We are living in an age of technology. With its overpowering grasp on nearly every aspect of our lives, technology is gradually becoming intertwined with our very existence. In such a scenario, “cybersecurity” has become a topic of great concern and cybersecurity awareness training is more important than ever, especially in industrial and manufacturing organizations where hackers can embed advanced malware into weak industrial and manufacturing systems that often support legacy or traditional hardware.
Moreover, with advancing time and looming uncertainties, many companies are moving the majority of their operations online. However, at the same time, the digital world is transforming into a hotbed of cyberattacks. Per IBM’s Cost of Data Breaches Report 2022, 550 companies experienced a data breach in 2022, and a staggering 83% of these companies experienced data breach more than once. Research by Check Point found that global cyberattacks increased by 28% in the third quarter of 2022 compared to the same period in 2021. The average weekly number of attacks per organization worldwide reached over 1,130.
Based on the data outlined above, one can clearly see that the digital space is not all safe anymore and cybersecurity requires your attention. According to Accenture’s Cost of Cybercrime Study, 43% of cyberattacks are aimed at small businesses, but only 14% of those businesses are prepared to defend themselves. Therefore, ensuring some cybersafety measures can help reduce the chances or extent of potential cybersecurity breaches. You must consider investing in cybersecurity awareness training for your staff.
Why Is Cybersecurity Awareness Training Important?
Implementing cybersecurity awareness training among employees will help prevent cyberattacks and data breaches. When employees understand cyberthreats and are equipped to recognize them, they are in a better position to prevent or tackle them. Per a study conducted by the Infosecurity Group, 80% of organizations said security awareness training reduced their staffs’ susceptibility to phishing attacks.
Staff training on cybersecurity is also necessary to avoid human error in securing sensitive data or information. For example, often, an employee may make an oversight leading to a lapse in the company’s cloud server security. Research suggests that 43% of employees are “very” or “pretty” certain they have made a mistake at work when it comes to security repercussions.
Ensuring your organization is equipped to tackle cyberthreats can also help you boost your company’s image in your industry and land you in the good books of your clients who entrust their private information with you. Your commitment to protecting client data can go a long way in building long-lasting relations with clients and enhancing your company’s reputation.
Finally, cybersecurity awareness training can also favor you monetarily. In most cases of cyberattacks these days, hackers are looking to steal a company’s data or private information with the motive of selling it for a good deal of money or holding it to ransom. You can save your company the loss of money and valuable information by training your staff about cybersecurity.
How To Effectively Conduct Cybersecurity Awareness Training
There has been a monumental shift from paperwork documentation to online cloud storage of information after the COVID-19 pandemic, which perpetuated an age of digitization like never before. To keep up with the current demands and dispel the crimes therewith, employee training for cybersecurity awareness is a must.
Follow these quick tips to effectively conduct cybersecurity awareness training in your workplace:
Prioritize the Process
Consider making the cybersecurity awareness training process mandatory during the onboarding of newly-hired employees. This will help you create a talent pool uniformly equipped with cybersecurity skills.
Keep the Training Engaging
To ensure maximum participation and employees’ attention, make the cybersecurity training sessions engaging by keeping them short and using interactive tools or real-life examples.
Start Small
Teaching too many aspects of cybersecurity in one session would have your staff biting off more than they can chew. Instead, plan your training sessions reasonably with small progressions. By understanding the technicality of the subject and the different aptitudes of your employees, you can derive more success from your training modules.
Ensure Regularity
Conducting regular cybersecurity training will enable employees to retain and follow up with the lessons smoothly. Per USENIX research, employees typically start to forget their training after four months. Therefore, once in a quarter is a good cadence to schedule cybersecurity training.
Provide Incentives or Rewards
Incentives or rewards can motivate employees to be fully present and engaged for the training. You can consider awarding incentives and rewards, such as completion certificates and gift cards to complete cybersecurity awareness training.
