When it comes to Cyber Security Awareness, we immediately think of cybersecurity training. Still, awareness practices also vary according to the area of operation of the company and the needs of the employees. In addition to the employees’ needs and wishes, executive decisions also affect the cybersecurity application methods. One of the most discussed topics in recent years is the impact of different cybersecurity methods on employees. While some prefer phishing simulations, others say that regular training is the most effective method. So what are the most effective cybersecurity awareness practices? In this article, we will talk about a few applications that have been proven to be effective for you.
What Are The Most Effective Cybersecurity Awareness Practices? Here’s Our Advice:
1. Avoid Stereotypical Training!
Allow your employees to choose to attend training. It may not make sense to start all your employees from the same level, as not everyone’s knowledge level is the same. By subjecting your employees to cybersecurity awareness tests, you can measure their awareness levels and plan the training accordingly. In this way, you will prevent high-awareness employees from wasting unnecessary time.
2. Make Training Suitable for Adults!
Adults may enjoy different learning styles different from school-age teenagers or children. Cybersecurity awareness training should also be planned accordingly. Compared to students, adults want to learn through practice, not to read detailed and lengthy content. On the one hand, since there are too many things to do, cybersecurity training should be given in a way that does not interfere with employees’ work. Supporting employees with practical and applicable training for adults makes it easier for them to assimilate cybersecurity awareness.
Allow employees to test whether their information is correct about what they already know about cybersecurity. Let them gain experience with a variety of situations and scenarios in which they can test their knowledge. The easiest way to achieve this is to use phishing simulations. Our Phishing Simulator allows you to test your employees with real-life scenarios. You can visit our site for more information.
3. Focus on Company Specific Threats!
Every company or every organization may face different threats. Threats affecting organizations differ significantly according to their field, the level of awareness of the employees, and the systems they use. Therefore, each organization should focus on specific threats and risks. This also affects the area covered by cybersecurity awareness training. The most effective security training is training that targets the biggest risks and threats.
First, to identify the threats affecting your company, analyze the simple risks you are trying to avoid in your workplace. Determine what you need to do to avoid these simple risks undamaged. Once you understand your role, think about how you can involve your employees in this process and make a detailed plan for it. Set up cybersecurity training according to this plan that targets the greatest risks.
Comprehensive security awareness training will help your employees understand the company’s cybersecurity policies, long-term goals, and their role in this regard.
4. Teach Step by Step!
Like any training, cybersecurity training should be taught step by step. Employees cannot be expected to be fully informed about unfamiliar issues all at once. For this reason, the topics related to cybersecurity awareness should be divided step by step, one by one, by simply breaking down into understandable parts. In this way, employees do not suddenly meet with a lot of complex information that is difficult to understand. Learning piece by piece helps them internalize information.
Companies use this method mostly in cybersecurity awareness training, especially in phishing training. Instead of giving all the information about phishing all at once, they divide it into several different topics. For example, you can talk about phishing emails in one tutorial, spear-phishing attacks in another tutorial, and ransomware in another. In this way, you can keep your employees’ interests alive by providing short and fun training. A relevant phishing test, which will be added to the end of the tutorials, can also help you spot weak links. You can customize the training adventures in accordance with the weak points of your employees. You can only inform your employees who do not need it. In this way, you will minimize your cybersecurity costs.
5. Give Real-Life Examples!
The biggest reason why cybersecurity training does not work is that the information given remains in the air. Training may not be effective as employees cannot understand how to apply this information. Phishing simulations help you gain experience for employees, but as cyberattacks change and diversify every day, it is essential to give examples of current trends.
Also, personalized examples teach employees about the threats that concern them and the attacks they may encounter. Employees who stay away from office life while working from home will be more insensitive to risks, so the scenarios specific to their work increase the realism of their training. In particular, examples of attacks that concern employees’ departments and their work will be even more effective in learning.
This method allows employees to think critically and helps them develop their skills to prevent phishing attacks. It allows them to understand what to think when faced with any attack. Instead of memorizing the rules, they can find solutions by thinking on their own.
What Can Be Done In Addition To These Most Effective Cybersecurity Awareness Practices?
- Increase internal cybersecurity awareness using the Threat Sharing tool!
Threat sharing tool allows employees to share their cybersecurity information easily. It creates a communication channel between employees for secure information sharing. Click here for more information.
It is also important to give the importance you give to your employees to detect errors in your systems. Any openness on your systems makes it easier for hackers to succeed. That’s why you should regularly test your email systems, especially against phishing emails. With our Email Gap Analysis tool, you can detect vulnerabilities in your system and take the necessary precautions.
“This post is originally published at www.phishing.org.uk”
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