Cybersecurity training is one of the most important aspects of protecting a business from cybercrime. In order to protect their sensitive data, companies need to have employees who are aware of the dangers and know how to protect themselves and their systems.
In this blog post, we will discuss everything that goes into cybersecurity training. We will cover what cybersecurity training is, who should complete it, and the basics that every employee should know to keep their business safe from cyberattacks.
MyComputerCareer is a great place to start if you are looking for cybersecurity training for your employees. Our IT courses and programs are designed for users of all skill levels, so whether your employees have some experience with cybersecurity or none at all, MyComputerCareer can help get them up to speed quickly.
What is cybersecurity training?
Cybersecurity training focuses on educating employees on potential IT risks and vulnerabilities. It teaches people how to identify any security threats that could happen when working with computer systems.
Hackers and other cybercriminals use various sophisticated methods to hack into organizations’ systems, with newer methods being developed all the time.
In order to reduce the danger of exposure, employees must be trained on how to identify problems, protect sensitive information, and reduce the chances of criminals accessing sensitive data and financial accounts.
Cybersecurity training is especially important when we know that most security breaches occur because of human error. According to the Verizon 2021 report, 82% of data breaches involved a human element, while 61% involved credentials.
Cybersecurity threats can come from phishing emails, visiting all kinds of websites, and even in the physical world through social engineering.
Employers can teach their employees about their role in protecting sensitive company data by having a proper cybersecurity training program for their organization.
Which employees should complete cybersecurity training?
Employees are a company’s first line of defense against cybercriminals.
That’s where cybersecurity awareness training for employees comes into play, as it can equip them with the skills and knowledge they need to protect themselves and the company data from criminal elements.
Any staff member with access to a work computer, mobile, or any other device should undergo thorough cyber security training, as anyone with private or company technology can be targeted.
For example, an employee’s personal mobile phone can still have some data left on it that can be used to access corporate networks.
However, even cyber security specialists should attend training as they need to apply each year’s newest cybersecurity protection techniques. They should strive to do more than meet the pace of today’s cyber risks and threats to keep their organizations safe year-round.
What should cybersecurity training include?
New hire training and routinely scheduled refresher security courses should be established if companies want to instill a data security culture. Employee training should include the following:
1. Responsibility for confidential data
Organizations should highlight the importance of data security and each employee’s obligation to protect company data. Organizations and their employees have legal and regulatory obligations to respect and protect the privacy, integrity, and confidentiality of information.
2. Procedures for Document Management and Notification
Employees should be trained on the data incident reporting method in the event that an employee’s computer becomes infected with a virus or performs abnormally (e.g., running slowly, unexplained errors, changes in desktop configurations, etc.).
They should be trained to identify a legit warning message or alert. In such instances, employees should notify the IT team immediately so they can take measures to counteract the security threat and conduct an investigation.
3. Passwords
Employees should be trained on how to pick strong passwords. Passwords should be complicated enough that they are not easily guessed yet simple enough to be remembered without writing them down.
Workers should also be reminded to change their passwords on a regular basis through company systems.
4. Internet use
Organizations should train employees to avoid clicking on unfamiliar or suspicious links in emails or online. Such links can spread malware, corrupt systems, and steal company information.
Companies should also implement safe browsing policies and limit employee Internet use in the workplace.
5. E-mail
The best defense against data theft is responsible email use. Workers should avoid opening attachments or clicking on links in suspicious communications. Companies should educate their employees to only accept emails that:
- Come from a trusted source known to them
- Come from someone they’ve already gotten mail from
- Is a mail they were expecting
- Doesn’t look weird with strange spellings or characters
- Passes the anti-virus program test
6. Phishing scams and Social Engineering
Social engineering, online fraud, phishing scams, and other cybersecurity threats to information security should all be covered in an organization’s cybersecurity training.
7. Social media guidelines
Organizations should educate their employees on social media and discuss their policy and guidance for using a company email address to register, post comments, or receive messages on social media.
8. Mobile phones
Companies should disclose their mobile device policy to their employees for both company-owned and personally-owned devices used during work hours.
9. Securing Computer Resources
Organizations should educate their employees on how to protect their laptops from theft by locking them or storing them in a secure location.
Important data should be backed up on a regular basis, and the copies should be stored safely. All employees are responsible for installing current virus protection software on company computers.
Conclusion
Strong security awareness training is a critical component of any company’s data security program. Properly trained employees are the most important asset in preventing data breaches and other cybersecurity incidents.
Organizations should ensure their employees receive comprehensive training on all aspects of cybersecurity. This includes responsibilities for data protection, document management procedures, passwords, internet use, e-mail, phishing attacks and social engineering, and more.
By providing employees with this vital training, they will be more prepared to protect the company’s data and reduce their risk of a security breach.
At MyComputerCareer, we offer a variety of IT courses that focus on cybersecurity training. Whether you are looking to learn the basics or become an expert in cybersecurity, our classes will give you the skills you need to protect your business operations from cyber threats. For more information, contact us today!