Training End Users Via Network Security Consulting Services

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There is an increase in cybersecurity threats that puts every business’ data at risk. Firms are no longer able to overlook the significance of training their employees to ward off these threats; teaching workers about best cybersecurity practices is now a priority at most workplaces. Ensuring that your company does not fall victim to malicious hackers or skilled criminals that aim to steal valuable information could be as simple as instilling these preventative measures in your employees. If you have not yet taken the time to properly train your staff, it may be a smart move to utilize available network security consulting services to do so. This can give your business an edge, as clients tend to value security. Read further to explore the importance of educating and training personnel about potential cybersecurity threats.

Humans: The Weakest Link

The majority of digital attacks take the form of phishing scams, where the goal is to exploit the human factor. The human factor is essentially errors that we, as humans, unintentionally make. With almost 90% of data breaches caused by human errors, it makes sense that there is a need to have continuous employee education on cybersecurity. Luckily, if you do not have the resources or know-how to conduct this training, some network security consulting services and managed service providers offer it as a part of their package.

Continuous Training

Unfortunately, employees cannot recognize, report, or eliminate security threats if they do not know what to look for in the first place. A survey called State of IT Security 2019 illustrates that email security and employee training are among the top challenges faced by IT professionals. Despite the efforts to discourage threats via firewalls and other security software, employees still serve as common entry points for phishers. This means that the bigger the firm, the more entry points there are. Continuous cybersecurity training gives employees the tools and knowledge to protect themselves and your company against attacks. By enabling your workers to identify and eliminate threats, you are strengthening the weakest link in the chain (people).

Cybersecurity Training Topics

Below are some of the key topics that should be discussed during cybersecurity training sessions.

·         The Various Forms of Cyber Threats

To accurately identify and prevent security breaches, your staff will need to be made aware of the different ways that a threat can present itself. For example, employees should be educated about spam, malware, phishing, social engineering, and more.

·         Password Security

It is vital that you stress the importance of creating strong passwords that incorporate a combination of symbols, numbers, and letters. Passwords serve as the first line of protection for valuable data, so creating a strong one is of utmost importance.

·         How to Identify and Report Threats

Every device an employee uses and every email they receive may contain clues about a lurking malware, virus, phishing scam, or another cyber threat. Educating personnel on how to spot these warnings can help firms to catch any security issues quickly and before any critical data is accessed by an unauthorized user. It is equally as important to inform your employees about how to report these red flags and who to tell about the suspicious activity so that the problem is addressed in a timely manner.

·         Email, Internet, and Social Media Policies

Some browsing habits of employees can prove detrimental to a business. This is because there is a higher chance that a staff member may expose your company to an attack while perusing a website that is not related to company work. Therefore, it is vital that you include your policies regarding email, internet, and social media use in your training sessions.

 Best Training Practices

The main purpose of training your employees is to create a sense of shared responsibility and accountability to keep the company safe from cyber-attacks that try to enter using the human factor. Making cybersecurity training mandatory for every new employee is a great first step. It is also a good idea to update your training sessions and to repeat these sessions regularly so that your staff can keep up with ever-evolving online threats.

If you fear a potential data breach in today’s technology-driven world (and you should), it is clear that taking a proactive approach through employee education and training is the best way to avoid these costly threats. Preparing your staff for the worst-case scenario can help them to be more diligent in recognizing and reporting issues, while continuous training works to keep them in the loop about new and more sophisticated forms of threats.

To ensure that you are doing enough to promote safe online practices at your firm, enlist the help of a trusted third-party IT company that specializes in cybersecurity and offers supplemental employee training as part of their network security consulting services. Here at Contigo, we offer just that, and we are happy to provide your business with top notch customer service to accompany whatever IT package you may choose. For us, your business’ security is our priority.