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In 2017, 21% of businesses were affected by cybercrime, of which more than half said the incident prevented employees from doing regular work.
Cybercrime is on the rise, especially as more businesses move to virtual means of communicating and sharing documents and information. Although there are certainly technological solutions you can implement to protect your business, the number one way to ward of cybercriminals is by offering well-planned cybersecurity training to your employees. Human error and phishing schemes are one of the most common ways cybercriminals can hack into your business.
Some companies prefer to outsource their training to IT firms who can set up systems, policies, and procedures. Others may design their training in-house. Whichever way you choose to go, be sure that these 6 points are included as main points in your training program.
Why Offer Cybersecurity Training?
It’s crucial that your employees are aware of security threats to your business. Cybersecurity awareness training gives you an opportunity to help employees understand and address threats in a responsible way. It can also improve communication with your employees and make them feel more comfortable and confident as they go about their work.
It’s important to remember that there is always some degree of human error, especially when people are dealing with systems they don’t fully understand. We all make mistakes, and that includes falling victim to clickbait, fake identities, and other tactics used by cybercriminals to access your data and communications. Cybersecurity training will inform your employees of tricks and tactics to watch out for, so they’ll avoid them in the future. It may also raise additional concerns about security that you hadn’t considered or planned for.
6 Important Points for Cybersecurity Training
Different Cybersecurity Threats
Cybercrime comes in many forms, and it’s crucial that your employees know about all of them. This includes phishing, malware, and ransomware. Teach your employees to identify spam in case it contains malicious malware, and show them what malware and ransomware look like so they avoid accidentally downloading it. Show them what a phishing scam looks like, how to recognize falsified emails, and what to do if they aren’t sure about a certain situation.
Social Engineering
One cybersecurity threat often left out of training is social engineering. Social engineering tactics involve creating a trustworthy online identity to trick others into sharing sensitive information. Ensure you talk with your employees about these tactics and what to do when encountering social engineering.
Internet Guidelines
Almost everyone has access to the internet at some point throughout the workday. If your employees have bad internet habits and you don’t set out specific policies or guidelines, it could lead to negative outcomes. Information can be stolen, media accounts can be hacked, and money can even be taken from your business.
There are a few general rules to set for employees using the internet:
Disable pop-up windows.
Avoid downloading software from unknown or untrustworthy sources.
Never open suspicious links or attachments.
Keep personal tasks on personal devices and work tasks on work devices (or, if your employees or contractors use their own devices, make sure you have a BYOD policy in place – see below for more details on that)
Know the Dangers of Social Networking
Social networking is a fantastic way to connect with other businesses or individuals and build your brand. Unfortunately, social networking applications are not foolproof and any data or information could be shared due to attacks or possibly through the application itself. Ensure your employees are aware of the risks of social networking and implore them to be very careful about where they put data and what they’re sharing via social networking sites.
How to Report Cybersecurity Threats
Even if your employees are fantastic at recognizing and avoiding threats, it’s still important that they’re able to report anything suspicious or harmful. Make sure your employees know the process of reporting threats so you can keep updated on your business’s cybersecurity. Set out a specific contact person (such as your in-house IT manager or your outsourced IT provider)
Using a BYOD Policy Safely
As we become more connected and mobile, many businesses have created a Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) policy. Ensure your employees are fully aware of the regulations set out by your BYOD policy, such as password protection and allowed applications. Remember, the more spread out your network is, the more vulnerable it may be.
Hire Professionals to Handle Your Cybersecurity Needs
Technology keeps businesses running smoothly, but it can be a hindrance to your business if your employees don’t understand how it works or how to protect themselves and the business. Alt-Tech offers high-quality cybersecurity services so you don’t have to worry about keeping your information and data safe. Contact us today to find out how we can help protect your business from cybersecurity threats and offer on-site or virtualized training for your employees and contractors.
