Cybersecurity Awareness Training

If you own or manage a business, ensuring that your team members are all aware of current security risks and measures to take in order to reduce said risks, it’s important to implement cybersecurity awareness training.

Cybercrime is on the rise, and business owners are constantly looking for ways to enhance security protocols on company networks. Because criminals are coming up with new ways to gain unauthorized access to private data, it’s essential to ensure that every team member is equipped with the skills and knowledge they need to reduce security risks and protect both company data and personal information from being viewed, changed, stolen, or destroyed by individuals who seek to cause harm.

If you own or manage a business, ensuring that your team members are all aware of current security risks and measures to take in order to reduce said risks, it’s important to implement cybersecurity awareness training.

Information is empowerment, and when it comes to protecting your company and the people who keep operations proceeding on schedule, it’s wise to not only include frequent training modules in your organization’s business processes, but it’s also critical to adopt the tools and programs offered by a trustworthy, reputable cybersecurity company.

Let’s cover some key topics to discuss during training sessions, what to include in security presentations, and which resources to visit if you need help developing your company’s cybersecurity system.

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Cybersecurity Topics for Beginners

The digital landscape has broadened exponentially in the last decade or so, and as such, security risks have taken on several new forms. When covering cybersecurity in a work setting, it’s essential to cover an array of information security topics, especially when you’re providing training to employees who are relatively new to your professional industry.

Cybersecurity training for beginners should discuss, at least in brief, the following cybersecurity awareness training topics:

Remote Work Protocols for Safety: If your employees perform any degree of work away from the physical office setting, a key part of cybersecurity training is remote safety practices.
CyberSecurity Attack Types: Phishing and social engineering are two common types of cybersecurity attacks, but it’s crucial to cover an extensive array of attack types your employees might come across while performing work-related tasks (for example, malware attacks, ransomware, man-in-the-middle attacks, password theft, impersonation attempts, denial of service attacks, etc.)
Passwords: Passwords are a major line of defense between workplace data and malicious individuals. Ensure that your employees know how to choose strong passwords and enable 2-step authentication whenever possible.
Online Interaction: There are specific security measures to adopt when interacting online, even in a professional setting. Email and social media security is a must.
Cloud Security: For workplaces that utilize cloud technology, it’s imperative to inform all employees about security measures that need to be taken when using these systems.
Public Internet Use: If your office provides public internet service for employees and customers to use, cover all of the necessary safety measures your employees need to take when using public internet.
Mobile/Home Security: Finally, even if your employees do not work remotely, teaching effective cybersecurity behaviors to use while surfing the web at home helps enforce safe practices in all aspects of your employees’ lives.

Cybersecurity Topics for Presentation

When creating and covering a cybersecurity awareness presentation, it’s paramount that you cover necessary topics in ways that are straightforward and easy for employees to understand. It’s especially beneficial to very clearly discuss tasks and practices that employees are familiar with. To create an effective cybersecurity awareness ppt to accompany your training sessions, you’ll want to cover topics such as:

Cyber Crime: the vast array of crimes that can be committed online, and the methods cybercriminals use to enact these crimes
AI and Cybersecurity: artificial intelligence and how it has been utilized to protect private data from malicious parties
Automation: how automated tools and tech help to prevent unauthorized access to data, and what sort of notifications to watch out for in an automated system
Machine Learning: the basics of how machines learn about work processes and how their successful adoption of information helps protect company assets
Company Procedures: a set of protocols that cover the steps an employee should take if he or she suspects that there has been an attempt to access private data by an unauthorized party
Training Schedules: Technology is always advancing, and it’s essential to make it known that training periods will take place on a regular basis to inform employees about new tools and procedures.
Data Breaches: the basics of what a data breach is, how it occurs, what it looks like from a target’s perspective, and how to handle data breaches
Identity Theft: cover identity theft, how it works, and how employees can protect themselves from having their identities stolen
Removable Devices: USB drives and other removable devices present their own risks to cybersecurity, so it’s necessary to cover the proper use of these tools as well.
Technology Updates: mention what technology updates are, why they’re essential for security purposes, and how employees can ensure their tech is up to date

In addition to covering all of the topics your teams need to be aware of, it’s important to leave time at the end of a training session to allow attendees to ask questions. A casual Q&A section is a great way to ensure the retention of information covered and if it seems like team members are asking most of the questions about one specific topic, it might be worth covering the topic in its own session.

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Cybersecurity Awareness Training for Employees

The thought of designing a cybersecurity presentation and training module overwhelms plenty of management personnel. There are so many important details involved in an effective cybersecurity plan and management teams may not feel equipped to handle the daunting process of ensuring that every aspect of a cybersecurity awareness program is effectively demonstrated.

Fortunately, employers and management teams do not have to design and implement their own security awareness training materials. Several trusted names in the tech and security industries have created well-rounded security awareness training programs that are available for other businesses to use.

Companies looking for free cybersecurity awareness training materials are advised to browse big-name security companies. Concerns about cybersecurity awareness training for employees cost does not have to be an issue when it comes to obtaining accurate information.

For example, the Department of Defense has compiled a DOD cyber awareness training session, the SANS Institute has a training module available, and the Amazon cybersecurity training program is designed to help teach the basics of cybersecurity. The free cybersecurity awareness training for employees is a great first step for basic security information.

Employers browsing online for an optimal security awareness training program example should be pleased to find that many reputable security professionals provide their own online cybersecurity awareness training for employees. Many of these companies offer training modules to supplement their proprietary cybersecurity programs and tools, which helps to ensure the success of the service’s implementation.

Often, the best cybersecurity training for employees comes with tools and solutions that companies can use alongside the knowledge their teams have gained through the training modules offered.

Importance of Cybersecurity Awareness Training for Employees

The vast majority (approximately 90%) of data breaches are the result of human error, and because of this staggering statistic, it is essential for businesses to take steps toward risk reduction. Cybersecurity awareness training helps team members mitigate risks and prevent data losses, financial assets, and the downfall of the company’s reputation.

A professional security training program gives team members the awareness and technological skills they need to avoid common cybersecurity mistakes. Not to mention, adequate training helps ensure proactive behaviors among employees. This way, response to a breach attempt is needed far less often than these maneuvers would be without effective training.

Single mistakes or lapses in company protocols can lead to devastating effects, and in every situation, it’s far better to prepare teams for incidents they may never have to face than it is to wait around to attempt to fix a massive problem once it has occurred.

When employees come across a malicious attempt to gain access to private information, it’s crucial that they are aware of the red flags that occur and know which procedures to enact to eliminate the risk as soon as possible.

Cybersecurity doesn’t have to be incredibly complicated. For business leaders who aim to be sure that the best possible protection, training, technology, and protocols contribute to the company’s line of defense, it’s good to be aware of unique risk factors.

Risk assessments and vulnerability scans are services offered by many cybersecurity companies, and these tools are utilized to create a personalized company profile that shows leaders exactly where the greatest potential for breaches lie.

Take advantage of these valuable insights with Trava, and take the steps your company needs to protect your data, finances, employees, and reputation from the damages possible through hackers and cybercriminals.

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