Why is Cyber Security Awareness Training Important

If your business has employees, then cyber security is important for your survival in an industry dominated by an increasing number of virtual crimes. You must be certainly aware about the costly identity thefts and network hacks that damage a company’s reputation. These have become almost a daily phenomenon, particularly during the recent times when more people are working from their homes, following the outbreak of the corona virus endemic. Organizations are implementing firewalls, comprehensive defense systems, and sophisticated information technology (IT) protocols to keep themselves protected from online threats. Besides, they are imparting cyber security awareness training to their employees.

The importance of cyber security awareness training can never be overemphasized. All the expensive computer systems in your organization may turn a cropper sans an embedded culture of cyber security awareness and enforcement. The employees of your organization, after all, are the weakest link in the field of cyber security. It’s called ‘the human factor’. Hackers on the prowl know the easiest way for accessing secure networks. They target people who deal with sensitive company data, steal their login credentials and other important information, and deal a damaging blow to the organization.

Which employees should access the awareness training?

Your employees are always the first line of defense against online crimes. That’s where cyber security awareness training comes in. Such training equips your employees with knowledge and skills they require to protect themselves and the organization from criminal elements.

All employees having access to work-related computers and/or mobile devices should undergo the training. This includes pretty much everyone because anyone using official or private technology can be targeted. Personal mobile phones often have sensitive data. If a worker falls victim to identity theft, the data can be used to forge false profiles. These profiles are then used to carry out several fraudulent activities.

What does a cyber security awareness training program include?

An exhaustive cyber awareness training program should ideally cover elements like current threats, attack red flags, defense procedures like firewall installation, and threat reaction plans. The program should be based on real-life cyber attack simulations covering the latest criminal trends. Hackers are computer geeks themselves. They always evolve their technology and take a new approach for their crimes. So you must upgrade your company’s defense mechanism through training to keep the vulnerabilities low.

Training on cyber security awareness is carried out in a secure and controlled environment. The training sessions are often customized to meet employee needs. The topics covered usually escalate in difficulty as employees become more capable to deal with low-level online threats. Security awareness can be reinforced by sending mock malware and phishing messages to workers to see how they react, followed by targeted training to those who fail to respond in the desired manner.

Hiring a cyber security trainer

Leading agencies like Rangam Consultants have experts who offer in-depth cyber security training across various industries. You can hire an experienced consultant to train your employees in password management, online and physical security, and phishing and malware defense simulations.