Essential Best Practices for Cyber Awareness Training

“The only rules that really matter are these: what a man can do and what a man can’t do. Savvy?” - Captain Jack Sparrow

With a 28% increase within the year's first quarter, cyber threats have been hitting the workplace harder than ever. And with the percentage looking to increase, it’s time to start throwing in some cyber awareness chat at the water cooler (remember those?).

Cyber awareness should be at the top of every employee's list (yes, we’re talking about you too, Justin from the mailroom). To start a culture of cyber awareness, it’s important to start practicing, well, awareness! By understanding the basics of secure password management, recognizing phishing attempts, and adhering to best practices, it’s possible to have a successful, cyber-secure conscience environment.

Educated employees are less likely to fall victim to phishing attacks or other social engineering tactics, reducing the overall risk of data breaches at every company. According to IBM's “Cost of a Data Breach” report, the average cost of a data breach is $3.86 million, but organizations with strong employee training programs (hey, that’s us!) see a significant reduction in these costs.

Implementing education and including open discussions regarding cybersecurity will lead to enhanced employee confidence. A study by the National Cyber Security Alliance found that 82% of employees feel more confident about their ability to handle cyber threats after participating in cybersecurity training programs. 

Cyber Awareness Curriculum Changes 

The cybersecurity landscape is evolving rapidly, and the topics covered in past years is no longer sufficient. With expanding regulations, emerging AI threats, evolving attack methods by cybercriminals, and the increasing adoption of passwordless login systems, it's crucial to ask: Is your curriculum and content up to date, or are you recycling old information year after year?

We know most programs are fighting for more time to train employees, more budget to run programs, and more tools to measure success in security awareness and Human Risk Management. Showing how many new, emerging, and changing cyber threats and digital risks as well as a structured gap analysis is a good start to creating a remit for change. 

It's time to clean out the garage and reorganize what we teach. Effective cyber awareness training should be dynamic, reflecting the latest threats and best practices. This includes staying informed about new regulations that impact your industry, understanding how AI can both protect and be exploited, recognizing new phishing and social engineering tactics, and preparing for the shift towards passwordless authentication. Ensuring your training program is current not only helps protect your organization but also empowers your employees to navigate the digital world more safely.

Let us help you overhaul your cyber awareness curriculum. Get in touch to learn how we can provide up-to-date, comprehensive training that meets today’s cybersecurity challenges.

Essential Components of Effective Cyber Awareness Training

In today's rapidly changing cybersecurity landscape, the essential components of effective cyber awareness training go beyond the basics and require a dynamic, continuous approach. Here are the key elements that should be included:

1. Continuous Learning: Cybersecurity training should be an ongoing process, not a once-a-year event. Regular updates and training sessions help ensure that employees stay informed about the latest threats and best practices.
2. Embedded Compliance: Make compliance a natural part of your organization's culture rather than a box-ticking exercise. Integrate compliance with daily operations to ensure it is not easily forgotten.
3. Human Risk Management: Cybercrime is one of the biggest risks to business continuity and customer success, yet many companies overlook the human risk layer. It's crucial to support and educate employees continuously.
4. Comprehensive and Up-to-Date Content: The training must cover a wide range of topics, including new regulations, AI threats, evolving attack methods, and the shift towards passwordless authentication. Ensure the curriculum is current and relevant.
5. Personalization and Engagement: Training should be tailored to be personal and engaging. Use interactive and relatable content to maintain interest and retention.
6. Connection to Core Values: Align your cybersecurity training with the broader values and mission of your organization. This helps employees understand the importance of cybersecurity in the context of their daily work and the company’s goals.
7. Effectiveness Measurement: Regularly measure the effectiveness of your training programs. Use assessments, feedback, and analytics to identify areas for improvement and ensure that the training is making an impact.
8. Risk Profiling: Profile your company to identify higher-risk groups and customize training to address their specific needs. This targeted approach helps in mitigating risks more effectively.
9. Coverage of Fast-Changing Topics: Ensure your training includes rapidly evolving areas such as phishing, ransomware, social engineering, and IoT security. Keeping up with these topics is crucial for maintaining robust cybersecurity defenses.
10. Basics Done Right: While it’s important to cover new and emerging threats, don’t neglect the basics. Fundamental cybersecurity practices like strong passwords, regular software updates, and recognizing phishing attempts should always be emphasized.

By incorporating these essential components into your cyber awareness training program, you can create a resilient, well-informed workforce that is equipped to handle the ever-evolving challenges of the cybersecurity landscape.

For more content that helps drive your awareness training program, start here. 

Let us help you design and implement a comprehensive training program that addresses all these aspects effectively. Get in touch to learn more.