Does Your Business Focus on Cybersecurity Enough to Create a Change in Culture?

You thought you were a phishing pro after that annual training, but then disaster struck. One click and your company was dealt a costly ransomware infection. Turns out, a one-and-done training approach just doesn't cut it. Without reinforcement, behaviors don't change and knowledge fades. How often should you be refreshing your team's cybersecurity savvy?
The answer: Every four months is the sweet spot for consistent, effective training.

Why Is Cybersecurity Awareness Training every 4-Months Recommended?

Wondering where the four-month recommendation for refining your employees' phishing radar comes from? A paper presented at USENIX SOUPS security conference recently found that regular training on phishing awareness and IT security can give insight into detecting phishing attacks. Their findings showed that training every four months kept employee scores high, while prolonged cycles of six months or more led to some emails slipping through the cracks. So, give your team the tools and knowledge to stay on top of security threats with periodic training refreshers to keep your cybersecurity game strong!

Tips on What & How to Train Employees to Develop a Cyber Secure Culture

The gold standard for security awareness training is to develop a cyber secure culture. This is one where everyone is mindful of the need to protect sensitive data. As well as avoid phishing scams, and keep passwords secured.
This is not the case in most organizations, According to a Sophos Threat Report. One of the biggest threats to network security is a lack of good security practices.

The report states the following,
“A lack of attention to one or more aspects of basic security hygiene has been found to be at the root cause of many of the most damaging attacks we've investigated.”

Well-trained employees significantly reduce a company’s risk. They reduce the chance of falling victim to any number of different online attacks. To be well-trained doesn’t mean you have to conduct a long day of cybersecurity training. It’s better to mix up the delivery methods.

Here are some examples of engaging ways to train employees on cybersecurity. You can include these in your training plan:

• Self-service videos that get emailed once per month.
• Security “Tip of the Week” in company newsletters or messaging channels.
• Training session provided by an IT professional.
• Simulated phishing tests.

When conducting training, phishing is a big topic to cover, but it’s not the only one. Here are some important topics that you want to include in your mix of awareness training.

Email, Text, Social Media Phishing

Email phishing is still the most prevalent form, but SMS phishing (“smishing”) and phishing over social media are both growing. Employees must know what this looks like, so they can avoid falling for these scams.

Credential & Password Security

Your precious data and processes may have already taken a leap of faith into the cloud. While this is a modern miracle, it also means that credential theft has taken the fast track to the top of the naughty list. It’s time to have a chat with our team about the importance of strong passwords along with keeping them secure. We could even introduce them to the IT superhero, the business password manager. Trust us, your data will thank you for it.

Mobile Device Security

It's no secret that smartphones are taking over the office. From helping you tackle inbox overload to managing your to-do list on the go, these little devices are more than just a status symbol. In fact, companies are now demanding top-notch mobile apps as part of their software solutions. But with great power comes great responsibility. That's why it's important to review your security needs when it comes to employee devices accessing your business data and apps. Think passcodes and software updates - because you don't want to be the weak link in the chain.

Data Security

As the years go by, the topic of data privacy regulations has been increasingly catching people's attention. Nowadays, most companies have various regulations they need to comply with to keep their data secure. To avoid any unwanted surprises, it's important to educate your employees on proper data handling and security protocols. By doing so, you not only minimize the chances of a data leak or breach, but you also dodge the bullet of potentially costly compliance penalties.

Need Help Keeping Your Team Trained on Cybersecurity?

Take cybersecurity training off your plate and allow us, the MSP you already trust, to train your team to become virtual cybersecurity specialists. We can help you with an engaging training program, that helps your team change their behaviors to improve cyber hygiene.