Data and information security is a critical human concern. Even as security tools and technology improve, most breaches typically culminate in a human failure that begins with someone clicking, making assumptions, and not following policy. Thereby, mistakes are made with significant losses. Consequently, end-users should make the most of continuous awareness education.
Many security professionals blame the users quickly and believe that the human security side must be ignored. Rather, they recommend that businesses focus on developing and maintaining the security technology that primarily protects against cyber-attacks.
However, this kind of thinking is an utterly poor process. The idea that “humans are the weakest link in cyber-security” is one of the major reasons cybersecurity attacks are prevalent with exponentially increasing threats. It is not that people are less prudent in surfing the internet and using digital tools. Rather, cybercriminals are smarter than most businesses’ security experts.
Thus, senior managers must be more vigilant and resilient to sort out their security threats and find a prompt solution and timely implementation to prevent any loss of confidential data and high-value information. In 2018, the following primary sectors exponentially turned towards the cloud, big data technology, and file-sharing services, topping the list of the highest-targeted industry verticals significantly vulnerable to cyber-attacks.
- The public sector (state infrastructure, public transportation, and governmental services)
- Banks and financial services
- Education
- Healthcare
- Insurance
- Law firms
- Manufacturing
- Military
- Retail
- Telecommunications
Enterprise security awareness training and cyber risk management programs pivot various activities needed to protect sensitive corporate data and IT infrastructure.
Providing Security Awareness Training to Help Managers Prevent Attacks
Training your company managers, particularly senior managers, accompanies unique issues and concerns. It is paramount for them to leverage a general security awareness training session open for every employee. This is demonstrated by the management’s sincere commitment to the program. However, a busy executive may struggle to attend an hour-long session. The most appropriate solution is to prepare a comprehensive, to-the-point session for top managers, highlighting the major points. This way, the managers will be aware of the necessity of the training program and its impacts on the organization’s security readiness.
Always remember that a meaningful manager’s security awareness training can include the key highlights of corporate policies in the cyber-security realm. Managers are always prepared to guide their principal and supervise sections as required. Consequently, everyone must promptly learn to identify, report, and respond to any meager or potential security threat.
A cybersecurity trainer should discuss topics that are particularly relevant for managers to know. For instance, corporate executives usually travel and know the significant risks involved with their mobile device use and digital security issues with browsing the public internet and hot spot facilities.
Involving senior managers in security awareness training not only assists them in comprehending today’s cybersecurity threats and subsequent corporate concerns but also in becoming fully aware and prepared to handle them and ensure they embrace the awareness program. Thus, their involvement in training sessions is just as advantageous as bookkeeping is for maintaining the business’s financial records.
Executives are also the primary target of Advanced Persistent Threat (APT) and spear-phishing attacks. Thus, they must be fully aware of cybercriminals’ tools and techniques to attract their targets and understand what they can do to protect themselves and their confidential corporate systems.
A meaningful discussion during security awareness training can also include the following:
- Provide a detailed account of specific cybersecurity incidents within the company, covering internal occurrences and those involving major corporate entities, including competitors.
- A comprehensive and accurate estimation of expenses is essential to facilitate a smooth recovery process.
- Evaluate the anticipated return on investment (ROI) resulting from implementing a comprehensive training program for employees across all departments and hierarchical levels within the company.
Also, it would be necessary that, like employees, senior managers have access not just to some individual sessions but also to long group sessions (to exchange ideas and insights with other executives within the company) as well as online training as a refresher course anywhere and anytime for added convenience.
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