News

Sep 14, 2024

Thousands of small—and medium-sized businesses suffer cyber incidents each year. 50% of companies report having suffered a cyber security breach or attack (i.e., a cyber event) in the last 12 months. Today, where cyber threats are becoming increasingly sophisticated, businesses constantly battle to protect their sensitive data and systems.

“Businesses should understand that IT security is more than just IT systems and protocols; it should also look at how employees use the technology at their disposal and their risky activities that lead to vulnerabilities.”

While IT security plays a crucial role, it is only one part of the risk management strategy. Equally important to recognise is the role of employees. They can be the first line of defence and the weakest link in cyber security.

This is where cyber security training for employees comes into play. By educating and empowering employees to become cyber-aware, businesses can significantly enhance their overall security stance.

Staff training is not a commonly used strategy, though. A survey conducted by Jensten’s Technology, Media, and Cyber team found that only 44% of businesses conducted regular cybersecurity training for their employees.

In this article, we will explore the key reasons cybersecurity training is essential in the workplace.

5 reasons why cyber security training for employees is important

Human Error Prevention

According to an IBM report, human error contributed to approximately 95% of cyber security incidents in 2021 (1), making it the biggest ‘Single Point of Failure’ in your IT Security infrastructure.

Employees are often targets of phishing attacks, social engineering, or other online scams. Through training, you can raise awareness of these attempts and techniques so employees are aware of common security risks and best practices, enabling them to identify and avoid potential threats.

Protection of Sensitive Data

The protection of sensitive data is critical for businesses across industries. Cybersecurity training can play a vital role in instilling a sense of responsibility among employees to safeguard valuable data.

Understanding the importance of data protection and the potential consequences of unauthorised access or breaches makes employees more cautious and vigilant. Staff will also learn best-practice IT security protocols, such as strong password management, to ensure that sensitive information remains confidential and secure.

Incident Response Readiness

In the event of a security incident, swift response and mitigation are crucial to minimise the impact of the cyber-attack. Cybersecurity training provides employees with the knowledge and skills to promptly identify and report security incidents.

If you have cyber insurance, notifying your insurance broker and/or insurers as soon as possible enables them to deploy your insurance as soon as possible. Initiating your policy quickly allows the experts to capture the initial incident reporting information, reduce the potential long-term impact on your business, safeguard any systems that are not yet compromised, and mitigate the impact of security breaches.

Compliance and Regulatory Requirements

Compliance with industry-specific regulations and standards is paramount for businesses operating in regulated industries (for example, insurance). Cyber security training ensures employees understand these requirements, helping companies avoid penalties and legal consequences. By familiarising employees with relevant regulations and providing guidelines on secure practices, training promotes a culture of compliance, protecting the organisation and its customers from potential legal and financial liabilities.

If you have cyber insurance, one of the requirements within the policy may be that staff training needs to be conducted.

Creating A Security Mindset

Building an IT security culture within the business is essential for long-term cyber security success. Regular cyber security training creates a security-aware and responsible mindset among employees. Employees become proactive in identifying and addressing potential security vulnerabilities by staying updated on emerging threats, best practices, and evolving technologies and techniques.

Why are Cybersecurity Awareness Programs important?

Given increased security breaches due to poor cybersecurity awareness, here are a few recommendations regarding cybersecurity awareness training and education.

• Cybersecurity awareness and training are essential for building a business’s cybersecurity culture.
• Cybersecurity threats are ever-evolving, and cybersecurity awareness must adapt accordingly.
• It is imperative to recognise the role of employees in maintaining a strong cybersecurity posture.
• Human error is a significant single point of failure; employees are most often the weakest link in a business’s IT security. 

What are the potential benefits of Cybersecurity Awareness Training?

• Prevent social engineering attacks
• Data protection
• Mitigation of insider threats
• Compliance with policies and regulations

In summary

Developing a defence against cyber-attacks is generally crucial. As cyber threats evolve, businesses must recognise employees’ critical role in maintaining a secure digital environment.

If businesses can improve training for their staff and formulate effective policies and protocols, they can undoubtedly minimise risks arising from hackers. Cyber security training should be seen as an indispensable tool to educate and engage employees in the battle against cybercrime. Particularly given the substantial impact employees have on protecting sensitive data, enhancing incident response readiness, ensuring compliance, and cultivating a security mindset.