Hiring an Information Technology (IT) employee used to be almost as easy as plucking a name from the classifieds. At that time, not everyone was in constant contact with computers or had access to one at home. Yet today, even your great-aunt could probably tell you about Facebook and Twitter. Thanks to this massive digital evolution, the pool of job candidates with IT skills has grown exponentially larger, meaning companies have more opportunities than ever when it comes to filling these positions. However, keeping your workforce up-to-date on emerging IT knowledge is no longer just beneficial for recruiting qualified candidates but also essential for mission success in business operations.
The Benefits of Cyber Security Awareness Training – Why Training Matters
The global threat landscape can seem endless because hacking attacks are constantly evolving, but some scenarios are more pervasive than others. One particularly problematic for companies involves phishing emails sent to employees with malware or links that take them to fraudulent websites. These social engineering schemes aim to trick recipients into clicking on malicious content, leading to data loss if their computers become infected. As more employees use company devices to access business networks, this threat surface becomes larger – even if they don’t work in IT-related positions.
However, once training initiatives are implemented at the workforce level, employees recognize even the most subtle signs of a targeted attack. Through practice exercises and interactive online tools designed by your information security teams, employees can learn how hackers operate and what steps you’re taking against them in real-time. The benefits of security awareness training extend to the entire company and include:
A reduction in successful phishing attacks: According to a recent study by Verizon, 91 percent of data breaches starting with a phishing email were not detected internally. But when employees are trained to recognize telltale signs (e.g., poor spelling and grammar, requests for information that sounds “too good to be true”) that indicate an attack, they can shut it down before serious damage is done.
Narrower scope of affected endpoints: Hackers usually aim at network servers and other core business systems during an attack because these assets contain the most sensitive information. When employees receive regular training on how their individual workstations can be infected with malware, they are less likely to damage or infect core systems. This knowledge can help cyber security teams quickly detect an attack and limit the number of endpoints affected by it.
An increase in employee efficiency — According to a study by Cisco, nearly 50 percent of malware is designed to slow down infected computers. When employees are trained on how to spot when they’re under threat, their work is not disrupted or lost – which ultimately increases productivity across your entire workforce.
By implementing information Cyber Security Awareness across your whole workforce, you save money in the long term because employees become more efficient, have better phishing detection abilities, and can identify breaches early.
