Businesses today are heavily reliant on IT for their day-to-day tasks. So if a cyberattack causes them to lose access to their data and IT systems, their operations can be disrupted or come to a complete halt. That’s why it’s so important for companies to bolster their security posture.
However, implementing cybersecurity solutions and services is not enough to achieve this. Businesses also need to conduct security awareness training for their employees since people are often the weakest link in a company’s security chain. When properly trained, employees are less likely to fall for phishing scams and can better detect and respond to different cyberthreats.
To ensure your security awareness training will be effective, follow these tips:
1. Involve everyone in the organization
Make sure that every member of the company, from the C-Suite down, is included in the training. If the top executives don’t take the training seriously, the rest of the company won’t either. Moreover, top executives are the biggest targets and most impersonated people in an organization, so they need the proper training necessary to minimize their security risk.
By having everyone undergo training, you can start building a company security culture in which everyone has at least the basic knowledge and skills needed to safeguard the company from cyberthreats.
2. Ensure the training is relevant to your employees
When you provide employees with cybersecurity information that they think is not relevant to them, they may quickly lose interest and not pay attention to the training. That’s why you need to do away with IT jargon and overly technical content. Instead, focus on real-life situations that your employees may encounter and offer practical advice that they can put to use right away. For instance, you can teach them about:
- How to create strong passwords
- How to identify malicious emails
- How to minimize the risks of using public Wi-Fi networks
3. Keep the training engaging and interactive
Use engaging methods like quizzes, games, and hands-on activities to make the learning process more enjoyable. Include simulations that let employees practice their cyber skills in a safe environment. Then, reward employees who correctly identify potential threats or take corrective action in simulated scenarios.
When you leverage [company_short]’s security awareness training service, you gain access to customized phishing templates and attachments that can help you quickly develop spear phishing simulations. Not only that, but you also get several interactive cybersecurity modules, games, videos, and newsletters that you can use for your security awareness training.
| Read also: 4 Common types of phishing attacks |
4. Measure the effectiveness of your security awareness training
Gather feedback from the participants to identify what worked and didn’t work in your training. You should also conduct pre- and post-training exams and simulations to determine if the participants have improved in detecting and responding to threats. Your employees’ feedback and scores will help you determine and address areas for improvement in your training program.
5. Give employees the resources they need to stay protected
Provide employees with tutorials, reference guides, and other resources that will help them understand and remember what they learned in training sessions. Conducting frequent refresher courses will also help keep them updated on the latest cyberthreats and security best practices. It’s best to integrate the training into existing processes, such as onboarding and policy reviews.
Moreover, equip your employees with the tools they need to stay safe online, such as multifactor authentication and password managers.
Following these tips is a great first step in boosting your company’s cyber defenses. But for more comprehensive cybersecurity protection, turn to [company_short]. Our seven-layer security strategy will give you the peace of mind that your network, systems, and data are safe and sound. Schedule a FREE consultation with us today.
