Phishing attacks and social engineering scams continue to exploit the weakest link in cybersecurity: human error. With 80% of organizations reporting that security awareness training has significantly reduced phishing susceptibility, the benefits of cybersecurity training are clear.
Find out what security awareness training covers, and its benefits for small and large organizations alike.
What Is Security Awareness Training?
Security awareness training is a structured educational program designed to equip employees with essential knowledge and skills for protecting an organization’s sensitive information and IT infrastructure.
Training comes in various formats but shares a common goal: to help employees recognize and respond to potential threats like phishing, hacking attempts, and data breaches.
A comprehensive training program covers multiple aspects of cybersecurity, providing employees with a well-rounded understanding of safe data management and secure online practices.
For many companies, security training is also a regulatory requirement. Organizations that handle personal data may need to meet compliance standards, such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) or the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), which mandate regular cybersecurity training.
Why Security Awareness Training Is Important
Security breaches often stem from human error, which remains a key vulnerability in today’s organizations. In fact, a staggering 68% of all breaches have a human element involved, underscoring the critical need for a comprehensive security awareness training program, reports Verizon in its Data Breach Investigations Report.
What’s concerning is just how quickly employees can fall victim to phishing attempts. After opening a phishing email, the median time to click a malicious link is only 21 seconds. From there, it takes a mere 28 seconds more for the individual to enter sensitive information, leaving the company exposed in under a minute.
Research by Stanford University and Tessian shows that nearly 9 out of 10 (88%) of data breaches result from mistakes made by employees. Yet, over half (56%) of employees lack the knowledge to respond effectively if a breach occurs.
While external actors are responsible for the majority (65%) of breaches, employees are on the rise, now accounting for 35% of breaches (though in most cases it’s an error rather than malicious intent).
Who’s Better at Cybersecurity: Breakdown by Age and Gender
Stanford and Tessian’s research also shows that one in four employees (25%) has clicked on a phishing email while at work. However, men appear to be more susceptible to these attacks than women—34% of male respondents admitted to clicking a malicious link in a phishing email, compared to only 17% of women.
Age also plays a significant role in phishing vulnerability. Older employees show greater resistance to these scams. Only 8% of workers over 51 reported falling for phishing attempts, while a notable 32% of employees aged 31-40 admitted they had clicked on a phishing link.
| Browse 40,000+ IT and Cybersecurity Companies
Find the right team to conduct security awareness training at your organization
|
Security Awareness Training Can Be Provided In-Person and Online
Security awareness training is highly adaptable and can be offered in multiple formats to meet the needs of in-office, remote, or hybrid work environments.
Traditional in-person training is still effective for organizations where employees are on-site. These sessions often involve cybersecurity experts leading interactive workshops or seminars, where employees can engage in live demonstrations and hands-on exercises.
For remote or hybrid teams, training can be provided virtually. Instructors may also provide pre-recorded and on-demand training materials that employees can complete independently at their own pace.
Finally, if you have large teams spread across multiple sites, live webinars are another option. These combine the interactivity of in-person sessions with the accessibility of online platforms.
What Are the Benefits of Cyber Security Training?
Cybersecurity training not only minimizes risks but transforms your workforce into an active line of defense, making security a shared responsibility across the organization.
CloudSecureTech’s recent assessment of managed IT support tickets over a 2-month period reveals key areas where training can make a substantial difference.
For instance, 18% of requests involve escalated permissions or adjustments to access levels, highlighting the need for clearer guidance on access protocols to reduce unauthorized access attempts.
Additionally, 40% of support requests related to cybersecurity involve account lockouts, password resets, or multi-factor authentication (2FA) issues, underscoring the importance of user training on secure password practices and proper 2FA setups.
Some benefits of security awareness training include:
- Reduced Human Error: Employees learn how to recognize and avoid phishing scams, social engineering attacks, and other tactics that often rely on human mistakes to succeed.
- Increased Awareness of Cyber Threats: Training provides insights into the most common cybersecurity threats, giving employees the knowledge to identify suspicious activity before it leads to a breach.
- Improved Compliance: Many industries require regular cybersecurity training to meet regulations such as PCI DSS, Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX), Health Insurance Portability & Accountability Act (HIPAA), Gramm-Leach Bliley Act, and Federal Information Security Management Act (FISMA).
- Enhanced Incident Response: Employees know what actions to take if they click on a malicious link or suspect a breach, enabling a quicker response that can contain potential organizational and reputational damage.
- Strengthened Data Protection: Trained employees handle sensitive data with greater care, minimizing risks associated with data leaks or unauthorized access.
- Increased Security for Remote Work: Employees gain awareness of best practices for securely working from home or on the go, which is essential in today’s hybrid and remote work environments.
- Educate Employees: By understanding their role in cybersecurity, employees become proactive participants in the organization’s defense strategy, fostering a security culture.
What Should Cyber Awareness Training Cover?
Cybersecurity awareness training needs to be comprehensive yet adaptable, tailored to an organization’s specific cybersecurity and compliance needs.
For maximum effectiveness, a training program should incorporate engaging formats and real-world scenarios, reinforcing skills through interactive methods like simulated phishing or gamified learning. A hands-on approach enables employees to internalize best practices and respond confidently to real-world security challenges.
Below are the essential elements that every training program should address, equipping employees with a broad understanding of cybersecurity risks and best practices:
- Employees should understand their duty to protect sensitive information and adhere to confidentiality regulations and data handling standards.
- Training should guide employees on creating strong passwords, refreshing them regularly, and utilizing password management tools effectively.
- Employees need to be adept at identifying phishing emails and other social engineering tricks, safeguarding privileged information from unauthorized access.
- Employees should be aware of industry-specific regulations and trained to comply with them as part of their day-to-day responsibilities.
- Emphasis should be placed on protecting customer data and confidential company and employee information.
- Employees should learn how to recognize internal risks that may compromise company security and mitigate potential vulnerabilities.
- Employees should be familiar with the procedures for handling security incidents to ensure a swift and controlled response.
- Training should cover safe online practices within company systems, including recognizing suspicious sites and avoiding harmful online behaviors.
- Employees should know how to safely manage email communications, recognize trusted senders, and avoid exposing sensitive information.
- Training should emphasize the importance of VPNs, antivirus software, and security protocols for using company devices like laptops and smartphones.
- Employees should understand which software is safe and approved for use on company devices and avoid unverified applications.
- Training should instruct employees on protecting company systems and devices when working remotely, using secure connections like VPNs and remote gateways.
Finding the Right IT or Cybersecurity Company for Security Awareness Training
At CloudSecureTech, we streamline the process of finding a trusted cybersecurity partner for security awareness training that aligns with your organization’s specific needs. Our platform allows you to compare providers based on their expertise, including those with specialized experience in industry-specific and compliance-focused programs.
Verified ratings and reviews from other businesses offer real insights into each provider’s strengths, giving you a clearer view of the impact their training has had in similar settings.
You can also connect directly with providers to understand their training content and formats—whether on-site, online, or hybrid—so you can find an option that best suits your team’s work environment, whether in-office, remote, or a mix of both.
For organizations with specific security needs, finding a provider who customizes training is key. Connect with a peer-reviewed cybersecurity expert to empower your employees with the tools they need to stay secure.
| Discover Trusted Cybersecurity Companies Near You
|
