How often has your organisation had a near-miss or been compromised by cyber-attacks because of your employee’s lack of cyber security awareness? Cyberattacks have devastating impacts on businesses. They result in data breaches, financial losses, and damage to business reputation. The easiest way for attackers to get to you is through human error. Even with the best protection, organisations remain exposed to cyberattacks if their staff aren’t trained and informed about how they may be targeted. In this article, we’ll explore the importance of cyber security awareness training and how it can help protect your business from threats.
Why is cyber security awareness training important?
People often associate cyberattacks with downloading viruses from the internet. However, they’ve become much more sophisticated and frequent than ever before. Cybersecurity awareness training is essential for any business to stay safe from the devastating effects of cyberattacks. Cybersecurity awareness training focuses on educating employees about the risks of cyberattacks and how to identify and prevent them. 74% of all security breaches include a human element, with people involved either via Error, Privilege Misuse, Use of stolen credentials or Social Engineering (Verizon Data Breach Investigations Report 2023).
Employees who aren’t trained in cyber security are weak links in an organisation’s security. Cyberattackers use a variety of tactics to gain access to sensitive business data, including phishing scams, malware, and social engineering. Without training, employees might not be aware of scams or that they’re a victim.
Security threats
One of the top three security threats to businesses is phishing scams. These scams use emails or text messages to trick employees into revealing sensitive information or downloading malware. Other threats include ransomware, which encrypts a company’s data until a ransom is paid, and social engineering, which involves manipulating employees into giving away sensitive information.
Types of attacks
Cyberattacks can come in many different forms, each with unique characteristics. Some of the most common types of cyberattacks include:
- Phishing attacks – emails or text messages designed to trick recipients into revealing sensitive information or downloading malware.
- Ransomware attacks – these attacks involve encrypting a company’s data until a ransom is paid.
- Social engineering attacks – these attacks involve manipulating employees into revealing sensitive information.
- Malware attacks – installing malicious software on a computer or network.
- Denial-of-service (DoS) attacks – overwhelming a server with traffic, making it inaccessible.
What is cyber security awareness training?
Cyber security awareness training is a process of educating employees about the risks associated with cyber-attacks and how to prevent them. The ultimate goal of this training is to help employees become aware of the risks and to develop the skills needed to identify and respond to potential threats. The training typically covers a wide range of topics. These include the basics such as how to create secure passwords and how to use two-factor authentication. Training also delves into how to identify phishing scams and how to avoid social engineering attacks. Through simulated attacks, you can test employees’ understanding of cyber security. 
The benefits of investing in cyber security awareness training
Investing in cyber security awareness training for employees increases overall security. It also reduces the risk of a successful attack. Properly trained employees are less likely to fall victim to cyberattacks, reducing the risk of a data breach. You also improve your customer’s confidence in you. Demonstrating a commitment to cyber security improves customer confidence and trust.
How to implement cyber security awareness training
Implementing cyber security awareness training in your business starts with identifying your training goals. Determine what you want to achieve with your training program and what topics you want to cover. You then need to develop your training materials that are engaging, informative, and easy to understand. Training should be delivered in a way that’s accessible and convenient for your employees, such as through online training modules or in-person workshops. At the end of your training, you should test your employees’ understanding of the material by conducting simulated phishing attacks.
Invest in cyber security awareness training
In today’s digital age, cyber security needs to be a top priority for businesses of all sizes. As a business owner, it’s your responsibility to protect your company’s sensitive data and information from cyberattacks. While security software is essential, it’s just as important to educate your employees on cyber security awareness. By ensuring your employees are aware of the latest threats and know how to identify and respond to potential attacks, you help protect your business from threats. If your employees aren’t ready for a cyberattack, nor is your organisation.
Outsource your IT security
Evologic can identify what cyber security risks are unique to your business, then develop and implement a custom solution to protect your network and data. Once in place, we perform regular audits, scans and security checkups to maintain your resilience against cyber attacks and data leakage. Contact our team on 03 5222 6677 or contact us online.
