact with security controls and protocols.

By focusing on the user aspect of cybersecurity, organizations can develop more comprehensive and resilient security strategies that better protect against both technical and human-centric vulnerabilities. This is particularly true of international development agencies and donors who work in conflict zones or in non permissive environments to ensure safety of staff and beneficiaries.

Reference: Compiled from multiple sources.