Despite feeling confident that your team was well-equipped to recognize and fend off phishing attempts, devastating consequences struck five or six months later when a member of the company unknowingly opened the door for ransomware. Fortunately they were able to recover their losses – but not without paying an expensive price. This could have avoided by training their employees on Cybersecurity Awareness.
Despite reviewing security information regularly, many organizations still experience an alarming number of incidents. But the real problem might not be knowledge gaps–it could simply be a lack of ongoing training. Without frequent refreshers and reminders on best practices, employees can become complacent or forgetful in their behavior online!
Without reinforcements, people can easily forget things they’ve learned in the past. This means that behavior changes are hard to achieve and maintain over time if not regularly reinforced through training.
To keep your team’s cyber safety skills sharp, every four months is the perfect amount of training. This frequency leads to marked and lasting improvements in IT security that you can count on!
How can we remain vigilant in protecting ourselves and our data from cyber threats?
Recent studies presented at USENIX SOUPS security conference revealed an interesting correlation – individuals trained on phishing awareness and IT security every four months were far more likely to detect suspicious emails than those who had less frequent sessions. This brings new insight into the importance of continual education when it comes to online safety.
Employees took phishing identification tests at several different time increments:
4-months
6-months
8-months
10-months
12-months
After their initial anti-phishing training, employees showed great promise in being able to spot and prevent malicious emails. Unfortunately, the skills acquired did not continue over time – as evidenced by a steady decline in correctly identifying phishing attempts after 6 months had passed.
Employees are the key to a successful cybersecurity strategy – keep them informed and up-to-date with regular training so they can be an active part of defending your data! Refresh their security awareness knowledge periodically to ensure they stay prepared.
It’s essential to create a cybersecure culture in the workplace
With so much of our lives and information online, security is increasingly more important. That’s why creating a cybersecure culture in the workplace should be paramount – ensuring that everyone understands their part to play when it comes to safeguarding sensitive data, recognizing potential phishing scams, and keeping password protection top-of-mind.
Despite the prevalence of cyberattacks, research has shown that inadequate security habits are one of the main culprits behind network vulnerabilities. Per Sophos’ 2021 Threat Report, many organizations still fail to prioritize important safety measures- leaving them exposed and at risk for dangerous incidents.
The report states the following, "Neglecting proper security protocols has proven to be an alarmingly common factor in some of the most destructive cyberattacks".
A well-prepared workforce is essential for any business seeking to safeguard itself against cyber threats. Instead of dedicating a full day of cybersecurity training, mixing up delivery methods can be an effective way to ensure employees are properly equipped with the knowledge and tools needed to protect their organization.
Here are some examples of engaging ways to train employees on cybersecurity. You can include these in your training plan:
Self-service videos that get emailed once per month
Team-based roundtable discussions
Security “Tip of the Week” in company newsletters or messaging channels
Training session given by an IT professional
Simulated phishing tests
Cybersecurity posters
Celebrate Cybersecurity Awareness Month in October
Training your employees on the dangers of phishing is essential, but there are plenty more threats to discuss. Through a comprehensive awareness program, you can arm staff with knowledge about other risks and how best to stay safe online. From cybersecurity fundamentals to social engineering techniques—both common topics in modern security training sessions—it’s important that everyone stays up-to-date on the latest tools needed for digital safety.
As technology advances, so do the methods of cyber criminals
Cybercriminals have expanded beyond email phishing to more sophisticated tactics, such as smishing and social media-based attacks. To stay one step ahead of the game, it’s essential that employees learn how to spot a scam so they can protect themselves from malicious schemes.
Keeping our credentials and passwords secure is vital today
Companies have made a significant shift in recent years towards utilizing cloud-based platforms for their data and operations. Unfortunately, these tools are often vulnerable to credential theft – the most straightforward way of breaking into SaaS environments.
Credential theft is the biggest threat businesses face in terms of data breaches. Due to this, it’s essential for your team to be up-to-date with security measures – like using strong passwords and a business password manager – as these tools can help protect their information from malicious cybercrime activity.
When it comes to safeguarding your data
The modern workplace is increasingly reliant on mobile technology, with employees able to complete an ever-increasing range of tasks from anywhere. Organizations no longer settle for desktop software – they’re looking for solutions that make the most of our always-connected world via top quality mobile apps.
Protecting your business data and applications from security threats starts with taking a few key steps. By implementing passcodes on employee devices and ensuring they are always up to date, you can ensure the highest degree of protection against potential vulnerabilities.
Keeping data safe is a must-have these days
As technology advances, so too do the rules and regulations governing data privacy. Companies must continuously stay abreast of new requirements to ensure they remain compliant with an increasingly complex web of legislation.
By investing in continual training on data handling and security, you can help safeguard your organization against the heartbreaking costs of a potential breach. Guarding your company’s sensitive information will ensure it remains safe from any unexpected compliance penalties.
Don’t let your team slip up on cyber safety
Let us customize an engaging training program for your team, so you can step away from the tedious task of cybersecurity training and focus on other aspects. This carefully designed course will help instill good cyber hygiene habits among your personnel – leaving them more secure than ever!
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