In the modern era of business, cybersecurity has never been a bigger problem than it is now. Companies of all sizes are more likely to get phishing or ransomware attacks than ever before, making cybersecurity training all the more important. Based on a report, cyberattacks are on the rise in 2020. Worst of all, employees won’t even know what hit them. (Source: JoyofAndroid.com)
However, the cybersecurity training strategy provided to employees can only go so far. When cyberattacks happen in workplaces many employees are still unequipped. Currently, 95% of cybersecurity breaches are due to human error. This asks the question: why do you think your business’ cybersecurity training strategy isn’t working?
1. Giving cybersecurity training only when needed
Employee training is one of the most requested benefits. Sometimes, there is increasing pressure to squeeze cybersecurity into the budget. Thus, many businesses face a challenge on how to properly allocate available training resources.
Cybersecurity training must not be given to employees just because the management thinks they need it. Also, after a cybersecurity training has been given, employees need to be constantly taught to refresh their knowledge over the things they need to do when cyberattacks happen. Remember, “learning is a never-ending process.” There is always something new to learn about cybersecurity.
Cyber threats and schemes evolve over time. Over time, hackers, and attackers have become intelligent when it comes to penetrating the corporation system.
Cybersecurity training strategy must never be a one-time thing, even with companies that employ proxy servers. Management should include cybersecurity training from the list of training they will give out to their employees.
2. Under-allocating budget for Talent Development
Companies have different approaches to budgeting for training initiatives. Most standard, HR-driven training budgets may not sufficiently fund technical security training needs. Constant training for your security team is a must-have, not a nice-to-have perk.
Did you know that companies are more likely to save resources when they allocate budget for security training? According to the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), it costs a company six to nine months of an employee’s pay to replace them. Companies that commit more to develop the existing workforce decrease employee turnover. Additionally, LinkedIn’s recent Workforce Learning Report said that 93% of employees stay longer when their company has exhibited an investment in their respective careers.
3. Misunderstanding the role of certifications
Certifications are always mistaken as proof of an employee’s skills. There’s a critical distinction between what a person knows and what she/he can actually do. In most companies, certifications are mistaken as evidence of cybersecurity skills. What they are is proof of knowledge. In reality, employees getting hired don’t have the skills to get things done. When the company faces a serious security threat, it’ll be too late.
However, the industry is getting away from this kind of approach fast. Companies now make sure to have hands-on practical skills before hiring IT. Additionally, leading organizations now focus on assessment tests before hiring. And these tests are also given to existing employees to gauge their skills, capabilities, and not solely rely on what they know.
4. One-size-fits-all training
Your security team is not the only team that will need security training. All employees require some level of cybersecurity skills training. Some employees will require more advanced training than others. Security training should be tailor-fit based on their job functions.
Sales employees are also targets for cyberattacks. All it takes is just a salesperson’s one click of a malicious attachment and the company’s critical information will be compromised. More Cybersecurity training will help minimize the chances of salespersons being targeted by these kinds of attacks.
Hackers target salespersons with email abuse, browsers attacks, and more. The cybersecurity training will equip sales employees with the knowledge and ability to distinguish a phishing attack from a legit email from clients. Also, it will help them spot malicious attachments. Given the training, sales employees will know the importance of encryption. Thus, they will not divulge critical information over an unprotected channel as this may result in leakage of sensitive company data.
On the other hand, the Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) will have different training than sales employees. A CISO is tasked to oversee the company’s overall security. He/she boasts great knowledge of the company’s information technology practices.
Cybersecurity training for CISO is far more advanced. He/she must be able to quickly identify the weaknesses and vulnerabilities in the information technology and programs. He/she also needs to maintain constant collaboration with executives and department leaders to be able to develop strategies to fight off threats and secure company information.
Furthermore, he/she introduces new programs to strengthen security as well as provide leadership and guidance to other security personnel.
Summary
As time goes by, more organizations are implementing cybersecurity training strategies. Well-planned cybersecurity training strategy programs that align with the company and employee’s goals are far more effective.
It’s important to keep in mind that cybersecurity requires life-long learning and companies need to teach all of their employees how to protect themselves from cyber attacks — no matter their role.
