Your Workforce is Your Strongest Security System

For today’s businesses, investing in cybersecurity is not just in a company’s best interest — it’s a business imperative. Effective security can be achieved with multiple tools, including defensive technology and liability insurance, but the backbone of your business’ cyber defense is educating and empowering employees.

Cybersecurity Training

Turning your workforce into a firewall starts with teaching each person how to become a sensor who can detect, assess and navigate potential security risks. Educate employees about how to identify threats and follow safety practices, including the guidelines listed below.

• Sensitive Information Handling: Teach company procedures for keeping data and sensitive information secure, in addition to locking unattended computers and protecting against “shoulder surfing.”
• Email Vigilance: With huge quantities of emails sent and received every day, it can be easy to neglect basic but essential security reviews. Continually send instructions about how to avoid falling victim to common email scams, such as:
  • Phishing scams, which often appear legitimate or seem to originate from familiar individuals or organizations. Ensure employees know how to practice healthy skepticism, especially with emails that request payment details or restricted information.
  • Malicious links, which can prompt individuals to provide sensitive information or corrupt a system upon opening. Remind staff to never click links unless certain of the sender.
  • Teach employees to authenticate email senders by comparing the information provided in the email to information on the official website of the sender’s organization or to previously confirmed phone numbers/emails. Also, ensure your company has a known process in place for employees to validate the authenticity of any requests from senior members of the organization, such as the CEO or CFO.
• Password Hygiene: Provide guidance about safe password practices, such as consistently using complex passwords, frequently changing passwords, and never sharing with coworkers or other parties. Avoid sharing accounts among employees.
• Reporting Suspicious Activity: Ensure all members of your team know how to report any breaches in the above protocols, as well as other suspicious activity such as unusual computer behavior, unfamiliar persons or the unexpected appearance of suspicious hardware.

Continued Education

Conduct multiple training sessions with content that evolves with shifting security issues and strategies. Ensure your employees know your response plan for security breach attempts, suspicious behavior or cyber incidents, and provide them chances to practice both during training and after — such as with simulated threat emails sent by your IT department. Remember to provide individualized and targeted training that considers each person’s unique access and responsibilities with:

• Increased information and testing for employees with higher levels of access.
• Specialized training dependent on whether their department may be more susceptible to phishing, financial fraud, etc.

Empowering & Encouraging

Ensure your appreciation for your employees and their key role as defenders of your business is known throughout your organization. A positive security culture depends on employees recognizing their value and caring about keeping your business safe from threats.

Lead by example, share your own mistakes and celebrate employees’ success throughout training and beyond. This can be achieved through positive reinforcement for completion of training or recognition for reporting simulated emails or, of course, reporting real threats. Positive employee morale goes a long way with any aspect of your business, and security is no different.

Continued practice and encouragement will help make security practices instinctive when a real threat arises.

Cybersecurity Training FAQs

What are the main challenges in cybersecurity training?
Cybersecurity threats evolve in tandem — or faster, even — than cybersecurity solutions, making it a challenge for companies to regularly stay up to date on the latest attacks and cybercrime strategies. Additionally, organizations must have buy-in at all levels, from management to junior personnel, to invest in and dedicate the required hours toward training. Waning interest can lead to costly missteps.

Do different departments need unique training?
Many cybersecurity best practices are universal. For example, most office-based employees have business-related email accounts and work on systems connected to their company, so the principles of email vigilance are important to all. Some employees, however, may deal with more sensitive data and equipment, which can necessitate further training that fits the context of their duties.

When is Cybersecurity Awareness Month?
Since 2004, October has been designated Cybersecurity Awareness Month. While maintaining cybersecurity is a year-round mission, Cybersecurity Awareness Month is a good time to refresh knowledge about the subject and ensure employees and coworkers are following best practices, as well.