In 2020, four out of ten businesses in the United Kingdom reported a cyber attack or security breach. That’s approximately 39% of U.K. businesses that have been hit by a cyber attack in that year. While small businesses were the primary targets, attackers did not leave out large corporations and nonprofits.
In 2021, the UK reported an increase in cyber attacks on businesses by 31%. Cybercriminals took advantage of the fact that many businesses moved their daily operations online. Much of their data is also stored in the cloud. That makes it easier for attackers to access this data, especially in cases where cloud security is not up to standard.
Ransomware attacks also increased by 13% in the UK in 2021. This increased rate is higher than that of the previous five years combined. More interestingly, it’s been seen that the human element was involved in 82% of those attacks.
These are alarming statistics, and thus, they must be taken seriously and dealt with accordingly.
When you think about cybersecurity in your workplace, you might consider it only in terms of network security. However, a large part of being safe is ensuring that all employees understand the risks they face and what they can do to protect themselves. This includes training on cybersecurity as part of their personal development programs at work.
Here are some tips for training your workplace employees
#1 Hire Professional Cybersecurity Consultants
One of the best ways to ensure that your employees are learning cybersecurity practices is to hire a professional. This will save you time and energy and allow you to focus on other areas in the workplace. You can also ask them to tailor their training curriculum to suit your needs, which is often not possible with self-taught methods.
Finally, they may be able to advise you on improving existing security measures or adding new ones that could benefit your company.
Many renowned IT companies provide training and consultation services. You can learn more about this offering here. You can also get in touch with the consultants, schedule an initial appointment, and understand their approach. Afterward, bring them in for the employee training or consultation session.
#2 Have an Outline for the Training
Whether you’re an individual or a company, it’s vital to develop a cybersecurity training outline that can be used for all your employees. This gives them a clear idea of what topics will be covered during the session and prevents them from feeling overwhelmed.
For many people, it’s challenging to produce an outline for such training sessions. However, there are several templates available online that can help make this process easier for everyone involved in the development of these documents.
Once you’ve chosen which template works best for your needs, make sure that the outline is clear and concise, so all participants understand what they’re learning during their sessions. You can also ask your consultants to provide the outline for you since they’re more experienced in these areas.
#3 Make Sure Employees are Aware of the Consequences of Cyber Threats
Make it clear that non-compliance with security policies isn’t just a slap on the wrist but can lead to real consequences for individuals and companies, including fines, loss of business prospects, and even criminal charges. This means talking about how each employee’s actions affect not only the company they work for but also other businesses in the area as well.
For example, if an employee fails to follow company policy regarding password protection, this could result in cyber criminals gaining access to sensitive information from other businesses. This could then lead to problems with regulatory compliance.
#4 Include Quizzes and Practice Scenarios
There are several ways to test your employees’ knowledge about cybersecurity. One way is to create some kind of quiz and have them take it as part of a training class or after-hours. Consider using practice scenarios to help your employees understand how they might respond if they encounter a security incident while working at the company’s workplace.
#5 Make Sure the Management is Involved
It’s important to get management involved in your workplace’s cybersecurity efforts. This can be as simple as getting them involved in the training process, or it might mean having them sign off on a security policy. Either way, they should be part of the process.
Management can help with training because they know what employees are expected to do and will have a better understanding of how those expectations can be accomplished. They also have insight into any current issues that may need addressing before the training begins and may already have some ideas about how best to address those issues. They’ll also likely know how much time is available for training, so you don’t waste valuable resources trying to fit everything at once.
In addition, management plays a vital role in keeping employees informed about security matters so that everyone is aware of threats faced by their company.
The tips discussed here can help you make your workplace a safer place. It’s important to remember that cybersecurity isn’t just about keeping out hackers. It’s also about making sure that your employees are aware of risks and how they can avoid them. This includes training sessions on the subject and ongoing education so that everyone stays up-to-date with new threats as they emerge.
