Modern cloud computing platforms allow employers and employees unprecedented flexibility — including the ability to set specific permissions tiers, share documents, store files, and access data from anywhere in the world. However, the rise in cloud computing has seen a parallel rise in the prevalence of cybercrime. Even with top-notch firewalls, antivirus protection programs and other safety protocols, cyber criminals find new ways to breach networks and steal confidential data.
90% of security experts believe that organizations are more vulnerable to insider attacks than anything else. This means that employees are one of the biggest threats to your cyber security, even if they're not aware of just how important they are in keeping an organization's data safe. Cybersecurity training is one of the quickest ways that you can address this threat. This training process demonstrates the importance of cybersecurity, and identifies how employees can avoid mistakes that could otherwise weaken a company’s line of defense.
Cybersecurity is a must for all organizations that participate in the digital world. As an employer, you need to create a proper plan to create awareness within your business infrastructure, educating employees on their role in prioritizing cybersecurity.
1. Foster basic cybersecurity awareness.
The first thing employers should do is create cybersecurity awareness within the organization. Cybersecurity awareness programs, passive reminders and other awareness methods can help employees realize the value of the data they use, and the gravity of the threat that a data breach can manifest. Particularly within a busy or large organization, awareness isn't always an easy end to achieve. However, these same organizations have the bandwidth to purchase expensive security software platforms. By educating employees on the dangers of cybersecurity breaches, you can help your company minimize risk and save costs over time.
2. Provide ongoing cybersecurity training.
Many companies today are aware of the importance of cybersecurity. However, fewer organizations are willing to provide security training and awareness sessions to new or existing employees.
Cybersecurity training should include a digital security awareness course, one that teaches all professionals to use tools and best practices that protect the company’s assets from digital threats. These courses emphasize the types of security employees should focus on. Courses also introduce employees to concepts like social engineering, identity theft and data classification.
Providing employees with adequate cybersecurity training also means offering tips and guides on how all company workers can protect digital information while working online. Employees should know how to avoid malware, and particularly how to avoid inadvertently downloading malware onto company systems. After finishing a cybersecurity training course, employees should be aware of all the security protocols that need to be managed and followed.
Employee cybersecurity training helps you eliminate insider threats that can cause greater loss. After all your employees have taken training sessions, you can maintain a habit of offering new courses as new updates arrive and cloud platforms change. Technology is constantly changing, and you need to be up-to-date with the latest certifications in the industry.
One thing that you need to manage is the selection of courses for different levels of employees. There are many types of courses available; as an employer, choose the training modules that best accommodate the interests and roles your employees maintain and job role of the employees.
3. Set security rules and procedures.
After training your employees, you can set new security rules to be followed when handling data. Informed employees should be able to now assist in helping your organization uphold cybersecurity best practices. To start, you can appropriately restrict access to dangerous social networking sites, restrict the installation of programs without administrative permission and prohibit employees from connecting external drives to their computers.
Out of every 131 emails, at least one contains malware. One dangerous piece of malware can destroy an entire network, and can further serve as a gateway for potential cybercriminals. If hackers are successful in gaining entrance into your system, they can cause significant losses.
4. Evaluate employee cybersecurfity aptitude with exams and regular security briefs.
Executive security training has the best chance to positively influence operations when you make it a continuous habit. This can be done by organizing regular seminars in which you can invite security experts to inform new best practices for your organization.
Additionally, you can exams for your employees, in order to test their aptitude in responding to certain potential cybersecurity challenges. This exam-based training can help you assess how well employees retain what they've learned, and can also give you ideas for future cybersecurity lessons or seminars.
5. Appoint a team of experts.
By building a team of cybersecurity experts, you can enhance your chances of countering cybercriminals and cyber threats before they occur. Furthermore, these experts can help train new employees and guide existing workers in improving work protocols, and aligning their processes with current cybersecurity best practices. You can even appoint a cybersecurity expert in each department.
The number of cybersecurity experts you identify will typically depend on the size and nature of your organization. Larger organizations, with hundreds of employees, may need multiple cybersecurity experts. By contrast, smaller companies may only need one appointed cybersecurity expert to inform daily operations.
Businesses need effective plans to ensure smooth operations, and these plans should include cybersecurity protocols. Your confidential data is precious, and if stolen, can lead to lost time, effort and revenue. Invest in the future of your company — and the future of your own employees — by providing them with valuable IT knowledge through comprehensive cybersecurity training.