Why Staff Training Is Foundational to Strong Cybersecurity Protocols
In our connected, digital-centric world, protecting information and data stored by public and private organisations is a feat businesses can’t afford to neglect.
Standards, such as the internationally recognised ISO 27001 information security requirements, provide step-by-step guides for organisations to identify risks and make a safety plan to follow.
Cybersecurity needs to be a top priority for all businesses to ensure everything from banking details to employee information is protected. It’s incumbent on employers to keep staff well-versed in cybersecurity protocols. Read on to find out why.
Importance of cybersecurity protocols
We have seen massive breaches in recent years, with Medibank and Optus losing over 100 million dollars each, and tens of thousands of customers between them. It’s not just billion-dollar corporations under attack; small and medium businesses also lose money and customers to cyber breaches.
Alongside the financial risk, the reputational damage endured by businesses after a significant data breach inflicts severe harm. It is integral that businesses, and each of their employees, protect the confidentiality of stored data to maintain company integrity and trust.
Training staff to meet the ISO 27001 requirements certifies your business and assists in meeting regulatory requirements, as well as garnering customer trust and investment.
Be aware
The first stage of staff training involves awareness of cybersecurity, exploring what it looks like and what happens when it is weak. Staff should be trained to recognise insider risks, including negligence, potential mistakes, and deficits in security resources since they might be handling the data at some point.
Using real-world examples of businesses that failed to mitigate insider risks is an excellent way to enhance training as staff can practise identifying risks in their workplace, such as password requirements and the use of personal devices to store confidential data. As non-malicious internal risks are far more common than external breaches, staff must know what is at stake if protections are insufficient.
Educate staff on what a strong password looks like, how to change passwords, how often they should be changing passwords, and the appropriate use of password managers. Emphasise the importance of not sharing logins and avoiding saving passwords on shared devices.
Customise training
Training is most successful when it is customised to each job role. If the training is the same across all roles, staff are likely to be overwhelmed and unsure of exactly what they need to do to mitigate the risks they face in their particular situation.
Teach the risks that employees will face in their daily work, such as logging out of websites and safely deleting confidential data. For IT staff, advanced technical training is appropriate, while non-technical staff only need to know the everyday basics.
Some concerns, such as phishing emails are relevant to all staff members as they are ubiquitous and increasingly more difficult to distinguish from genuine emails. Use real examples to demonstrate how even the most tech-savvy people can be duped.
Create a culture of security and learning
Cybersecurity is not the responsibility of one person in an organisation, effective protection relies on all employees following protective protocols. As such, staff should be trained with clear expectations and protocols, demonstrated by management to show that it is taken seriously.
A security-aware environment builds an understanding of security risks, ensures compliance and fosters a culture of honesty. Make it easy for staff to report suspicious activity and to speak up if they make a security mistake, without fear of blame or reprisal.
Like in all types of training, positive reinforcement plays a key role in maintaining a strong cybersecurity culture. Recognising employees who consistently follow best practices can motivate others to do the same. By creating a culture of vigilance and proactive behaviour, businesses can foster an environment where cybersecurity is an integral part of everyday work, rather than just a set of rules to follow.
Continuous learning and protection
Just as technology is constantly evolving, so too are the potential threats, and protocols need continual updates to reflect the latest tech environment. Regular software updates, reviews of practice, and staff training help organisations stay on top of ever-emerging threats.
Regularly conduct refreshers on established company protocols and new threats if relevant. Short lessons, Q&A discussion sessions and threat simulations are effective training methods, followed by simple assessments to measure the effectiveness of training. You can also seek feedback and tweak training to suit employees’ levels of understanding.
Beyond the base level of training, you can assess and address new vulnerabilities introduced by innovations such as artificial intelligence or ‘the cloud’. As hackers become more sophisticated, organisations must stay in the know, integrating the latest security tools and adapting protocols to defend against advanced cyberattacks.
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Effective cybersecurity depends on ongoing, comprehensive staff education that evolves with new threats. By fostering a security-first mindset and customising training to specific roles, businesses can ensure their teams are equipped to protect sensitive data. A proactive approach, supported by continuous learning and clear communication, is key to maintaining strong cybersecurity protocols.