Cyber criminals are becoming more and more sophisticated in their attacks, but there’s one thing they still rely on: people. In many cases, cyber criminals get help from unwitting employees who open infected emails, click on malicious links, or disclose sensitive information. That’s why it’s so important to have a security awareness training program in place that educates your team about how to stay safe online.
Teaching your team about cybersecurity literacy doesn’t have to be complicated or time-consuming. Learn how you can make cybersecurity awareness a key part of your organization’s defense against cybercrime.
The Impact of Cyber Attacks on Companies
In 2022, the average cost of a data breach is $4.35 million. And that number is only going up as cyber attacks become more sophisticated and damaging. But what many companies don’t realize is that many of these attacks could have been prevented if their employees had received proper security awareness training.
According to IBM, 95% of all successful cyber attacks are the result of human error. That means that these data breaches could have been prevented if employees had known what to look for and how to respond properly.
The importance of training employees is clear. But with so many companies offering different programs, it can be hard to know where to start. Before you decide on a program for your company, it’s important to know the internal cyber risks.
The Internal Cyber Risks
There are two primary types of cyber attacks: those that come from outside your company (external), and those that originate from within (internal).
External attacks are the ones that get the most attention. After all, they’re the ones that make headlines when massive companies like Target or Equifax are hacked. But internal attacks can be just as damaging, if not more so. In fact, 58% of all data breaches are caused by insiders.
The reason internal attacks are so damaging is because employees already have access to your company’s systems and data. They don’t need to hack their way in—they can simply walk right through the front door. And once they’re inside, they can do a lot of damage.
This is why it’s so important to have training that covers both external and internal threats. Your employees need to know how to spot the signs of an attack, no matter where it’s coming from.
What Is Security Awareness Training?
Security awareness training is a program that teaches employees how to recognize and respond to cyber threats. It covers everything from social engineering and phishing scams to password security and data privacy.
Ideally, this training should be mandatory for all employees. But even if it’s not, it’s still worth offering voluntary programs or courses. The more employees you can get to participate, the better.
When choosing a program, there are a few things to keep in mind. First, it should be comprehensive and cover the different types of cyber attacks. Second, it should be interactive and engaging so that employees will actually pay attention and remember what they’ve learned. And finally, it should be updated regularly to reflect the latest threats.
How You Can Improve Cybersecurity with Security Awareness Training
There are a few key things you can do to improve your cybersecurity with security awareness training:
- Teach employees how to spot the signs of an attack
- Train employees on proper password security
- Educate employees on social engineering and phishing scams
- Encourage employees to report suspicious activity
- Offer regular, updated training programs
By teaching your employees how to spot and respond to cyber threats, you can help reduce the chances of a successful attack. And that can save your company a lot of money—and a lot of headaches.
Get Security Awareness Training with RedNight Consulting
Don’t wait for a cyber attack to happen before you start thinking about security awareness training. Be proactive and get ahead of the threat with RedNight Consulting. Contact us today to learn more about our cybersecurity solutions.