Most cybersecurity incidents could be prevented by thorough security awareness training. That may sound like a bold claim, but more than 80% of cybersecurity breaches are due to human error. When employees click on unreliable links, connect to unprotected WiFi, use weak passwords, etc., they leave both their personal and business information vulnerable to hackers.
With the right information, tools, and practice, however, they can act as their company’s strongest defense against cyber threats. Let’s take a closer look at cybersecurity training and why it matters for your business.
What Is Security Awareness Training?
Security awareness training (aka cybersecurity training) includes any efforts an organization makes to help its employees be more cyber aware and know how to identify, report, and prevent different cyber threats.
Topics generally include common threats like malware, phishing, or other social engineering attacks and are focused on teaching employees cybersecurity best practices. Training can be in the form of in-person meetings, practice drills, modules and videos, flyers, newsletters, etc.
Benefits of Cybersecurity Training
Empowering employees with cyber knowledge and skills strengthens your business’s safety and success in a way few other tactics can.
1. Well-Equipped Employees
Cybersecurity training helps team members feel “in the know” and well-prepared to recognize and respond to threats, dramatically reducing the risk of human error. By arming your team with the right knowledge and confidence, you add a critical human element to your defense strategy, eliminating gaps left by machines and transforming employees into your first line of defense.
2. Strengthened Cybersecurity Culture
Developing a strong cybersecurity culture, where employees prioritize digital safety and recognize cyber safety as their responsibility, is absolutely crucial to your business’s safety. Security awareness training creates a collective mindset that encourages accountability and proactive protection company-wide, reinforcing security at every level.
3. Decreased Risk of Breaches
With employees better trained to identify phishing attempts, suspicious links, and other common attacks, the likelihood of a breach is significantly reduced. This prevention allows you to preserve sensitive data, protect applications, maintain workflows, and avoid the devastating financial and reputational costs that accompany breaches.
4. Enhanced Incident Response
Effective incident response strategies rest on the ability of each team member to carefully, correctly, and quickly execute their assigned roles during and directly after a breach. Proper training gives them the knowledge, skills, and resources they need to do this, reducing chaos and resulting in a smoother, faster, and more organized recovery process.
5. Minimized Downtime
Between lost sales, wasted overhead, compensation costs, and more, downtime is incredibly expensive. With employees well-trained in avoiding threats, however, your chances of downtime will be limited. When something does slip through, their incident response skills will reduce recovery periods and help you get back online before you experience significant financial losses.
6. Increased Customer Trust
Customers value organizations that prioritize security and protect their data, and the opposite is also true—between 66%-75% of clients say they wouldn’t continue doing business with a company that experienced a breach. Cybersecurity training demonstrates your commitment to protecting clients’ data and preventing breaches, fostering trust and loyalty among customers.
7. Improved Compliance
Security awareness training is a great opportunity to teach employees about your industry’s cybersecurity guidelines and make sure they know their part in maintaining compliance. Depending on your industry, many regulations also require companies to hold cybersecurity training, so you’ll be effectively sidestepping costly fines and legal consequences associated with non-compliance.
Empower Your Team with AIS’s Cybersecurity Training
At AIS, we know the importance of keeping your team in the loop on your business’s protections. With our security awareness training, your employees will be equipped to prevent, identify, respond to, and recover from threats with confidence—granting you peace of mind and allowing you to focus on core operations.
Chat with a representative to learn more about our cybersecurity services or schedule your training today.