The Importance of Ongoing Cybersecurity Training for All Employees

Empowering employees to recognize and prevent common cyber threats can be massively beneficial to your organization’s computer security and bottom line.

Cyberattacks are actions performed by individuals who try to gain unauthorized access, steal data, or cause damage to your company’s computer systems. Cybersecurity involves preventing, detecting, and responding to cyberattacks that can affect your employees or organization. Ongoing training can help educate employees so they know what to be cautious of and how to report threats. Here are the top six reasons why ongoing cybersecurity training is important for all employees.

1. Cybersecurity Attacks are on the Rise

With more people working from home than ever before, it’s critical to teach your employees how to protect their work from cyberattacks. Many organizations weren’t prepared for the dramatic shift in remote work, and cybercriminals are taking advantage of this situation to go after unsuspecting and unsecured devices.

Because it’s reported that 95% of cybersecurity breaches are caused from human error, it’s crucial for employees to take the right security measures to avoid becoming a victim of a cyberattack. However, they must know the right steps to take to do this, and training can help fill those gaps.

2. Help Prevent Data Breaches and Phishing Attacks

Phishing attacks and data breaches are on the rise. In fact, a study from IRONSCALES found that 81% of organizations have experienced an increase in email phishing attacks. Cybersecurity training can help employees understand what phishing attacks are and how to avoid them. For example, not opening or clicking emails from unknown senders, not visiting websites that may not be secure, etc. They will learn how to identify threat actors every time they are sent a suspicious link or strange message. It can also teach them how to protect their physical computers and systems where data and information is being stored.

Training can also show employees how various safety procedures and frameworks coordinate and work together so they can understand the challenges faced by security issues and know how to deal with any issues that arise. Understanding how to report these issues is an essential step.

3. Encourage Use of Technological Defenses Against Threats

Protecting your data is only as good as the actions of your employees. Training can emphasize the importance of logging into the VPN, turning on firewalls, acknowledging security warnings, updating software, and other defenses your organization may have in place to protect against threats. Over time, these best practices will become a regular part of your organization and the way your employees interact, communicate, and use technology. You will be able to rest assured that they are equipped with the knowledge as well as the tools they need to protect critical data and avoid cybersecurity threats.

4. Reduce the Likelihood of Monetary Damages

Data breaches can cost a company millions of dollars in damages and loss. Cyberattacks can not only damage your business’ reputation and erode the trust your customers have in you, but it can also potentially lead to loss of customers, loss of sales, and loss of revenue.

When employees have proper training, they can avoid and report potential threats that can be quarantined or eliminated before they escalate and cause financial damage.

5. Empower and Protect Employees

Employees won’t know how to protect data and prevent cybersecurity attacks unless they are taught. Cybersecurity training gives employees the knowledge and tools they need to work safely and protect your organization. This can help them feel more confident that they know how to keep their work and data secure. It can also reduce anxiety and stress levels because they feel more prepared and know what can go wrong and how to avoid it. Cybersecurity threats are constantly evolving. As threat actors become more and more powerful, the scope of the damage they can inflict also expands. That’s why employees must continue to learn about new and evolving threats. Implementing ongoing training is the best way to keep skills and knowledge sharp and up-to-date.

6. Necessary for Compliance Purposes

Many industries require cybersecurity training for compliance purposes, though this shouldn’t be the only reason you incorporate training for all employees. Having training helps ensure you’re not violating any legal regulations, but also protects your employees from facing legal action because they didn’t know how to securely protect themselves and the company. Certifications may also be necessary for certain levels of cybersecurity training depending on the organization.

Cybersecurity threats are constantly evolving. That’s why it is critical that managers offer ongoing, comprehensive cybersecurity training for all employees. Employees need to be aware of the many different types of threats they may interact with on a day-to-day basis. Training courses can be tailored to individual workforces to cause minimal interruption to your regular schedule.