Organizations often implement robust cybersecurity protocols and practices to keep their networks secure, but many overlook the importance of ensuring their employees fully understand cybersecurity best practices. This raises the question: What is security awareness training, and why must every business add it to its cybersecurity efforts?
Security awareness training educates employees on fully understanding, identifying, and avoiding cyberattacks. The main objective of this training is to reduce the risk of cyberattacks or mitigate the potential harm to the organization and its stakeholders. Unfortunately, many employees are not equipped with the tools they need to protect themselves, making them vulnerable to cyber risks.
Importance of security awareness training
Over 80% of cyberattacks are caused by human error, emphasizing the importance of incorporating extensive security awareness training for every employee. Your training should adapt to your employee’s cybersecurity knowledge and provide useful information they can integrate into their daily lives.
Unless cybersecurity is your specialty, it can be difficult to keep up with the current landscape — including best practices, privacy policies, and device protection. Without proper training, the organization is at risk for data breaches and cyberattacks that will damage its reputation and potentially cause financial loss.
However, when employees receive regular and comprehensive security awareness training, they are equipped with the tools they need to detect and mitigate risks. Let’s discuss what should be included in security awareness training in order to get employees on board with security measures.
What security awareness topics should you include in your training?
Creating well-thought-out security awareness training will empower employees to implement cybersecurity measures in their daily efforts. It’s essential to continue training as new regulations, threats, or best practices emerge. Consider covering the following topics to get employees started in cybersecurity awareness.
Phishing attacks
A phishing attack is a hacker’s attempt to gain employee information or access to credentials by sending emails or messaging that appear to be safe but have been modified. The message will appear in their inbox from a familiar sender within the organization, who may ask for simple information or credentials. By providing this information in their response, the employee will allow a hacker to enter restricted networks.
This is why employees should always check directly with the sender to see if they were sending the message. Knowing how to identify phishing emails and false messaging will allow employees to quickly report them and ensure that all information or login credentials remain secure.
Authentication management
Although identity and authentication management are among the most important areas of an IT system, we found that they tend to be the weakest part of a business’s security system.
When training employees on authentication management, be sure to include the following:
- Creating and managing strong passwords
- Securing passwords
- Using different passwords for each account
- Integrating multifactor authentication
Although password security may seem unimportant, healthy passwords and regular authentication maintenance protect the organization and its employees from potential security risks. Including safeguard requirements like character count limits, using both upper or lower case letters, or special characters for each employee will ensure strong passwords.
Device protection
As more employees continue to use different devices to access work platforms, applications, and information, it’s essential to ensure property security measures are in practice. Every device requires a different set of best practices, and each employee should be well-versed in how to care for their device’s specific security.
This includes tips like using secure Wi-Fi, not sharing sensitive information between secure and unsecured devices, and acknowledging the importance of never leaving a device unattended. Every detail matters when it comes to device protection training to prevent unnecessary cyberattacks.
Mobile device protection
Similarly to general device protection, mobile device protection is becoming increasingly important. Employees who use mobile devices for work should be trained on what is appropriate and what is not suitable to do on the device. This understanding will help them avoid malware or traffic hijacking, a method used by hackers to redirect traffic by manipulating internet routing protocols. Employees also need to know how to detect if an application is malicious, especially if they do not have restrictions on their application downloads.
Social engineering attacks
Social media has its advantages, including the connection it provides. However, one of its most common negative aspects is cybercrime, which has become increasingly popular among hackers. As users continue to freely share their information online, hackers see an opportunity to connect with victims and try to gain their information. Hackers can connect with anyone over social media platforms to exploit sensitive information — such as using fear tactics, a sense of urgency, or false identities.
Employees of any organization should understand that it can also be an opportunity for cybercriminals to find your information. Security awareness training should always cover how employees can manage their devices and profiles when connected to unsecured networks.
Remote work best practices
Remote or hybrid work environments allow employees to use various devices to access applications and services from home. This could pose a threat to the organization’s professional network, as personal devices could access work-specific information, apps, or networks, creating more endpoints for hackers to infiltrate.
Employees should be equipped with updated best practices and common threats to look out for. Understanding how to safely use their devices at home will reduce the chance of a cyberattack successfully breaching the organization’s security system
Implement a security awareness training policy for all employees
Security awareness training is a critical aspect of any organization’s cybersecurity efforts. By giving your employees the resources they need to recognize and respond to cyber threats, the organization can drastically reduce the opportunity for human error, leading to a smaller chance of a cyberattack. Comprehensive and consistent training programs that tailor information to keep up with modern-day attacks empower employees to protect their information effectively.
Contact us today if your organization is considering implementing a security awareness program or wants to improve its cybersecurity measures. We can answer any questions and help your organization improve its cybersecurity efforts.
About Applied Tech
Applied Tech is a leading IT and cybersecurity services provider dedicated to helping businesses protect their digital assets. Our proactive and strategic services include cloud management, security, productivity, and IT growth strategy. With a team of experienced professionals, we provide unique solutions tailored to your IT needs.
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