When training employees, a critical part of any onboarding process or annual training is comprehensive cybersecurity awareness education. Whether your business is hiring at a rapid pace or simply looking to improve the current state of your in-house cybersecurity, awareness training is a critical first step.
What Threats Do Employees Pose to Your Business?
You may not realize it, but over 40% of cybersecurity breaches are due to employee negligence. From not updating passwords to clicking on malicious links, employees can be the weakest link in your organization’s security—that’s why it’s important to have a comprehensive cybersecurity awareness training program in place.
The purpose of cybersecurity awareness training is to educate employees on the importance of good cyber hygiene and how to spot potential threats. By raising awareness, you can help reduce the risk of a successful attack.
Cybersecurity awareness training can also help improve your organization’s overall security posture. By teaching employees how to shift their mindset and become proactive cybersecurity thinkers, you can help create a culture of security within your organization.
So, what are some topics that should be covered in cybersecurity awareness training? Below are seven topics that we believe are essential:
1. Phishing
One of the most common ways that attackers gain access to corporate networks is through phishing attacks. In a phishing attack, an attacker will send an email that appears to be from a legitimate source in an attempt to trick the recipient into clicking on a malicious link or attachment.
Employees should be taught to be suspicious of any email that contains spelling or grammatical errors, as well as any email that asks them to click on a link or download an attachment.
2. Safe Remote Working
With more and more employees working remotely, it’s important to make sure they are doing so safely. When working from home or a public place, employees should use a VPN (Virtual Private Network) whenever possible to encrypt their traffic and protect their data.They should never use public Wi-Fi to access sensitive information.
3. Password Protection
One of the most important things employees can do to protect your business is to use strong passwords. Strong passwords should be at least eight characters long and contain a mix of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols. Employees should also avoid using the same password for multiple accounts.
4. Ransomware
Ransomware is a type of malware that encrypts a user’s files and demands a ransom in order to decrypt them. Ransomware attacks have become increasingly common in recent years, with attackers targeting both individuals and businesses.
Be sure to educate your employees on the dangers of clicking on links or opening attachments from unknown sources and always have a robust backup and disaster recovery plan in place in case your systems are compromised.
5. Information Security
Information security is critical for any organization. Employees should be taught the importance of keeping confidential information safe and secure. They should also be given guidance on how to handle sensitive data, such as storing it securely and disposing of it properly.
6. Removable Media
Removable media, such as USB drives and CDs, can be a convenient way to store and transfer data. However, these devices can also pose a security risk if they are not used properly.
Employees should be taught to never insert a removable drive into a computer without first scanning it for malware. In addition, they should always encrypt confidential data before storing it on a removable device.
7. Browser Security
Employees spend a lot of time browsing the web, which makes browser security a foundational part of cybersecurity awareness training. Employees should be taught how to spot malicious websites and how to avoid accidentally downloading malware. They should be given guidance on the best way to keep their browsers up to date.
How Tech Rockstars Can Help Educate Your Employees on Cybersecurity
As industry experts, we understand the importance of cybersecurity awareness training and have years of experience turning personnel into your greatest cybersecurity asset. That’s why we offer a variety of resources to help you educate your employees on the latest threats and how to protect your business. Contact us today to learn more about our cybersecurity services!
