The Importance of Cyber Awareness Training
Providing training on cyber awareness is an important part of protecting your organization from hackers and malware. It helps employees recognize the signs and symptoms of a cyberattack and guides how to avoid becoming a victim. It also helps you reduce your risk of a data breach and improve your overall security posture.
Cyber awareness training is not new, but it has recently gained popularity. In 2004, Congress proclaimed October as Cybersecurity Awareness Month. This effort was led by the US Department of Homeland Security and has been replicated in other countries. The month is devoted to educating the public about the dangers of cybercrime, helping individuals protect themselves from online threats, and educating other groups about cybersecurity.
Today, security awareness training has changed from a focus on how to pass a test to how to improve your cybersecurity posture. Investing in a comprehensive solution, which includes cyber awareness training, can pay off in the long run. The right training can improve employee confidence and awareness of cyber threats, while the right tools can help secure your data.
One of the best cyber awareness programs meets employees where they work. This includes short, focused training sessions on individual topics. Providing employees with practical knowledge helps them avoid data breaches and prevent identity theft. The more employees are engaged in cyber awareness activities, the more likely they are to implement the strategies and tactics discussed during training.
Having the right cyber awareness tools and technologies in place does not necessarily stop a cyber attack. Often, the best defence is a good offence. Educating employees on recognising a phishing email is the most effective way to reduce the chances of a data breach. It is important to remember that cyber threats are constant, and employees may not even be aware that they are being targeted. It is, therefore, important to create a cyber awareness culture, empowering employees to become advocates for cyber security.
An effective cyber security awareness training program should cover the basics, such as password security and social engineering. However, it should include more comprehensive topics such as phishing, password management, and other relevant security best practices. Cybercriminals are becoming more sophisticated, and hackers are looking for weak spots where humans are involved. A comprehensive program that addresses these topics and regular training can help you prevent data breaches and phishing scams.
A great cyber awareness culture can also help prevent identity theft. An auto-locking screen is one good example. A group control can set this feature, or employees can simply manually lock the screen as they leave the office.
While cyber awareness training has gained popularity in recent years, it has not yet surpassed the other more traditional security technologies such as antivirus software and firewalls. This is because it is more complex to design and implement. Many people view security tools as a hassle. A recent survey by Tessian found that more than half of respondents indicated a significant increase in bad cyber security habits.
