Cybersecurity Training Tips: Getting Employees to Take Threats Seriously

Whether you want to believe it or not, employees are the weakest link in the cybersecurity chain. In fact, research shows that the majority of data breaches are directly related to employee negligence. This isn't to say that your coworkers are bad people, just that they may lack the training necessary to properly identify and address security risks.

In response, some companies have implemented training programs to bring workers up to speed on best practices. But how can you be sure employees are taking these threats seriously?

The key to cybersecurity education is to make the lesson applicable to the attendees in an applicable way. Here, CyberPolicy shows you how.

Make It Personal: Data breaches and cyberattacks on SMBs can sometimes feel very alien to employees that have never experienced them. So take a moment to make it relatable. Explain how company data breaches can leak personal information on your employees, including Social Security numbers, personal emails, passwords and more. Your workers need to understand you are all in this together.

Nix the Jargon: Nothing will cause your audience to lose interest in cybersecurity education quicker than a jargon-heavy lecture. Steer clear of nitty-gritty details, and instead provide actionable recommendations such as proper password protocols, when to avoid public Wi-Fi and the importance of keeping programs up to date. This will be far more valuable to your staff and the safety of your organization.

Use Real World Examples: Research suggests that human beings are predisposed to learning through storytelling. What does this mean for you? Well, if you want your cybersecurity training sessions to really stick, it behooves you share real-world stories about cyberattacks. This makes the threat more real and concrete for your listeners. You can even share you own experiences facing data breach or hackers.

Keep It Short, Sweet & Often: Hosting a three-hours cybersecurity training session is guaranteed to put your staff to sleep. Not to mention that an extended lesson could inhibit the amount of information actually retained by your employees. Instead, host shorter cyber education sessions once a month or once per quarter. This will help workers remember the material and put it to use right away.

Employ Visual Aids: Even if you cut the jargon and make the lessons more relatable, some concepts can still seem pretty heady. To break down complex subject matter, you can employ visual aids or videos. These can often be found embedded in online news articles or hosted on YouTube. All it takes is a little research of your own.

Get It in Writing: One last idea is to have your employees sign a cybersecurity pledge. This is a non-binding reminder that the safety and security of your organization depends one each individual to do their part. Encourage your coworkers to place this on their desk or cubicle walls.

Now you are already for your next cybersecurity education session. For more helpful tips and the latest news, visit CyberPolicy!

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