Training employees in information security principles enhances cyber threats (from data breaches to ransomware) recognition behaviours and helps guard data.
Centralized antivirus, a robust spam filter, and proper patching can go a long way towards protecting your computer users from the dangers of unauthorized intrusion. One of the best pieces of advice you can give to your staff however is that no matter how many warning signs an email may display or how official a phone call might sound, under no circumstances should they hand out access codes or other sensitive information. Having been on the wrong end of too many phishing scams as an office manager myself, I would recommend telling one’s IT staff to watch out for discrepancies and take any emails claiming to be FROM YOU even if they appear to have your email signature or some other form of identification.
Hackers are fully aware that untrained employees are the weakest link into a company security network.
Cyber security awareness empowers and familiarizes employees with security threats and vulnerabilities that can put an organization’s data information at risk for cyber-attacks.
Why do employees need to be trained in cyber awareness?
It is especially important for all employees in an organization to educate themselves about the latest cybersecurity best practices and security habits.
Cyber security awareness training is important because it helps protect all the various kinds of sensitive information your company has collected as well as helps protect against damage or theft.
- One example is protecting personally identifiable information (PII) that might include anything from social security numbers to home addresses.
- Another example would be helping to cover your company’s bottom line by protecting things like financial data and employee records.
- Finally, a third example includes keeping the technological part of a business from getting damaged or hacked by assailants out to maliciously attack that company’s digital assets.
With frequent security awareness (e.g., about phishing or ransomware) training sessions related specifically when it comes down to recognizing common cyber-security risks, it involves learning about:
- How do hackers exploit human error to steal company data?
- How not to fall for malicious activities and tactics?
- How to recognize a warning message or alert in a phishing link?
- What to do about it if you become the victim of a social engineering attack/hack?
- How to report a security incident?
With an effective as well as correct information security training, employees/security-savvy workforce become part of a company’s cyber security mechanisms and controls.
Cybersecurity should be top priority for HR and accounting as these have traditionally been high-risk vulnerabilities that attackers often target first.
What topics should be covered in security awareness training for employees?
Because human error is often responsible for data breaches, this means that inappropriate sharing on intranets can lead to hackers and other cyber threats gaining access to confidential information.
Moreover, regulators are cracking down and the best way to show them your commitment to data security is by ensuring that employees do not engage in risky behaviour such as having lazily devised passwords and sharing them with visitors, which happens all too frequently.
The top 14 cyber security awareness training topics are:
- Phishing
- Passwords
- Responsibility for Company Data
- Social Engineering
- Mobile Security
- Secured Passwords management
- Unlicensed software
- Responsible email usage
- Ransomware
- Removable Media
- Social Engineering
- Internet Browser Security
- Public wi-fi
- BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) policy
Phishing
Passwords
Responsibility for Company Data
Social Engineering
Mobile Security
Secured Passwords management
Unlicensed software
Responsible email usage
Ransomware
Removable Media
Social Engineering
Internet Browser Security
Public wi-fi
BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) policy
Which are the top “must-haves” Elements of a Successful Employee Security Training Program?
- Know Your Audience
- Storytelling driven security awareness lessons
- Interactive learning material for more engaged audience
Top Cybersecurity Training Tools for Employees
- Ninjio
- ESET
- Hook Security
- KnowBe4
- Cofense
- CybSafe
- Elevate Security
- Mimecast
- Proofpoint
- Living Security
- Lucy
Which are the top 7 Cybersecurity Awareness Best Practices for Employees?
The first step to getting all your employees involved in cybersecurity is by outlining a clear message about what information is necessary for them to learn and know that is related specifically to cybersecurity.
Employees wishing to work in this organization will have to be educated on how to stay safe and secure. This is necessary as the security of its online systems are at risk if said employees don’t follow the required protocol for maintaining their own cyber hygiene – if only for the sake of preventing an attack from ransomware or malicious hackers.
