Security awareness training is the process of teaching employees about the security risks that their organization faces and how to protect themselves and the company from these risks. It can specifically teach employees how to identify potential threats and how to respond if they encounter a cyberattack. Security awareness training helps employees to be more vigilant and to better understand how to protect themselves, their colleagues, and their company from potential security threats. According to one study, after conducting training for new employees, 42% of respondents reported that cyberattacks were reduced. When employees are better informed about security risks, they can take steps to avoid them or to mitigate the impact of a security incident if one does occur. This can help to reduce the cost of a security breach and the associated reputational damage.
What Are the Biggest Cybersecurity Threats to Your Company Right Now?
There are a number of cybersecurity threats that companies are facing today. Cybercriminals are becoming increasingly sophisticated in their tactics, causing many employees to fall prey to their attacks. Between 2021 and 2025 alone, fraud losses are forecasted to cost over $200 billion. To prevent attacks and the subsequent consequences, educate your employees on the most pressing threats:
- Ransomware – This is a form of malware that encrypts data on a user’s computer, and then demands a ransom payment in order to unlock the files. Ransomware can be very costly for businesses and can lead to data loss and downtime.
- Phishing – This is a type of social engineering attack that involves sending fraudulent emails in an attempt to trick users into revealing sensitive information, most commonly passwords or credit card numbers.
- Unsafe Data Storage – It’s common for companies to save large amounts of data, even when not all of that data is used regularly. Regularly backing up your data and ensuring that your storage environment is cyber-secure is crucial to the longevity of your company.
- Bad User Habits – Without proper training, employees can develop habits that jeopardize the security of their company’s data. Password security can be an issue if the same password is used across multiple accounts, especially if multi-factor authentication isn’t utilized. Trusting unsecured WiFi networks can also lead to compromised network security.
These threats and others continue to negatively affect companies around the globe. Employees are often the most susceptible targets and hackers know that and use it to their advantage.
What Role Do Employees Play in Your Company’s Overall Security?
Employees play a crucial role in your company’s overall security. They are the first line of defense against cyber threats and need to be aware of the various ways that they can be attacked. Employees also need to know the steps they can take to protect themselves and the company from these threats.Security awareness training educates employees on the various types of threats that they may face and how to best protect themselves from these threats. In addition to security awareness training, companies should consider implementing policies and procedures that will help to further secure their data.
What is Security Awareness Training?
This training focuses on educating staff about the security dangers being utilized by cyber criminals and can train them on how to recognize these threats and avoid them. This will ensure that your company’s sensitive information is protected and that risks are prevented.There are different trainings and updated topics to cover, including some of the following:
- Ransomware Prevention
- Social Engineering Threats
- Password and Data Security
- Mobile Device Safety
- Remote Working Safety Techniques
Covering these topics in training will give your employees hands-on experience so they can recognize what these threats might look like in real-life scenarios. It’s essential to stay up-to-date on how these threats evolve and to continually train your employees on recognizing the latest threat types.
Where to Start?
Becoming appropriately prepared for cyber threats can be a daunting task. However, training your employees on cybersecurity best practices should not be an issue on the back burner. With the help of an IT security company like ANC Group, you can access the resources and expertise necessary to deliver security awareness training and ensure your first line of defense is as strong as it can be. We can provide the resources you need to teach end users about these various types of threats.
Contact ANC Group today and arm your employees with the knowledge they need to combat cyberattacks!
