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Cyber Security Awareness Training

Introduction

As technology improves and our daily usage of it evolves, cyber criminals exploit vulnerable security systems for profit. Cyber attacks, such as phishing and ransomware, have increased dramatically in the previous years. Accenture’s Ninth Annual ‘Cost of Cybercrime’ Study reported that the average cost of cybercrime was $13 million (£10.3 million) in 2018, a 73-per cent increase
over the previous five years.
When it comes to targeted attacks, phishing and social engineering pose the largest threat to organisations, people are the most susceptible aspect of any organisation and email is the least secure of all communication channels. In the first quarter of 2022, social engineering was recognised as one of the most commonly reported cyberattack penetration strategies employed by hackers targeting businesses.
IT security experts utilise security awareness as a method to avoid and manage user risk. It can be defined as a technical method of training employees to raise security awareness about the importance of data privacy, people’s identities, and other assets frequently attacked by cyber criminals. While software vulnerabilities may be detected and patched, user behaviour is considerably more challenging to modify, making this a particularly appealing attack vector.

  1. Purpose of Penetration Testing:

    • Penetration testing aims to identify vulnerabilities in computer systems, networks, or web applications, providing proactive defence against potential cyber threats.

  2. Evolution of Cyber Threats:

    • The cyber threat landscape is rapidly evolving, witnessing a surge in sophisticated attacks, especially targeting endpoints like computers, smartphones, and IoT devices.

  3. Critical Role in Cyber Defence:

    • Penetration testing is a critical component in cybersecurity defence, offering insights to address vulnerabilities before they can be exploited by sophisticated threats.

  4. Economic Threat of Cybercrime:

    • The economic threat from cybercrime is significant, with the average global data breach costing millions, emphasizing the need for robust defence mechanisms.

  5. Cost-Benefit Analysis:

    • Despite upfront costs, penetration testing is economically prudent compared to potential losses from breaches, ensuring compliance, protecting reputation, and maintaining trust.

  6. Case Study – Norsk Hydro:

    • Norsk Hydro’s experience demonstrates the value of penetration testing in saving millions by identifying and addressing security gaps exploited during a ransomware attack.

  7. Financial Impact:

    • Upfront investment in penetration testing pays dividends by preventing potential disasters, safeguarding against exorbitant costs, and improving overall cybersecurity posture.

What Are the Advantages Of Cybersecurity Awareness Training?

Cyber security awareness training can help organisations ensure compliance with industry standards and protect data, recognise and respond to cyber threats. An effective cyber security awareness training programme will cover cyber security mistakes that employees may do whether using email, the internet, or in the real world against physical attacks.

Save Both Time And Money

Data breaches and cyber attacks may be costly, with an estimated £400 billion each year. However, training your staff might save you millions. An efficient cybersecurity awareness programme can help to reduce the risks that could lead to data breaches and other cyber security dangers.

Compliance With Standards

Compliance is not a choice but it is required by law, handling customer’s sensitive private information can be punished if not protected, and making sure employees are well taught and aware of best practises is one of the best approaches to avoid penalties and legal actions.

Boost Your Workers Confidence

Knowing how to make the right decision regarding suspicious emails and links after receiving training will boost your employee confidence and help them save time and be more productive, this will also lessen the likelihood of human mistakes causing a data breach.

Gain Client Trust And Confidence

One cyber attack can cause significant harm to a business’s reputation. This may also result in the loss of partnership and sponsorship, and eventually trust. Consumers and other companies may be more inclined to select your company over a competitor if they notice that you’ve invested time and money in ongoing cyber security awareness training.

Begin Training Your Employees

Understanding security training needs and threat awareness can be a daunting task. The greatest thing you can do is to make a start, no matter how small the step may feel.

A comprehensive training programme for your organisation on the best practises for security awareness training tailored to your business needs, along with support and audits, will reduce the risk of human errors resulting in a data breach and protect sensitive data. Lasting behavioural changes take time, utilising the appropriate approach and techniques, which relies on constructing a continuous learning cycle with numerous components, will help your organisation stay secure against the latest cybersecurity threats and trends.

Security awareness training is an important part of keeping your employees, organisation, and customers safe.

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Daniel Phillips
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