Security in the world of cybersecurity is an absolute necessity. While much attention is given to the technical aspects of cybersecurity, there is a need for security awareness programs to fight against cyber threats by increasing employee awareness of information security and the potential risks to which they, and their organisations, are exposed.
What is a Security Awareness Program?
A Security Awareness Program is a series of planned and coordinated actions implemented to sensitize employees about security best practices and to help them reduce the cyber risk within the workplace. It is designed to educate and train employees on how to detect and respond to security incidents and to maintain strong security practices in the workplace. A security awareness programme should include policies, procedures, guidelines, and training to ensure that employees of an organisation understand the importance of security in safeguarding corporate assets and data.
Why a Security Awareness Program is Important
Employee neglect is the leading cause of data breaches. Many employees have insufficient cybersecurity knowledge and therefore fail to recognize the potential risks they face and the importance of security awareness. A security awareness programme can help to address this by providing education on cybersecurity best practices which will result in employees becoming m ore aware of cyber threats and how to prevent them.
Employees are often the weakest link in an organisation’s security. They may not possess the technical skills to identify the various types of cyber threats. However, involving them in a Security Awareness Program can help reinforce the need for vigilance and prompt them to identify the behaviour triggers of cyber threats such as phishing scams, social engineering, and ransomware attacks. With this knowledge, employees can take proactive steps to combat these threats and protect themselves from potentially damaging cyber incidents.
The Dos and Don'ts of Security Awareness Training
While there are no hard and fast rules on security awareness training, here are some dos and don'ts that will help ensure that your employees are better equipped to protect your organisation against cyber threats.
DO: Conduct Regular Security Awareness Training
Cybersecurity threats are ever-evolving, and so should your organisation’s approach to security awareness training. An annual security awareness training session is not enough; continuous awareness training gives employees the information they need to keep up with the latest threats and to stay alert.
DO: Create an Engaging Security Awareness Campaign
To ensure that your security awareness campaign is successful, it must be engaging and interactive. The training should be interactive and include weekly security tips to keep employees motivated. The campaign should also use real-life examples to illustrate the implications of cybersecurity threats.
DON'T: Implement Blame Culture
If an employee falls victim to a security breach, making it public puts them in a bad light and could lead to demoralisation. Avoid blaming or punishing employees for making mistakes. Instead, make sure the Security Awareness Program focuses on seeking solutions to reduce similar incidents from occurring.
DO: Provide Rewards for Employee Vigilance
When employees are aware of the organisation’s security posture, they become more vigilant and make security a personal responsibility. Rewarding employees who report wrongdoings helps to incentivise them to remain vigilant about security threats.
DON'T: Assume That Employees Know Better
Many employees lack cybersecurity knowledge, so they may not know which security practices are most effective or even part of their role. Avoid assuming that they know what to look out for in terms of phishing scams or password vulnerabilities. Always provide them with the necessary training to ensure that they have the necessary knowledge to maintain good cybersecurity hygiene.
Implementing a Successful Security Awareness Program
Implementing a successful Security Awareness Program requires a structured and well-executed plan. Below are the steps that an organisation may follow to create a successful security awareness programme:
Assess Your Organisation’s Risk Profile
Understand your organisation’s cybersecurity risk profile by performing a risk analysis or assessment. Identify all risks to your organisation’s data, systems, and assets. Evaluate the impact and likelihood of each risk and determine the cost of risk reduction that is sufficient for your organisation.
Develop a Security Awareness Programme Strategy
Determine the scope of your security awareness programme. Identify the key stakeholders required for a successful programme implementation, including the security team, IT departments, HR, employees, and legal representatives. Define the goals and objectives of the programme, specific to your organisation’s risk profile and programme maturity.
Draft a Security Awareness Policy
Develop a security awareness policy outlining the specific steps necessary to reduce cybersecurity risks in your organisation. The security policy should serve as a guiding document for all employees, outlining the expectations of behaviour and the consequences of non-compliance. Be sure to have the policy reviewed and approved by all stakeholders.
Create Training Material and Deliver the Programme
Develop employee training materials in line with the organisation’s security awareness policy. Ensure that the training materials part of the Security Awareness Program have information covers the scope of cybersecurity threats, prevention and response measures, reporting incidents, and good cyber hygiene practices. Use various media types (videos, illustrations, posters, etc.) to keep the training engaging. Deliver the training across different departments in the organisation, ensuring that all employees are included.
Evaluate the Success of Your Security Awareness Programme
Conduct formal or informal assessments to evaluate the progress and effectiveness of your programme. Evaluate if the programme has been successful in reducing the frequency and severity of security incidents. If the evaluation reveals gaps in employee education or other programme areas, adjust the programme to ensure that all stakeholders gain the necessary information.
Conclusion
The growing number of cybersecurity threats requires an organisation’s investment in a Security Awareness Program. The benefits of creating such a program are that it increases staff awareness of threats, improves security hygiene, and reduces security incidents altogether. Whether an organisation is just starting a security awareness programme or improving an existing one, it is crucial to follow the steps outlined and to regularly evaluate and improve the programme. By doing so, organisations can build a culture of cybersecurity awareness and ensure that their employees remain the first line of defence against cyber threats.
