How To Make A Security Awareness Training Program Work
Posted on: 28 September 2021
The month of October is National Cybersecurity Awareness month. The aim of the campaign initiated by the United States government is to raise public awareness about cyber security and encourage people to take appropriate measures to improve their cyber security posture.
If you're pondering ways to improve your security awareness training program as you get ready for Cybersecurity Awareness Month, we've got you covered with practical advice on conducting an effective security awareness training program at your company. The following are essential elements of an effective security awareness program.
Interactive
Make cybersecurity training interactive so it will be easier for an employee to learn and retain information. An effective way to train staff is to use high-quality material videos, presentations, or podcasts.
An interactive learning format is an excellent way to keep employees engaged as they work through different scenarios and learn how to spot phishing messages. Employers can also use gamification techniques, such as progress bars and points to motivate their workers during their training.
Identify
Create a list of all possible stakeholders, including employees, customers, partners, vendors, etc. Once you have the list created, then you can determine what kind of information that group needs to change their behavior for the better. For example, non-technical employees need different information than customers because they are diverse people with varying levels of access and different levels of responsibility within your company or organization.
Mandatory
Cyber security training is essential for any business. It will help you reduce the risk of cyber attacks and protect your enterprise data.
Cyber security training should be mandatory for everyone who works in your company—employees, partners, and third parties. Include it in your company's policies so that everybody knows what they need to do regarding cybersecurity.
Measurable
Cybersecurity training metrics help organizations decide if their employees are adequately prepared for cyber threats. Keep track of data like your organization's phishing-prone percentage or the number of phishing emails reported. Conduct surveys of various stakeholders to determine their opinions on the program's success. Whatever technique you use to evaluate success, make sure it is clearly defined, agreed upon, and monitored.
Enticing
Rewarding employees after they have completed the training is an effective way to entice them to take the training and learn more in the process. When they know that there is something in it for them, they are more likely to complete the training to get their reward or recognition. After users have completed the task, reward them with a sticker, a certificate, or a chance to win a gift card.
For more information about setting up cybersecurity training for your employees, consult with a company like iON Services LLC.
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