The days of storing all information on the hard drive in the office computer are long gone. More and more people are working remotely or in a home office with different hardware – from smartphones and tablets to laptops. But how well do users know the security regulations? All too often, SMEs in particular are unable to cope with these risks. Cybersecurity is often simply offloaded to the IT department. But what to do if it is too small or not available at all? That’s why it’s incredibly important that all employees, as well as people at the executive level, understand why IT security is an essential topic. And this is where cybersecurity awareness training can help.
Human risk factor
Unfortunately, humans are still one of the biggest risk factors for cybersecurity. We already took a closer look at this in a blog post some time ago: People are often careless with their data, devices and passwords, so that security gaps arise. In addition, there are cyberattacks specifically designed to exploit these weaknesses. One of the best-known methods is so-called phishing, in which fake e-mails, websites or messages are made to look like trustworthy sites or messages from business partners. If these are used, sensitive data can be accessed by hackers. Other very well-known risks are malware and ransomware, i.e. malicious programs and software that intervene in security vulnerabilities and subsequently execute harmful functions, usually combined with blackmail of the affected person. Learn about the 6 biggest cybersecurity risks for Swiss SMEs here.
The most frequently reported cyber incidents in Switzerland are therefore to be found in the “fraud” category. In the 28th calendar week of 2022 alone, 345 cases were reported by the public and SMEs. Continued 67 phishing attacks in the same week, reports the National Cyber Security Center NCSC.
Humans are thus often misused as targets. Risks are misjudged due to a lack of awareness and understanding, particularly on the Board of Directors or in management. At this point, at the latest, it becomes clear that cybersecurity is a matter for the boss, because in the worst case, liability consequences can also fall back on the board of directors.
The Solution: Awareness Programs
In view of this problem, employees should receive regular training on the subject of IT security. At Dinotronic, we offer cybersecurity training tailored specifically to you and your organization.
What is Cybersecurity Awareness Training?
Safe behavior in the digital space, awareness of potential information security breaches, and general mitigation of the risk of human error are at the forefront of these training sessions. Participants receive basic knowledge about current and consequential IT security risks. Real-world examples will be used to raise awareness about key threats, from phishing and malware to DDoS attacks and targeted cyberattacks.
Users learn to recognize and reduce security risks and to take the right measures in the event of an IT security incident. This is optimally implemented when the content is individually adapted to the target groups: Employees, managers, or IT managers each require a different introduction or more in-depth coverage of the topic.
Advantages
We’ve already given you 5 reasons for cybersecurity awareness training in this blog post:
- SMEs are the focus of cybercriminals
- Financial damage and loss of reputation
- Humans are the weakest link in the IT security chain
- Methods are changing – faster than ever
- Cybersecurity awareness training establishes a culture of error and security
You can find more details in the linked blog post. Why we mention this again? Because this already shows the benefits of such training. Because all these challenges can be prevented with good and, above all, regular training.
With the right know-how, employees gain the confidence to identify potential security risks at an early stage, respond effectively and de-escalate by notifying management or the IT department, for example. In the long run, the increased security awareness of users in the area of IT security also ensures that a company saves time and money. Taking action after a hacker attack or security breach can be very time-consuming and expensive. When individuals are well-trained, they are sensitized to cyber risks and much more aware of their role in corporate security.
Additionally, this makes it easier for companies to install a good internal security policy and contingency plan, as IT security training helps to ensure compliance within your organization. Often, explicit rules, regulations and laws must also be adhered to on how to work with personal and sensitive data. To optimize safety concepts, it helps to involve employees.
Dinotronic Recommendation
For optimal training, we recommend a combination of individual training, on-site and as e-learning. In our cybersecurity trainings, this has proven to be the best option. In customized training sessions, we can be specific to your company and your own security policies, as well as hold an in-depth Q&A session to address any questions that arise.
Learning tools are effective as a support, because they are particularly efficient, and you can test the learned knowledge in subsequent tests. Both trainings should be conducted as a brief refresher in an updated version annually for maximum effectiveness.
