Training your employees regarding cyber security is essential for all businesses. The human element is the weak point in your cyber security strategy; therefore, training is extremely beneficial. We’ll tell you 7 reasons why cyber security training is vital in 2023.
What is cyber security training?
Cyber security training is training your employees to be cyber aware. A company can have a very robust cyber security infrastructure established, but if their employees are not trained, its counterproductive. The human element is the greatest risk in a company. Therefore, training employees is needed to educate them to understand identify and avoid cyber threats and attacks.
1. Cyber attacks are increasing
Here are some statistics to place things in perspective:
- In 2022, there was a 38% increase in cyber attacks from 2021 according to the NCSC. This number is expected to increase in 2023.
- In 2022 39% of all businesses in the UK reported a cyber attack.
- In 2022, phishing attacks accounted for 83% of all attacks.
- Within the group of organisations reporting cyber attacks, 31% of businesses and 26% of charities estimate they were attacked at least once a week (Gov.uk).
- One in five businesses (20%) and charities (19%) say they experienced a negative outcome as a direct consequence of a cyber attack, while one third of businesses (35%) and almost four in ten charities (38%) experienced at least one negative impact (Gov.uk).
2. Cyber attacks costs are increasing
The cost of cyber attacks for small businesses are causing on average £4,200. For medium and large companies they are causing around £19,400 according to Gov.uk. This is very alarming and expensive for business owners. Having cyber security insurance will help, but insurers will only insure your business if you can show adequate commitment to cyber security implementations throughout your business.
3. Cyber attacks are more sophisticated
Hackers are constantly developing new ways to attack businesses. This makes it more difficult for businesses to protect themselves without proper training. Hackers are developing new tools and techniques to exploit vulnerabilities in systems and networks. This enables them to steal data, install malware or disrupt operations. Small businesses are often affected because they are an easy target. Hacking gangs have increased, and they work together to carry out attacks, share information and resources.
4. Employees are the weak point in the security chain
In many cases, cyber attacks are successful because employees fall for phishing scams or click on malicious links. Training can help employees learn how to identify and avoid these threats in the first place. Common mistakes that employees make are:
- Clicking on malicious links in emails
- Using weak passwords
- Not being careful enough about sharing personal information online
- Not following security procedures
5. Cyber security training is a cost-effective way to protect your business
The cost of cybersecurity training is a fraction of the cost of a data breach. Hackers are constantly looking for new ways to steal sensitive data, such as customer information, financial data, and intellectual property. Therefore, by providing employees with cyber security training, organisations can help to reduce the risk of these attacks. This saves money in the long run, and therefore training is a very cost effective way to protect your business.
6. Cyber security training will aid regulation compliance
Many industries are subject to regulations that demand businesses to implement certain cyber security measures. Cyber security training can help your business ensure it is compliant with these regulations.
7. Cyber security training build a culture of security
A culture of security is one where employees are aware of the risks and take steps to protect the business. Cybersecurity training can help you build such a culture. As an IT support provider, we have witnessed various attacks happen to companies due to human error. But through training, we have also seen how the company can change to become more aware of the cyber threats online.
Choosing a cyber security training program
If you are looking for ways to protect your business from cyberattacks, cyber security training is a great place to start. By providing employees with the knowledge and skills they need to protect sensitive data, you can reduce your risk of cyber attacks.
Here are some suggestions for choosing a cyber security training program:
- Ensure the program is tailored to your organisation’s needs.
- Ensure the program is delivered in a way that is engaging and effective. Employees are more likely to retain the information they learn if the training is delivered in such a way.
- Ensure the program is affordable. Training can be expensive. However, there are many affordable options available.
By following these tips, you can choose a cyber security training program that will help you protect your business from cyberattacks.
To get you started, take a look at the NCSC’s free cyber security training. It only takes 30 minutes for each employee to complete and will educate them on crucial security topics. The training educates regarding phishing attacks, creating strong passwords, securing your devices, and reporting incidents.
For more help regarding anything on this topic please feel free to contact us.
