Ensuring your business is safeguarded by optimum cyber security solutions, employee training programmes and business hygiene practices is paramount. Cybercrime is rife and cyber criminals are continually getting smarter, developing more effective scams, and searching for bigger pay-outs. Your teams and colleagues are the first line of defence against a cyber criminal, and with the right training and knowledge they’ll be able to spot and stop a phishing attack. Are your teams trained well enough to be your internal data-defenders?
Are your teams trained well enough to be your internal data-defenders?
With over 2 million phishing websites recorded by Google in 2020, 5,126,930.507 breached records in 2021 confirmed by IT Governance, and Cisco stating in their 2021 Cyber Security report that 86% of organisations had at least 1 user try to connect to a phishing site – you can’t afford to be complacent, and you can’t afford to not train your staff to recognise a cyber threat to your business.
Ask Yourself : ‘When did you last train your staff to recognise a phishing email and a potential cyber threat?’
The move in 2020 to remote working has further exacerbated the threats from malicious actors, and many employees have simply not been forewarned of the cyber risks working remotely poses. This is why Cyber security awareness training has become essential.
What are the two most effective methods for a successful cyber attack?
Surprising as it may be, the simplest attack vectors are easily the most effective. Social engineering, and phishing are the two best ways to successfully attack a business.
1. Social engineering
Social engineering is the psychological manipulation of people into performing actions that provide data or access that may be used for fraudulent purposes. This could be encouraging the downloading of a file in an email, or coercing an employee to divulge confidential information, such as passwords.
2. Phishing
Phishing is a specific type of social engineering, where an attacker sends a fraudulent message to trick the recipient into either revealing sensitive information, or to deploy malicious software, such as ransomware, to the victim’s infrastructure. You can read more about the various types of phishing attacks here.
These two tactics may be simple, but without your colleagues undergoing cyber security awareness training, they could fall for either attack, and the consequences could be catastrophic to your business. These scams are simple and effective. Sending a professional looking email that seems trustworthy – from a known and reliable sender, the MD, a client, supplier or a well-known brand for example – is proven to be a simple and highly lucrative way to gain access to networks and systems.
How can I better protect my business?
The answer is simple – cyber security awareness training. By running online cyber security awareness training, you can better understand how your employees and systems would stand up to an attack. You can review their responses, test your systems and solutions, and ensure your cyber security measures are strong enough to protect your data, technology and business.
Cyber security awareness training, in particular, simulations, can replicate many different scenarios of cyber-attack instances. From here, you’ll get a complete view of just how well your business is protected and how cyber aware your staff are.
The key benefits of cyber security awareness training are:
- The ability to safely test your cyber security strategies
- Learn real life insights from the simulations that you can use to improve your defences
- It’s easy to implement across your entire business, everyone can be tested to ensure they know how to spot and disallow a cyber attack
- Regular simulations will strengthen your defences, improve your cyber security, and develop a companywide culture of cyber security awareness
So, what does a good cyber security awareness training programme look like?
Cyber security awareness training isn’t a one-time-thing, cyber criminals are forever changing their tactics and methods, and delivering highly realistic communications is becoming more commonplace. Cyber criminals used to be quite lax with their attacks, but now many attacks are well oiled, well versed, and highly believable.
By delivering regular online cyber security awareness training, you can ensure your teams are kept up to date on the threats and scams they need to be aware of, and you can test their knowledge with realistic phishing attacks.
A good cyber security simulation programme should involve:
#1 Variety
The training program should employ a variety of email designs, content, and scenarios to simulate real-world cyber threats effectively. Cybercriminals often employ diverse techniques and approaches, so your training should mirror this diversity to prepare your employees for a wide range of potential attacks.
Different hooks and incentives to download, install, or click on links should be included in these simulations. This helps employees understand that not all phishing attempts are blatant; some are cleverly disguised.
#2 Consistency
Regular, ongoing cyber security awareness training is crucial. Cyber threats evolve constantly, and maintaining a consistent training schedule keeps your employees updated on new and emerging threats.
Consistency also reinforces the importance of cybersecurity within your organisation and keeps employees vigilant and prepared.
#3 Feedback
After conducting simulated phishing attacks or other cybersecurity assessments, provide detailed feedback to employees. This feedback helps them understand what they did well and where they need to improve.
Learning from their mistakes is an integral part of the training process, and employees should be encouraged to apply this knowledge to real-world situations.
#4 Good Design
Simulated cyber threats should be well-designed to closely resemble authentic phishing emails or other malicious communications. This includes replicating the visual and textual elements of real threats.
You can find many online resources and tools that can help in creating authentic-looking phishing simulations. At BITS we can assist in providing guidance and support in crafting these tests.
#5 Personalisation
Personalisation is a powerful technique in phishing attacks. Cybercriminals often use the names of employees and well-known brands to make their scams more convincing.
Your training program should incorporate personalisation to mirror these tactics. For instance, using employee names in simulated phishing emails and emulating well-known brands like Amazon or Pizza Hut can help employees recognise the potential risks of seemingly genuine communications.
By incorporating these elements into your cybersecurity awareness training program, you can create a dynamic and effective strategy that keeps your employees well-prepared to face the evolving cyber threats. Regular training, feedback, and diverse simulations contribute to a workforce that is not only aware of potential risks but also capable of responding to them effectively.
Future Proof Your Business. Invest In A Cyber Security Partner.
The cyber security team at BITS are cyber security experts, ensuring our clients’ environments are secure, and their staff well trained to spot phishing attacks. With 82% of SEM security breaches involving a human element, it pays to invest in cyber security awareness training and testing alongside your cyber protection. The BITS’ professionals deliver cyber security training to our many clients and help companies with their cyber security culture.
If your business is ready to start taking its cyber security seriously, fill out the form to book cyber security awareness training for your team.