Security awareness training has become an indispensable tool for businesses of all sizes. With hackers constantly evolving their methods, it is also important that defensive security measures evolve as well. But how has cybersecurity training kept pace with the ever-changing tactics of cybercriminals? Here’s a quick look.
HR’s Expanding Role in Cybersecurity
Once viewed as entirely removed from network security responsibilities, HR departments are now deeply involved in cyber-training programs for employees. In most modern organizations, HR holds much of the responsibility for training employees to build a “human firewall” against phishing scams and viruses. Typically, this training often takes place during onboarding and continues through regular modules – you’ve probably had to do an online course or two yourself.
Given that a significant portion of cyberattacks involve social engineering, it’s reasonable to expect that employees must learn to spot common signs in any form of communication, not just suspicious emails. Notably, 50% of social engineering attacks involve pretexting, where attackers research the victim before launching an attack. Because of the prevalence of human manipulation, the HR department has had to step up and implement these learning opportunities through comprehensive security awareness training.
The Impact of Security Awareness Training
Cybersecurity training has grown throughout the years into a significant industry, valued at $5.6 billion in 2023, with expectations to reach over $10 billion by 2027. Phishing campaigns executed by cybercriminals have only continued to support this trend, as highlighted by the Verizon Data Breach Investigations Report (DBIR), which found that 74% of data breaches involved a human element. Businesses now realize that employees and suppliers are the weakest links in cybersecurity, necessitating substantial investment in security training. Such training is crucial as it mitigates human risk, effectively making employees part of the cybersecurity defense.
How Has Training Changed?
Modern security awareness training covers areas such as password policy and cyber-hygiene, aiming to change employee reflexes to avoid clicking on suspicious links. Annual lunch-and-learn (programs you open for 30 minutes each year and do an assessment) types of training are no longer sufficient; the focus has shifted to continuous education and behavior change.
So, a modern security awareness training module might include:
- Continuous education on the cybersecurity landscape using audio and visual elements.
- Simulated phishing programs to test employee responses.
- Assessments and quizzes to ensure understanding and adherence to security principles.
HR departments are encouraged to automate training assignments and use positive messaging, with leadership reinforcement to improve completion rates. Training sessions are becoming shorter, more frequent, and effectively targeted. New methods include games, animation, live-action teaching, and episode-formatted shows. AI components tailor content to employees’ specific weaknesses and the latest threat vectors. Point-of-failure training provides real-time guidance on dangerous actions taken by employees, helping them understand the threats they face and the importance of cybersecurity policies.
Finally, security awareness training is blending with programs related to physical safety and awareness, using signage and visible campaigns to address digital dangers in the same way traditional safety campaigns address physical threats.
Stay in the Know With SWK
Failing to stay up to date with the constantly evolving cybersecurity landscape means that you’re leaving yourself open to risk. At SWK Technologies, we understand that to protect your data, we need to stay on top of every change and development in cybersecurity and update our training programs respectively. Contact SWK today and speak with our team of experts to learn how we can tailor a security awareness training program to provide your business with the information it needs to stop an attack.