Security Awareness Training

Security awareness training aims to address and solve the persistent vulnerabilities that stem from human errors. With diminishing control over the tools and applications employees use, IT departments face increasing challenges, especially with the prevalence of remote work. Security teams can no longer protect an organization’s systems, data, and assets. Security awareness training becomes increasingly important as threat actors continue to exploit human errors to infiltrate networks. 

Contractors, business partners, vendors, employees, and leadership must all work together, each acknowledging their role in the organization’s security posture. Security awareness training contextualizes cyber risks and threats for each stakeholder, teaching users to be more mindful about how they use technology and providing them with the knowledge and tools to do so. It also demonstrates why people should care about being mindful and educates users on common mistakes that enable cyberattacks, such as:

• Poor password hygiene
• Carelessness when downloading applications or opening email attachments 
• Connecting to unsafe or unsecured wireless networks 
• Using unauthorized or improperly hardened devices in the workplace
• Improper data storage 

Flexible Training Approach: While some structured learning is acceptable and expected, confining entire programs to a classroom lecture should be avoided. Content presented in such a formalized manner is often challenging to digest. 

Consistent and Effective Microlearning: Consistent and manageable delivery is an effective way to keep employees engaged. Providing employees with regular, shorter training sessions can be more efficient than presenting training materials in large chunks. In addition to being easier to digest, a lack of significant time gaps in training sessions can improve retention. 

Continuous Optimization and Improvement: Just as cybersecurity is an ongoing process, so too is security awareness training. Training programs must be regularly reviewed, revisited, and revised to remain current and optimized. 

Minimized Technological Focus: The technical aspects of cybersecurity are only sometimes relevant to all employees. Tailoring training programs to specific contexts enables people to understand how cybersecurity fits into their roles. 

Support for Poor Performance: Employees should not be afraid to make mistakes—if they are, there’s a significantly increased chance that someone might refrain from reporting a security incident. Training should reflect this mindset, and employees who struggle should be provided additional guidance.

Tailored to Unique Security Posture: Details such as industry, location, organizational structure, organizational culture, and the demographics of the program’s participants should be considered when implementing a security awareness training program. Assessing unique environments through tools like the SANS security awareness maturity model can help guide organizations toward the specific strategies they might need.

Employing a Holistic Mindset: Security awareness training programs should not exist in a vacuum. Instead, they should be part of an organization’s overall approach to cybersecurity, integrating seamlessly with their security solutions, processes, and policies. 

Setting Clear and Flexible Goals: An organization’s security awareness program's purpose and goals should be determined before implementation. These may evolve, and organizations should remain aligned with their primary objectives.