Education is the first step to preventing cybersecurity incidents at your organization, but it's not enough to simply have a staff meeting on awareness and call it good. There are a multitude of reasons why you need to offer ongoing cybersecurity training to your employees.
One of the most important things you can do to protect your company's data is to educate your employees on how to recognize and avoid cyber threats. While all of your security software, Group Policy, firewalls, etc. provide a good amount of protection, every employee in the organization needs to be aware of basic security practices so they can assist in stopping issues before they escalate.
Offering cybersecurity training to employees can improve your security posture and reduce the number of click-bait or malicious links they fall prey to and share throughout the company. Without that preparation, every department and every employee can be a potential threat by becoming the vector that opens the door to a cyberattack.
Why Employee Training Is an Important Part of Cybersecurity
When you provide thorough cybersecurity training to your employees, it helps foster what we call security culture - they'll understand the importance of watching for threats and how to reduce their attack surface. Employees need to be aware enough not to cause issues with poor computer habits such as opening suspicious email attachments or clicking on dangerous links.
Employee training can help reduce the risk of human error, which is one of the primary causes of data breaches. Even if your company invests in top-of-the-line security systems, there's no way to guarantee you'll be 100% protected against all possible threats. That's why it's vital for employees to follow basic security practices.
Benefits of Cybersecurity Training
Saves Time and Money
Data breaches and similar assaults cost businesses an estimated $400 billion every year. The expense of excellent cybersecurity training is well worth it if it prevents even one attack.
The same is true for time involved. If an attack were to come your way, your team would be forced to spend a significant amount of their energy fixing the damage and falling behind on their normal tasks. Cybersecurity training can help you avoid this problem.
Increases Employees' Confidence
A comprehensive cybersecurity training program will improve employees' confidence in your company's security protocols and their ability to carry out these measures. If you give them the tools they need to protect your network, they'll feel more comfortable when they're on their own devices using public Wi-Fi or performing other tasks that could put the company at risk.
Boosts Morale
A strong cybersecurity training program will boost morale. Employees that feel empowered are more likely to contribute positively to the workplace. They'll also get on board with new security measures and help you avoid future damage. As you create a sense of community around these training sessions, you'll avoid finger-pointing and feelings of guilt among team members who might have been victims of attack in the past.
Reduces Stress
Your employees can be a huge weak point when it comes to protecting your network--there's not denying it. If you fail to supply them with a solution, they might experience feelings of uncertainty or dread as they use technology at work. A well-rounded cybersecurity training program will help your team understand how they fit into the bigger picture of keeping your organization safe and reduce the pressure of dealing with intimidating dangers.
Increases Productivity
Just as stress can take its toll on your employees, so too can an unending flow of security alerts and unscheduled downtime. A good cybersecurity training program should minimize these headaches, leaving your team to focus on their work. When each person takes part in the process and understands their role, you reduce the possibility for error and minimize time waste.
Encourages Employees to Report Threats
If your employees are educated on how to recognize real threats, they can report suspicious behavior that may otherwise go unnoticed. This kind of action is key when it comes to keeping your company's data secure if an attack does happen. All too often cyber criminals covertly access systems before anyone even realizes something is wrong.
Implement Cybersecurity Training
Now that you understand the benefits of offering cybersecurity training to your employees, it's time to start putting these tips into action. Look into training programs that will elevate your team and keep in mind that although this kind of awareness might seem like an added expense at first, it is actually a long-term investment.
