Written by:
Anne Gotay In the world of cybersecurity, the old expression, “humans are the weakest link,” unfortunately seems truer than ever. The explosion of hybrid work and the Internet of Things as well as the growing interconnectedness of the world have all demanded better security from businesses.
Today, although cybersecurity capabilities and awareness are improving, the sophistication of cyber-attacks are matching that progress. That’s why it’s crucial to ensure that your employees are equipped with the necessary skills and knowledge to protect your business’s sensitive information.
However, there’s a lot of ground to cover when it comes to data security. From anomaly detection and ransomware prevention to insider threat protection and data compliance, how exactly can companies mitigate the risks of cyber attacks and protect sensitive information?
Here are four tips for better employee data security training that you can start implementing right away.
1. Make the Training Engaging and Interactive
Data security training can be a convoluted topic for employees who aren’t familiar with this area. This means employees are more likely to gloss over critical training takeaways, not realizing how important these security measures are in protecting their organization. To keep your employees engaged, make the training interactive and fun. Use real-life examples and interactive methods such as simulations to illustrate the importance of data security to make the training session more relatable.
One powerful way to make training more engaging is by incorporating microlearning. Microlearning is a learning approach designed to communicate information on a single, specific idea in a concise and focused way. The primary objective is to provide information within the learner’s working memory capacity and attention span while offering just enough data to enable the learner to accomplish a specific, practical goal.
2. Keep the Information Simple and Practical
Employees are more likely to retain information if it’s presented in a straightforward and practical manner. Avoid using technical jargon and focus on the key concepts and best practices. Provide practical tips and tricks that employees can use to protect their data both at work and at home. By making the information easier to understand, employees are more likely to buy in and commit to the training objectives.
3. Reinforce the Training with Regular Reminders and Updates
Data security training shouldn’t be a long, one-time event – this is an opportunity to further incorporate microlearning. Small, frequent reminders helps employees remember the importance of data security and reinforces the training. Consider sending out regular emails or creating posters and other visual aids to keep data security top-of-mind for your employees.
Since data security threats and best practices are constantly evolving, it is also important to provide regular updates. This is a form of ongoing training that helps employees stay up-to-date on the latest threats and security measures, such as changes to HIPAA or GDPR requirements.
4. Tailor the Information to Specific User Roles
Not all employees have the same data security responsibilities, so it’s essential to tailor the training to specific roles. For example, IT staff may need more technical training, while managers may need to focus on policies and procedures. By tailoring the training to specific roles, you can ensure that employees receive the information they need to perform their job duties safely.
Partner with Sotero
While many security solutions may provide encryption or access control services, Sotero helps you build a cohesive data security approach that goes beyond legacy encryption solutions. Sotero bundles active threat detection with an end-to-end encryption solution. Sotero is the only solution to keep data encrypted throughout its lifecycle, without the need to decrypt data for access or analysis. This technology removes the risk of having to pay ransom for stolen data, instead keeping data protected at all times.