Studies suggest that more than 50% of all cyberattacks that had happened in 2019, took place because of human errors. In other words, the end-users or touchpoints and their lack of action allowed spammers and hackers access into systems and processes.
For many companies, training their employees constitute one of the top strategies to boost cybersecurity infrastructure. If you feel that training employees about these measures are not important and simple software installation can do the trick, ask yourself one simple question-
‘Who is going to use, install and work with the cybersecurity software in the first place?’ Your answer would be your managers, team members, and other employees!
In this article, we are going to look at precisely this. We will look at why training your employees is essential when it comes to protecting against cyberattacks.
List of 5 Cybersecurity Areas that should be part of your Cybersecurity Training Programs
- Code Signing-
Can you remember how many downloads of files, folders, media, and software you have done in the past few months? Chances are you do not know who is the owner of the said file and whether it is genuine and does not carry any malware or ransomware.
Training employees to look for code signing allows them to verify the credibility of the software developer and maker. A credible software or file will always have the sign of its maker making it trustworthy.
- Removable Media-
USB Sticks, Memory Cards, Smartphones, CDs, DVDs, Floppy Disks are all examples of removable media. Human beings tend to pick up and plug-in removable media without first analyzing it for security purposes.
Employees need to be trained that whenever they plug in any removable media into their systems, they should first run a scan to find out whether it carries any malware or other dangerous components.
- Password Changes and Authentication-
123456, password, 111111, 123123…the list of the most common passwords goes on and on. Cyber experts also point out that the above-mentioned passwords took all of a few seconds to breach. Employees need to be trained on the importance of strong passwords.
This should include upper case and lower case characters. They should also include alpha-numeric special characters as well. The stronger the password, the lesser chances of it being breached.
- Training for Remote Work and WFH-
While businesses can ensure better cybersecurity measures at work, what happens when all employees and the business itself shift to a ‘Work From Home’ model? With the COVID-19 Pandemic raging, most businesses are now working remotely.
This means unsecured firewalls, public Wi-Fi systems, and more. Regular training sessions must be held so that employees working from home are trained on all the necessary security protocols.
- Social Media Use and Sharing-
Social media has become a fundamental part of our lives. From checking our Instagram, the first thing in the morning to using Facebook right before bed, we are using social media more than ever before.
This means that companies need to train and make their employees understand that they should have in place privacy settings on their profiles. This will prevent hackers from gaining access to crucial information that can be detrimental to the interests of a business.
The Bottom Line
Human error continues to be the number one reason for cyberattacks. Leaving any digital touchpoints unattended means that someone else can take advantage of your error. By following all the points in the article, you can ensure that your employees are up-to-date concerning cybersecurity measures.
Such training sessions must be done at regular intervals. This is because the nature of threats and attacks continues to become more sophisticated with every passing day. If you wish to know more about cybersecurity training or how to plan them, let us know in the comments below.
