Over the last few years, the focus on educating the end user to implement cyber security practices has increased. To prevent security threats, you must educate a workforce that can be trusted for business operations to achieve success.
Since the begining of the COVID-19 pandemic, people had to adapt quickly to a remote workplace which has led in many cases to poor cybersecurity practices and increased business vulnerability to cyber attacks.
To train your users, you can rely on different information security tools and techniques. You can rely on computer based awareness training, user awareness campaigns that can be delivered through posters and videos; phishing simulations, in-person cyber security awareness training, and monthly newsletters.
A well designed cybersecurity awareness training program can use several of these tools and techniques. However, these methods and techniques must be deployed methodologically and systematically to allow you to measure and track progress over time.
It is important to note that the content of your awareness program will depend on the security objectives you have for your company. This means that your program should be dynamic and incorporate new topics regularly.
Why is cyber security awareness training important?
A cyber security awareness training system has proved to be the best instructional method for learning to identify and deal effectively with risky employees behavior to prevent security attacks or data breaches.
Employees receive education to prevent malicious social engineering techniques – especially phishing / anti-malware techniques – from being sucessfull. This training aims to assist employees detecting potential malware while reporting a security threat.
The program should provide timely delivery of pertinent information and knowledge across information security, social networking malware, and other cyber related topics applicable to your business.
Educating your staff through cyber security awareness is very important. It reduces the risk of human error which is the main reason why most severe breaches occurs. If there are employees who do not know about cyber threats, their employer should provide sufficient training to close this knowledge gap.
Other IT security awareness training topics
As regulations change, compliance courses become needed and responsibilities become even more important for staff. Data protection legislation introduced in many countries is imposing additional restrictions on the processing of data.
Breaching such rules will carry out harsh penalties for many businesses. This is why a company trainig program should include topics of susch nature as well.
Why do businesses need security awareness training?
As cyber security risks evolve, focusing on education and training reduces helpdesk expenses while providing additional security investment and protection at home.
Kaesim Cybersecurity can facilitate the implementation and maintenance of security training programs in a cost-efficient format, which can take place through simulation training and re-training sessions on key topics in security and compliance.
A cybersecurity awareness program structure that involves your employees
When it comes to cybersecurity, increasing your employee’s knowledge about cyber defense through a security awareness training program is critical. However, you have to structure your security awareness program in a way that will ensure it yields the expected results.
First, you should know that boring security training is most likely not to yield positive results. This will instead make your employees switch off even before it has started. Effective security awareness training should be non-intrusive and persistent. This will ensure meaningful behavioral change and a long lasting effect.
Your employees are often busy and most times, they won’t have time to attend long security awareness training sessions as it may not seem as important to them.
This is why your training program should not be overly time consuming and should be realistic and engaging, so your employees will not feel the need to avoid it. The importance of the training must be conveyed in an efficient way to your staff in a way that it captures their attention.
Best practices for your security awareness program
Each company has unique needs and demands a security training program structured that answers the 5 W’s (and 1 H) of your company: who, what, why, when, where, and how. You should create a tailored security awareness program designed for your people.
Your security awareness program can include the following topics: removable media, physical security, phishing attacks, mobile device security, public WiFi, working remotely, cloud security, social engineering, internet and email use, security at home.
To build an effective security awareness program, you should follow these guidelines;
- Look for partners and collaborate. When creating your security awareness program always look for a vendor who wants to be your partner. You should choose a vendor that is ready to commit and learn about your company and create a structure to suit your company’s needs.
- Create high quality content. Your cybersecurity awareness program should not be boring. Create training that is relevant to your employees, fun, and engaging. This is because most people have a short attention span and this makes them not look forward to corporate training that is ‘boring’.
- Create personalised content and campaigns for different groups in your company. Each group in your company should relate to your cybersecurity awareness content. Always ensure your content is specific to the different departments with their different roles and responsibilities. Also, ensure this content is accessible.
- Choose the right delivery method. Always choose a delivery method that is right for your employees. To do this, look at the personality of your audience, their size, and the scope you want to cover. Consult with your training partner about a hybrid delivery method.
- Create a plan. Always analyse, measure, optimise, plan and deploy. This helps you know what you want to achieve and how you are going to achieve it. Your cybersecurity awareness program should be well defined. In addition, ensure that your goals have your employees and company in mind. Include topics based on your company’s risk types.
Human error plays a 95% role in most cyber security breaches. This is why managing your company’s employees’ cyber security threats and risk is essential for your business operations. This is essential in demonstrating regulatory compliance and eliminating user-related data breaches.
An important component of a human risk management program is cybersecurity awareness training that is on an ongoing basis. This training should educate the end-users on how to identify and report modern security threats and combat any threat gaining access into the company systems. It should also train your employees on best practices for being cyber secure.
Launching this type of awareness program comes with a lot of questions and some of them may include what topics to include in the program. For such information, you can always rely on cybersecurity companies like Kaesim Cybersecurity for guidance and advice.
How cyber-secure is your business? Find out with our free cybersecurity health check.
It’s a 30-minute Zoom call that walks through a checklist to assess your current cybersecurity levels and provide a short report with some advice and recommendations.