Training and Awareness in Cybersecurity
Introduction
In today’s world technology has become a crucial part of our everyday lives. Technology continues to advance making things faster and far more efficient. With these new advancements come new forms of dangers and risks. Things like malware, viruses, email scams, etc. have become increasingly dangerous and have led to the loss of millions and millions across the globe for businesses and users alike. It has become increasingly important that we educate ourselves and our employees on these growing dangers in order to mitigate and prevent them. Employees have become the last line of defense when it comes to endpoint attacks and it’s crucial that they are aware and trained to handle that responsibility.
Security Risks
Most cyber-attacks are directed at endpoint security as cybercriminals have found more and more exploits and weaknesses. This places an enormous amount of pressure on employees and companies to ensure that their systems are secured and operating properly. However, the biggest threat to cyber security and endpoint security is actually the human aspect. “Botching Human Factors in Cybersecurity in Business Organizations”, an article written by Calvin Nobles explains how people make up 86% of security weaknesses, whether because of negligence or lack of knowledge. In the article, Nobles would explain how companies are losing millions due to data breaches, 81% occurring from weak or stolen passwords, 43% at the hands of social engineering attacks, and 51% involving malware. The biggest problem for most companies isn’t the lack of sophisticated or advanced technology but rather employees falling victim to cyberattacks. This is why all employees, regardless of position at the company, must begin some form of cyber training and awareness program. One of the leading concerns is the use of social engineering on employees. “Social engineering is defined as a method that seeks to exploit a weakness in human nature and take advantage of the naivety of the average person. Although the techniques of social engineering have evolved over time, the success of such attacks still depends on modern preventive tools and the security systems in place, as well as the availability of trained and skilled personnel dealing with sensitive data in organizations” (Aldawood & Skinner, The threat of social engineering has made awareness training crucial in businesses of all kind. “Cybersecurity Practices for Social Media Users: A Systematic Literature Review”, an article written by Herath, Khanna, & Ahmed describe cybersecurity awareness as the level of understanding achieved by users regarding the significance of information security, their associated responsibilities, and a series of acts to practice an adequate degree of information security control, safeguarding organizational data and networks. As I stated previously, employees are considered both the first and last line of defense when it comes to possible cyberattacks. Making them aware of the dangers of social engineering and phishing attacks is crucial in preventing potential security breaches.
Importance of Awareness Training
The need for awareness and training in the cybersecurity field is only continuing to grow. The pandemic has created a new problem as employees are being forced to work from home, making more susceptible to cyber-attacks. This is why companies need to prioritize setting the foundation for developing a good security culture. These training programs should be designed to help users and employees understand their role in helping combat information security breaches. By developing a proper and effective program companies can minimize risks preventing the loss of money, reputation, and loss of IP. Awareness of security breaches is essential to preventing further system issues. How we react to breaches and attacks is just as important because failing to respond appropriately can lead to further damage. An effective awareness training program should help employees understand their roles, as well as the risks and some of the dangers they may encounter such as email scams, scam links, or social engineering. Using things like phishing tests can help with security awareness and in a sense scare employees into better security practices. By implementing these tests companies can get a better understanding on which employees need to be monitored or were most of their weaknesses are. Ensuring employees can identify phishing scams and recognizing social engineering should be prioritized. One of the polarizing topics surrounding awareness training and cyber security is the debate of productivity vs security. Many feel that security gets in the way of productivity and interferes with employee work. Companies have to find that fine balance between keeping training simply and easy to incorporate into workflow without compromising the security side. Developing a set of guidelines and principles can help employees understand company standards and expectations making developing a security culture much easier. Emphasizing key elements in security programs can help employees understand why it is they must go through these steps and may make adding additional security protocols easier in the future. Companies must stress the important of a security culture within their organization. Educating employees on simply things such as password security, VPN usage, duo authentication, and privileges is essential in laying the groundwork for solid security practices. Password security is something most employees take for granted but as I stated previously it plays a major role in data breaches. Ensuring that employees maintain strong passwords and that they are not stored in plain sight sounds simply but can make a big difference. Using VPNs is also an important tool that can be very beneficial. VPNs can protect employees using company devices on outside networks. They block harmful ads, links, and ensure that their IP is masked and secured. Cybercriminals will find it very difficult to take advantage of employees if they can’t target their devices as easily. The work-from-home model has made VPNs essential for all employees. Another great tool is the use of duo authentication. Duo authentication ensures that employees need two forms of identification in order to access company data and sensitive material. Finally, the use of privileges to ensure that employees only have access to the files and data necessary for their work. This can help mitigate damages from potential data breaches if an employee’s account is hacked. All of these tools can be very beneficial in reducing/preventing exploits and attacks caused by cybercriminals.
Implementation of Polices
When implementing training awareness and security policies it is important to remember that these polices must be enforced across the entire company. They should be done through assigned committees of experts with an understanding of what they are trying to accomplish. The creation of policies are meant to protect employees and help them while they perform their responsibilities, while also alleviating some of the pressure and stresses. These policies must be clear and concise, so employees know exactly what is expected of them. Highlighting key concepts such as the objective of the training, the background, scope, audience, the guiding policy statement, and the definition. Developing upon these key concepts can help companies implement and enforce effective polices and training systems. Another important element is rewarding those who do adhere to training and policy. Rewarding employees can create extra motivation and incentives giving them a reason to avoid cutting corners. Companies should also consider adding punishments for individuals who disregard company policy. By adding punishments, you can prevent employees from taking unnecessary risks and ensuring violators are held responsible for their actions. Regular testing can very beneficial as well. Testing can assist employees implement what they have learned in real life type situations. The use of phishing tests, white hat hackers, or pen testing can help exploit weaknesses in systems and also ensure employees know their responsibilities in case of a real attack. This will also assist in adapting training and awareness programs in the future. Determining which exercises worked and which didn’t will help develop a more effective system and simplify training. Cybersecurity training is an important part of developing a sustainable business in today’s digital landscape. By taking the time to train your employees on how to properly protect themselves and the company, companies will be able to mitigate many of the security threats associated with operating a business while simultaneously maximizing productivity levels.
Conclusion
In conclusion, technology is a very powerful tool that can lead to many amazing innovations. Companies and users alike have been able to reap the benefits and perform things with speed and efficiency. With these technological advancements, we have also been exposed to new and present dangers online. Cybercriminals are becoming more and more creative in finding and utilizing exploits. These exploits have cost millions in damages and stolen property, which has caused a shift in how we approach our online security. The human factor is the greatest weakness of security programs and the only way to solve this issue is through education and training. Companies must continue to develop and improve awareness training programs to shed light on the risks present online. Ensuring that employees and users alike must be aware of their role when combating breaches is crucial to preventing further damage. Being properly trained is no longer solely reliant on IT professionals, it is crucial everyone learns at least the basics when it comes to cyber security.