User awareness training to improve your internal data security posture
Every organization, from SMBs and enterprises to government agencies and academic institutions, can easily become the target of a cyberattack. There have been numerous instances like the Seagate and Snapchat breaches where the erroneous actions of unsuspecting employees have led to a security breach and the subsequent theft of sensitive company data.
Human error: A major cause of security breaches
According to studies carried out by the Ponemon Institute, 25 percent of security breaches are caused by human error. That’s a huge number! Such errors can be attributed to either a failure to adhere to cybersecurity policies and procedures, or lack of technical skills, experience or information on how to recognize possible phishing tactics.
The need for security awareness training
With the rise in the number of social engineering attacks and hackers targeting end-user devices and human assets, enterprises no longer have the luxury of ignoring the cybersecurity education of their employees.
Security awareness must start from within, and management must ensure that members of staff understand the importance of data security and instill in them best practices on how to keep data assets safe.
The best way to do this is by creating and implementing a user awareness training program to keep your staff informed, and your organization secure.
Creating a healthy security culture
To build a healthy security culture within your organization, top-level management must ensure that employees receive basic user awareness sensitization and training during the onboarding process. This training should be mandatory across the board, from interns, team leaders and mid-level managers, all the way to company executives.
The training must consider the extent to which employees interact with the company’s digital assets and should be tailored to address the specific needs and requirements of each employee’s job function.
The user awareness training should also be done periodically to refresh and reemphasize the need for data security and highlight touchpoints that are applicable to the organization and industry.
Organizations can also reward employees who successfully complete the training and continuously employ data security best practices when handling the company’s data assets. This will go a long way in motivating other employees to follow suit.
Use fun and engaging training materials
Organizations can take advantage of the several educational training materials on the market to increase the data security awareness of their employees. The most effective method is hands-on training via seminars or security events organized by local companies or other bodies. It’s also a good idea to host in-house workshops every quarter and invite a computer science professor or cybersecurity professional to anchor it.
How we can help.
The best way to ensure the goals and objectives of a user awareness training program are achieved is by leveraging the services of cybersecurity experts like ThinkTech Advisors. Our experts can deliver holistic training sessions that will equip your employees with the know-how, technical skills and best practices to ensure the security of your company’s digital assets.
