Cyber attacks are becoming more widespread by the day. Even with the emergence of highly advanced security mechanisms, hackers are finding new methods of breaking into computer networks. In the past year alone, over a third of online platforms have faced the wrath of cyberattacks. For this reason, it is not surprising that companies are investing more in securing their cyberspace.
Various studies indicate that human error attributes to about 90% of all security incidents. Hackers usually target employees rather than IT infrastructures through impersonation, sending phishing emails, malware, and other similar tactics. With this in mind, it makes sense to create cybersecurity awareness in the workplace by offering a range of training programs.
However, very few employees might be willing to go through training. Possible reasons for this revolve around lack of motivation, lack of executive buy-in, and failure of employees to understand their role as far as cybersecurity is concerned.
Here are the key things you should consider when implementing a cyber security awareness program.
Start with the basics
A good start will determine the success of the training program. With that said, you should focus on simple matters such as password policies, data access, and enabling two-factor authentication.
Empower your employees
Most organisations focus on the physical aspects of security, forgetting about the human side. Ideally, you should empower your employees by giving them a sense of ownership. Doing so will prevent them from violating security policies and encourage them to undergo training.
Create engaging content
One of the reasons why most employees tend to circumvent training is lacklustre content. To avoid this, you should make the training captivating by introducing humour and engaging content. An excellent way to go about it is through using real-life examples that show the bad side of security breaches.
Customise training in line with your company’s culture
Trying to enforce a template curriculum down the throat of your employees is one of the biggest mistakes you could ever make. Not all training programs are the same and using an irrelevant program could be detrimental. With this in mind, you are advised to customise your training program to conform to your company’s culture.
Use metrics to monitor post-training performance
It is essential to establish whether your training methods are working. You can do so by using various metrics such as quick assessment tests to measure success. You may also introduce fun games and competitions to encourage more employees to join your cybersecurity programs.
Make it easy to report threats
Communication is vital when discussing the importance of security awareness. You should therefore keep your lines open and make it easy for your employees to report threats, or ask any questions relating to the security of the company’s cyberspace.
The Bottom line
Cybersecurity training does not have to be boring. You can introduce a wide range of measures to develop an environment that encourages the entire workforce to learn. When the executive, management, and employees focus on developing a culture of awareness, the company can make great strides in enforcing a viable defence strategy.
getNEXT‘s Security Solutions gives you comprehensive protection against any cyber-attacks. Let getNEXT provide you with peace of mind without worrying about data breaches or system downtime and improve your current IT performance.
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