Security awareness training is a proven educational approach for reducing risky employee IT behaviors that can lead to security compromises. Through the efficient delivery of relevant information and knowledge verification on subjects including information security, social engineering, malware, and industry-specific compliance topics, security awareness training increases employee resilience to cyber attacks at home, on the move, and at the office.

By participating in security awareness training, employees learn to avoid phishing and other types of social engineering cyberattacks, spot potential malware behaviors, report possible security threats, follow company IT policies and best practices, and adhere to any applicable data privacy and compliance regulations (GDPR, PCI DSS, HIPAA, etc.)

With human error playing a part in so many security breaches – more than 90%, according to a recent study – it’s no wonder companies are pouring so much money into cyber security awareness training for employees. Unfortunately, this investment in awareness training doesn’t seem to be paying off. Companies today are even more likely to experience a major breach than they were four years ago.

Most cyber security awareness training for employees is, to be blunt, boring. And when employees are bored, they can’t engage with the content. They’re less likely to remember, let alone master, the critical best practices that could make them your greatest security asset rather than your weakest security link.

Types of Cyber Security threats

Cybercrime takes on various forms, some more sophisticated than others. Among the most common attack methods include:

• Phishing: in which criminals attempt to harvest confidential data by tricking email recipients into clicking a link or downloading an attachment; often resulting in downloaded malware or logging into fraudulent banking/social media websites.

• Spyware: downloaded software that allows criminals to secretly observe their device activity.

• Ransomware: a method that currently sits atop Australia’s most popular digital threats, where criminals remotely infect a device and demand a fee to recover your system, files, and confidential data.

Make Cybersecurity Awareness an Ongoing Conversation

On average, corporate workers spend up to a quarter of their workday on email-related tasks. This makes a one-shot email message about cybersecurity a poor choice, since they may not be able to appreciate the significance or absorb the information in one sitting.

Here are some best practices to take with outlining a cybersecurity announcement to your employees:

• Use different approaches to cybersecurity education, such as regular announcements or newsletter updates.
• For each update, follow the KISS rule: Keep It Short and Simple. This way they can glean the message and retain the information amid their hectic day.
• Follow current trends. If there’s a new type of crypto-malware or exploit that crashes phones with a single message, make sure it reaches your members.
• Use eye-catching tactics each time to get them to absorb the message. Instead of listing dry statistics or do’s and don’ts, try colorful infographics. For long topics, try a video explanation.
• You can even try cybersecurity tests to see if the lessons stick. For example, as part of its email safety education, HP sends out test phishing messages and congratulates employees that report it to IT.

Cyber security tips when working from home

With remote workers especially vulnerable due to a lack of company-wide security, an awareness of proper, home-based cybersecurity is more crucial than ever.

Work-from-home employees are encouraged to stay vigilant on the latest pandemic-related scams; such as e-mail messages, texts, and websites purporting to hold the newest medical information. Implementing strong, complex passwords across your devices is also a critical practice – ensuring you use a different one for each online account. This keeps criminals from unlocking all your profiles using a single, recycled passcode.

Multi-factor authentication additionally offers users a simple, extra layer of security by requiring them to submit multiple proofs of identification; these typically being something a user knows (i.e. a password or PIN), possesses (i.e. a token or security card), and biological evidence (i.e. a retina scan or fingerprint).

Finally, turning on automatic updates for your software and operating system is a must; ensuring they’re equipped with the latest security tools and features for better, stronger protection. This is often one of the simplest – yet most overlooked – practice for cybersecurity, as users tend to delay or procrastinate updates, resulting in vulnerable data and devices.

Training your employees about cybersecurity awareness allows them to understand how they play a role in protecting your company. . Rather than being just another cog in the organization, they are the first set of eyes that guard against external threats. By encouraging vigilance and good cybersecurity awareness, is something that they can carry well beyond the confines of the office, even after things return to normal.