Employee cybersecurity training is essential as they represent your company externally and have access to its data and resources. Disgruntled employees may commit cyberattacks on your company, or they become the subject of such attacks. Trained staff may act as a human firewall to keep your business safe from information theft, monetary loss, and operational disruption. Given the seriousness of the situation, I’ve provided some guidance for workers in this article. Hopefully it will support you in defending intellectual property, data privacy, and other corporate assets.
False phishing attacks
A fake phishing attack is a useful tool for teaching staff. By using this technique, you may teach staff members how to spot and deal with emails that may include harmful links and files. Additionally, staff employees will learn how to identify phishing scams and emails that contain malware. Why is this important? According to Verizon’s 2016 Data Breach Investigations Report, employee irresponsibility, such as opening suspicious emails, is to blame for 30% of data breaches.
Promote Using Your Devices With Extreme Care
According to a Forrester study, misplaced or lost devices are to blame for 15% of business intrusions. No matter if it’s a work-related or personal device, cybersecurity training for your staff members should entail making them aware that their devices serve as a doorway to your company’s network. Because of this, it’s critical that they properly maintain and operate their gadget, even at home.
Conducting the following actions will assist in boosting good device ownership:
- Explain the distinction between personal and business usage.
- Make it necessary to use a work account that is monitored, has restricted installations, and is subject to online filtering.
- Be wary of traditional theft and loss.
- Ensure that OS upgrades and security fixes are applied.
By automating push updates and constantly monitoring the device’s condition and location, a device management and monitoring solution, like our Multi-OS Device Remote Management, may help reduce risk. However this should only be used as a backup and it should be left to the employee to follow end-user security best practices.
Make secure passwords and update them frequently
Everyone is aware that using strong passwords can help keep accounts secure, but how many people follow this conventional wisdom? Employers need to make sure staff members understand the importance of using strong passwords and the necessity of changing them frequently for further security.
Discuss cybersecurity frequently
If you simply talk about cybersecurity in theory or after an event occurs, it doesn’t benefit anyone. Make it a topic of conversation at regular work gatherings and talks. Describe the effects of a breach on a company and how employees might be crucial in preventing one. You can occasionally give security awareness advice for the office on many facets of cybercrime. In this manner, cybersecurity is integrated into their everyday duties.
Regularly assess employees’ knowledge of cybersecurity
It is essential to evaluate employees’ knowledge of cybersecurity issues. Without a framework for evaluation, training is useless. Therefore, you can use online tests to assess staff retention and skill gaps at intervals of a few months. If they are genuinely assimilating according to what you are teaching, this will show it.
Conclusion
By teaching your staff about cybersecurity awareness, you may help them comprehend their responsibility in safeguarding your business. They serve as the first line of defence against external dangers rather than being merely another cog in the machine. Even after things have returned to normal, fostering vigilance and strong cybersecurity awareness is something that they may carry far beyond the walls of the company.