What is Cybersecurity Awareness?

Cybersecurity awareness training aims to increase employees’ awareness of cybersecurity threats in the workplace. The program includes several components, including technical and non-technical training for all staff members. With more than 281.5 million people affected by a data breach in 2021, organizations must deploy cybersecurity awareness programs that help them spot and fix vulnerabilities before they are exploited. For extensive tips and strategies on inculcating a culture of security where every employee considers cybersecurity part of their role, please take a look at Managed IT Services Sacramento.

Why is Cybersecurity Awareness Important?

Cybersecurity incidents can be costly for organizations. If you’re struggling to allocate a budget to cybersecurity training, tools or talent, consider the risk management perspective. With a consistent increase in the volume and scope of cyberattacks, it is only becoming more important for your employees to understand cybersecurity awareness. Cybercriminals are constantly looking for the following vulnerability and modes of attack. It’s only a matter of time before they find a way to subvert even the latest and most advanced defensive tools and technologies. One way or another day will find a way to end up in the inboxes and browsers of your employees. Even in 2021, human error continues to be the number one cause for 85% of breaches, and 94% of malware was delivered via email as phishing attacks. These email-based attacks nearly always use some form of social engineering to manipulate users into revealing sensitive information or taking action against their or their organization’s best interest.

With the advent of ransomware 3.0, anyone can purchase a phishing kit on the dark web to target their employees. They may even use social engineering techniques to convince unsuspecting employees to provide them with sensitive information such as usernames and passwords. Phishing emails are the most common way cybercriminals gain access to your network. Employees should know how to respond accordingly if they suspect they have received a phishing email or someone has attempted to social engineer them. Get in touch with IT Support Chico to know more about the importance of cybersecurity awareness.

Top Tips about Security Awareness for Businesses

Conduct Cybersecurity Audits

You must research and prepare to get the most out of your security awareness program. This will help you understand what needs to be done to improve your business’s cybersecurity and how best to communicate that information with employees.

The first thing you should do is conduct a cybersecurity audit. A cybersecurity audit involves assessing your current situation, identifying risks and threats, evaluating the effectiveness of existing defenses or countermeasures (if any), determining what additional controls could be implemented, and then planning how they will be used.

Enforce BYOD Policies

To ensure that employees are aware of the security risks associated with BYOD, it’s essential to have a clear and concise written BYOD policy. The policy should be written in plain language so everyone can easily understand how to use their devices safely. It should also include instructions for keeping personal files separate from work files and guidelines for using mobile apps and other applications on your device. Your company may choose to create a template for this document that you can customize depending on your needs.

Employee Training

When it comes to training employees, there are many ways you can go about it. The first step is to ensure that your staff members are aware of Phishing attacks and other types of social engineering, such as tailgating and shoulder surfing. This will help them avoid being fooled by a hacker trying to trick them into giving away sensitive information.

You should also teach them how to identify malware threats and prevent them from infecting their devices. A good way of doing this is using the TrainSignal platform, which provides self-paced training on detecting phishing scams, ransomware attacks, and other cyber threats. You can also use free courses from organizations like Cybrary or Cyber Security Awareness Training Online (CATO). These courses provide comprehensive training for individuals working in business environments where threat management is essential for keeping operations running smoothly without disruption due to cybercrime attacks. 36% of Organizations Report Implementing At-Scale Cyber Security Awareness and SecOps Cross-Training.

Cyber Insurance

Cyber insurance is a type of insurance that covers losses due to data breaches, cyberattacks, and other cyber-related incidents. It can be purchased by your company or provided as part of an employee benefits package.

The cost of cyber insurance can vary depending on the size of your business and the industry you’re in (e.g., financial services versus healthcare). The average annual premium could be even higher if you opt for an additional coverage rider for cybersecurity events. If you want to know more about how much cyber insurance costs in your industry, the best way would be to contact a local agent specializing in this type of coverage.

Incident Response Plan

A cyber incident response plan (CIRP) is used to respond to incidents ranging from minor security breaches to significant breaches. A CIRP should include these elements:

  • Incident classification and prioritization. Each incident should be classified as low or high risk based on the potential impact on your business and customers. The response time for each classification must also be defined so that you can quickly address low-risk events while still responding on time to high-risk events.
  • How the team will communicate with each other during an attack or breach. It is essential that everyone has access to real-time communication tools, such as chat rooms and group calls, so they can stay up-to-date on what’s happening during an attack or breach without having multiple discussions via email threads or phone calls.

It’s also essential not just who should be involved but how many people need involvement from different departments within your organization (e.g., legal vs. IT vs. marketing).

Establish Security Policies

Security policies help protect your business from cyberattacks, data breaches, and other cyber threats. Governments, financial institutions, and other organizations that handle sensitive data must have strong security policies to prevent data loss or theft.

Establishing security policies is crucial because it sets an example for employees in handling sensitive information. Hence, they know what they should do if they come across such information while working with your company.

Post courtesy: George Passidakis, Director of Sales and Marketing at Apex Technology Management

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abdul waheed
Abdul Waheed is a seasoned business blogger, specializing in entrepreneurship and small business management. With over 10 years of experience, he offers invaluable insights and practical guidance to aspiring entrepreneurs, helping them navigate the challenges of starting and growing a successful business.