This is our guide to effective cyber security training, including advice on what to look for in a course provider or how to develop one that works for your teams.
All organisations, irrespective of their size or sector, critically need robust cyber security training. Such training serves as a shield for your data, systems, and workforce against a wide array of threats including phishing, malware, and social engineering scams.
What should cyber security training include?
A comprehensive cyber security training curriculum incorporates several key elements:
- Cyber Security Awareness: This training provides employees with an understanding of cybersecurity fundamentals, like crafting robust passwords, identifying phishing emails, and defending their gadgets against malware.
- Incident Handling: This training educates employees about appropriate responses in the event of a cybersecurity incident, such as a data compromise or a malware invasion.
- Social Engineering: This training imparts skills to employees to recognize and avoid social engineering strikes, like phishing emails and fraudulent phone calls.
- Technical Skills: This training instructs employees on employing specific security apparatus and technologies, including firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and antivirus software. In addition to these components, optimal cybersecurity training ought to be:
Tips for effective cyber security training
- Make it Frequent: Given the rapid evolution of cybersecurity threats, it’s crucial to deliver ongoing training to employees to keep them informed about emerging threats and best practices.
- Make it Interactive: A tedious or complicated training is unlikely to be fruitful. Ensure your training is dynamic and engaging to maintain employees’ focus. David reviewed a cyber security elearning game that even makes this usually-dry topic fun. Cyber Crime Time is innovative training from imc Learning that puts learner in the shoes of a hacker. This role-reversal is a clever way for the learner to develop a deeper understanding of cyber threats.
- Make it Role-Specific: The training content should correspond with the employees’ roles and tasks. For instance, IT personnel might require more intensive training on technical security protocols, while sales staff might require more training on identifying phishing emails.
- Make it Measurable: It’s vital to gauge the effectiveness of your training initiative. This can be accomplished by assessing employee knowledge and conduct, as well as by keeping tabs on security occurrences.
Integrating these aspects into your cyber security training programme can significantly enhance your organisation’s resistance to diverse threats.
Here are some final pointers for devising a successful cyber security training programme:
- Secure buy-in from senior leadership. Cyber security is a collective obligation, and hence, the backing of senior management is imperative for your training initiative.
- Customise the training based on your specific requirements. Every organisation is unique, necessitating tailored training to address specific, relevant needs and risks.
- Leverage diverse training techniques. With multiple ways to deliver training, using a mix of methods can keep employees engaged. Different people may find text, audio, images or video-based learning content – or any combination of these – work best for them for knowledge retention.
- Facilitate easy access to training. Irrespective of their location or device, employees should find the training content readily accessible. Give your employees access to online cyber security courses and they’ll be able to access the learning materials when and where it suits their schedule.
