Cybersecurity isn’t just about technology; it’s about people.
Reports based on data from the past three years consistently reveal that an organization's employees have become the primary attack vector – human action accounts for 75% of all breaches globally. To address what is the most significant risk to organizations today, you need to deliver a security program with a proven framework that motivates behavioral change and tangible outcomes.
Security awareness is shrouded in many myths regarding its role in protecting your organization. It’s not a one-size-fits-all endeavor when it comes to cultivating a resilient security posture. Your team must feel empowered to adapt to the threat landscape and undertake positive routines rooted in trust, privacy, and shared business goals.
Here are some key insights and recommendations to help you to design your security awareness training program.
WHAT IS SECURITY AWARENESS TRAINING?
Security awareness training instructs employees, contractors, partners, and other involved parties on protecting sensitive information from cyber threats.
These programs equip users and employees with insights into their part in preventing security breaches, facilitating a collective understanding of sound cyber practices. An effective program not only underscores the potential security pitfalls tied to employee actions but also educates your team on recognizing a wide array of cyber threats that can come through from email and web interactions.
WHY IS SECURITY AWARENESS TRAINING NECESSARY?
Security awareness training is instrumental in helping your organization mitigate risks related to the human dimension of cybersecurity and in establishing a pervasive culture deeply attuned to security across every business segment.
Protect Data
By implementing a security awareness program, you can bolster your information security, safeguarding sensitive data like personally identifiable information (PII), intellectual property (IP), and access to confidential accounts, including bank accounts. This training also guarantees that employees adhere to industry-specific or regional data privacy regulations, such as GDPR, contributing to a responsible and compliant work environment.
Improve Cyber Defense
While your technological defenses stand as valuable tools in preventing breaches, their efficacy significantly hinges on human involvement. Think about it: activating firewalls, responding to security warnings, or ensuring software updates. These are all vital human-led efforts in averting potential security risks. Without comprehensive security awareness training and cybersecurity education, the impact of your technologies is considerably limited. Therefore, security awareness training is pivotal in empowering individuals within your operations to optimize digital and physical defenses.
Foster Security Culture
Building a security-centric culture goes beyond handing out playbooks, dodging phishing emails, or delivering password management tutorials. It’s about weaving a safety net into the organization's very fabric, where each employee is a vigilant guardian of their well-being. Through precisely tailored cybersecurity awareness training, you initiate a transformative shift in mindset, turning security from ‘someone else’s problem’ into a collective ‘my problem.’
This training doesn’t just provide employees with a broad awareness of potential threats; it instills a sense of empowerment to act if they sense something amiss. The goal is to create an environment where sound cyber hygiene is second nature, streamlining the entire organization’s security efforts and liberating valuable time and energy for the core business.
Meet Compliance Standards
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) explicitly highlights Security Awareness Training as a pivotal element in a holistic cybersecurity program. According to NIST, organizations must ensure “personnel and partners are provided cybersecurity awareness education and are trained to perform their cybersecurity-related duties and responsibilities consistent with related policies, procedures, and agreements.”
Depending on your business type, numerous certifications come into the picture, including:
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- ISO/IEC 27001: Information Security Management
- PCI-DSS – Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard
- GLBA – Gramm Leach Bliley Act
- FISMA – Federal Information Security Management Act & NIST SP 800-53
- GDPR – General Data Protection Regulation
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Thus, security awareness training becomes your lynchpin in meeting compliance requirements, where your employees can transform into vigilant guardians — not merely fulfilling mandates but instilling a culture of proactive cyber resilience.
Build Customer Trust
Cybersecurity awareness training goes beyond being a perfunctory checkbox in the checklist; it can also be a tool to build customer trust. The findings from a Ponemon study revealed that 31% of consumers opted to sever ties with the breached entity after a data breach. Furthermore, 65% indicated a decline in trust in the organization after experiencing one or more breaches.
Therefore, when engaging with customers, cybersecurity awareness should be included as a discussion point and offer insight into the organization’s capabilities to monitor threats, analyze long-term cybersecurity impact, and uphold the workforce’s cyber resilience and awareness.
TRUST GSI FOR CYBERSECURITY AWARENESS TRAINING
Neglecting regular cybersecurity awareness training can result in severe repercussions for your business, including legal penalties, financial setbacks for remediation, intellectual property loss, damage to the company’s reputation, and a decline in customer trust. Ultimately, your company’s cybersecurity strategy is as robust as its weakest link—your employees.
GSI is committed to your security with our state-of-the-art cybersecurity awareness training and innovative simulated phishing solutions. From interactive training modules to detailed reporting/analytics, our approach involves deploying various tools and techniques to educate and empower your employees, ensuring they grasp the daily cyber-risks your business encounters. This, in turn, enhances their awareness of the impact on your business and clarifies their roles and responsibilities in safeguarding digital assets.
Contact us today for a complimentary consultation – and begin your journey towards a more secure and resilient cybersecurity posture.