Statistics tell a consistent story about cybersecurity breaches. Simply put, your employees are your biggest vulnerability, with an overwhelming majority of cybersecurity breaches occurring due to employee error. They are the ones who make your business what it is while also having the ability to stop your business in its tracks.
Training your employees in identifying and reporting cybersecurity threats has now become standard practice in many businesses. The key is making sure the training is effective in reducing a business’s cybersecurity risk, rather than just checking a box.
Many well-intentioned cybertraining sessions go in one ear and out the other, yet there are a few steps that can ensure your company wide training efforts actually make a lasting impact.
Best Practices for Effective Cybersecurity Training
Always Conduct “Live” Trainings
It’s all too easy for employees to tune out pre-recorded content, so as a rule of thumb, you’ll want to have active, engaging presentations from your cybersecurity educators. Having everyone in the same room is ideal, but for remote employees, training held over Zoom can work just fine. Always try to make the event interactive to improve attentiveness and retention.
Make Training an Ongoing Concern
Since human beings need to see things often to keep them top-of-mind, one of the best ways to keep employees from forgetting their cybersecurity training is turning it into an ongoing process. Send out regular reminders, hold routine interactive refresher courses, and keep cyber-vigilance a consistent part of your company’s overall culture.
Utilize Cyber Attack Simulations
Working with either your IT team or an external vendor, hold unannounced cybersecurity simulations, allowing employees to react naturally and then evaluate the hypothetical results. Surprise simulations can be a great way to raise awareness, helping your employees to understand just how common (and how unpredictable) cyber-attacks can be.
Connect Training to Everyday Activities
Cybersecurity awareness is more likely to stick when employees understand how it intersects with their day-to-day tasks. Make sure that training examples and simulations always engage with real-world scenarios, including any devices or software programs that are used in your office. For employees who travel, make sure the training covers best practices for working on unfamiliar Wi-Fi networks.
Provide Context and Impact
In cybersecurity training, it’s important for employees to understand not just what they’re expected to do, but why they need to do it. Be sure you explain just how common and how costly cyberattacks can be, demonstrating how a cyberattack can be ruinous for the entire company… possibly even resulting in lost jobs. This is a critical step for making cybersecurity more than just a chore.
Provide Tools and Resources
Finally, while it’s important for employees to understand the severity of cyber breaches, it’s equally important for them to feel empowered. Make sure employees know about all the resources available to them, including access to IT should any questions or concerns emerge.
Create Meaningful Cybersecurity Training Programs
Cybersecurity is critical for protecting your business from hackers and other online threats. Be diligent in creating ongoing training opportunities that really stick. And if you need any assistance, don’t hesitate to contact our team of experts. Reach out to BlueArmor in Charlotte, NC, at your next convenience.