There isn’t an IT Support business around that wouldn’t put a rather large exclamation mark against cybersecurity training. Protecting your business begins with education for all members of staff. There isn’t a member of your team that isn’t responsible for the safety of business data.
But does it really need to be repeated every six months?
We understand, from a business perspective, that having all your employees going over training so often takes them away from their jobs. From an employee perspective, these repetitive modules can be just a little bit tedious. But there are very good reasons that you should update your cybersecurity training often.
Technology changes frequently
With all the new technological capabilities offered by software and machines over the last couple of years, you are probably experiencing whiplash. Every time you look at the internet, AI is doing something new. There is a whole host of fantastic evolutionary features that technology has been gifting the world. It just doesn’t matter how clever new features and technologies are, there are nefarious people who are just as clever.
Good current cybersecurity training may make you aware of new cyberattacks that hadn’t been covered before. At the very least, it will remind you that no matter what changes are made on the digital landscape, there is always someone looking for vulnerabilities..
Reinforcement is habit forming
Repetition has always been a great teacher; especially if you’re not actively interested in a topic. Whilst the cybersecurity training modules might promote great habits, in the hustle and bustle of a busy workplace things get forgotten.
By repeating the process of training every six months, you are more likely to remember good habits. By reinforcing the good practices often, your employees will learn to protect your business data as though it was a default setting.
Human error remains the top vulnerability
It doesn’t matter how good you are at something, the human potential for making mistakes is as good a universal law as any. When excited, or rushed, we are all prone to forget simple steps or click the wrong button.
By making everyone take the course, you are making sure that the embittered veterans and the new starts have all been given the tools needed to protect the business. At the end of the day, most cyberattacks involve convincing a living breathing human being to do something they shouldn’t, like click this strange link. Repeating the course is about mitigating the risk.
Compliance and regulatory requirements are important too
Many industries mandate regular training. Regulations like GDPR or HIPAA require organisations to provide ongoing cybersecurity training to their employees. Not abiding by these regulations can have severe and expensive consequences, and it is much better for the business if the cybersecurity training is taken seriously and administered regularly.
Repeated training helps organisations demonstrate that they are taking reasonable steps to protect business and customer data. It shows a committed due diligence to the safety of systems and key data.
Is your cybersecurity overdue?
Maybe this article has triggered something in the back of your mind. When was the last time your employees underwent their cybersecurity training? Is everyone up to date? Have you just taken on new employees and not even thought about cybersecurity training?
Now is the time to have a look.
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