Cybersecurity actions have grown increasingly in organizations around the world, in fact the importance of reducing cyber risks, especially those caused by human errors, has been realized.
However, many organizations still do not have much preparation or information about security actions and often They believe that all they need to do is implement a solution that will produce results.
It is necessary to understand that awareness goes beyond this, after all, for it to actually work, it needs to be incorporated into people's lives and make everyone understand their role in data protection.
That's why, in addition to technology, it's important to create a plan with content and information that talks about cybersecurity for all teams, in a simple and effective way.
Is awareness program the same as training?
Even though training and awareness have similar meanings, they have different objectives and methods.
This is because, awareness aims to raise awareness people to the importance of a certain subject, such as the use of secure passwords and the importance of digital security.
Despite raising awareness, it does not provide practical knowledge. Therefore, awareness is aimed at creating understanding about a topic, in addition to encouraging a mindset of vigilance.
Training provides detailed information, as well as practical skills on a specific topic. But different from awareness, training aims to enable people to:
Identification of scenarios;
Carrying out specific tasks;
Taking corrective actions.
Thus, while awareness focuses on changing people's mindsets and attitudes, training seeks to equip them with practical knowledge and specific skills.
Even though they have different objectives, they both play a fundamental role in implementing a security culture in companies.
How important are awareness programs?
Awareness programs play a key role in protecting companies against cyber threats.
This is because a large proportion of security incidents occur due to human errors.
Such as the improper sharing of confidential information or the opening of malicious links in emails.
Therefore, by educating people about these risks and how to avoid them, organizations can considerably reduce successful attacks.
But it is important to remember that awareness goes beyond simply warning about threats. It needs to empower people to become the first line of defense against cyberattacks.
Additionally, these programs help promote a culture of security within the company, where each person understands their role in protecting data and systems.
For this to be possible, it is essential that organizations invest in continuous training and campaigns.
This way, people are able to develop a more proactive stance, being able to identify and report suspicious behaviors before they turn into serious incidents.
This creates a safer environment and reinforces the importance of maintaining a preventative mindset, something extremely important for any organization that deals with sensitive data.
Furthermore, with the growing sophistication of digital threats, companies that keep their teams updated and engaged in data protection are able to adapt more quickly to new vulnerabilities.
As a result, a well-structured awareness program not only protects the organization, but also reinforces its resilience in the face of growing cyber threats.
How to plan your awareness program?
Planning a security awareness program requires a structured approach aligned with the company's needs. In other words, each team has its own reality and it is necessary to understand how to approach each topic with these people.
Furthermore, the content must be dynamic and informative to attract people’s attention to the topics. Below are some tips to help you with implementation.
Know your audience
The first step is to know your audience and the specific threats your company faces. It is necessary to understand that the difficulties of a car store are different from those of a technology company.
Therefore, before starting your program you need to recognize the threats your organization faces.
Additionally, you need to consider people's level of knowledge about cybersecurity and adapt content to ensure it is accessible to everyone. Take into account the position, experiences and proximity to the topic.
To help with this process, organizations can apply tests to measure people's level of knowledge. This makes it easier to apply the appropriate training for each situation.
Once this is done, it is important to define priority topics, which can be phishing, data protection, use of secure passwords and information security policies. It all depends on your audience and their level of knowledge.
It is important to create a plan so that people receive all the information they need. Create a schedule in logical learning order, starting with basic concepts and gradually introducing more advanced topics.
Focus on content
After defining the themes, choosing content formats is essential to maintain engagement. As you already know your audience, it is easier to define the learning medium.
But before you start, remember that just like technology, training has also changed, especially nowadays where people no longer have time to spend hours in training.
Therefore, no long lectures, where people simply listen to what is presented without actively participating.
This format results in low information retention, as participants are not directly involved in learning. Lack of interaction can also generate disinterest and, as a result, the impact of the message is lost.
Therefore, it is necessary to invest in microlearning, short videos, infographics, quizzes and practical simulations, these are excellent ways of transmitting information in a dynamic and easy-to-understand way.
Switch between these formats It helps avoid monotony and keeps people interested in the program.
Additionally, email campaigns with security tips and newsletters with updates on new threats are great ways to reinforce learning and maintain active awareness on a daily basis.
Create an annual schedule
It is important to keep in mind that cyber threats are constantly evolving. New types of attacks and vulnerabilities emerge all the time. Therefore, running a campaign every semester will not be enough to mitigate risks.
Campaigns need to be frequent, as this is the only way to ensure that people are always up to date with the latest threats and best practices to combat them.
Therefore, it is essential that organizations create a annual awareness schedule. It is important to take into account seasonal dates, security incidents and the employees themselves, so that the planning makes sense.
Furthermore, the schedule must involve all teams in the organization, from workers to leaders and include actions in people's routine, whether at the time of onboarding or in routine actions, with announcements, emails and effective communication.
Ongoing training programs create a culture of awareness, where safety is seen as a constant priority and not just an occasional concern.
In this way, security-related topics can be incorporated into people's lives and organizations ensure that everyone becomes a security agent and knows how to protect themselves.
Monitor progress
Finally, it is important to plan a monitoring and evaluation strategy. In addition to the schedule, people need to be monitored, this shows how committed the organization is to cybersecurity actions.
Demonstrating this to people is very important, as it strengthens the idea that cybersecurity is a central concern for the company and makes everyone understand their role in digital security.
Therefore, it is necessary to monitor the teams' progress with regular quizzes and measure the impact of the content through metrics such as the reduction in incidents or the increase in suspicious activity reports.
This monitoring allows for continuous adjustments to the program, ensuring that the content remains relevant and up-to-date.
Additionally, maintaining a feedback loop with people is also an effective way to understand what is working and what can be improved, ensuring the continued effectiveness of the awareness program.
Plan your awareness program with PhisX
A PhishX is a complete ecosystem that brings information about cybersecurity to people.
On our platform, organizations can develop effective digital security awareness programs, with personalized content and a strategic approach.
Our goal is to ensure that people not only understand cybersecurity risks, but also become active agents in protecting the company.
To do this, we use content based on real-life situations, such as phishing simulations, educational videos and regular communications that keep people up to date with the latest threats.
One of the great differences of PhishX is the use of Artificial Intelligence to adapt and optimize training in different languages, ensuring a more effective and accessible program for everyone.
In addition to educational content, the PhishX offers a series of metrics to track the progress of the awareness program. We use detailed KPIs to:
Measure people’s level of engagement;
Effectiveness of simulations;
Reduction of security incidents.
Based on this data, we offer personalized reports that allow companies to monitor the performance of each department or employee individually. These metrics help adjust the program, ensuring more effective awareness.
To ensure the success of your constipation program, our team of experts is available to assist in creating a strategic schedule. We work together with the organization to plan campaigns and training throughout the year.
From attack simulations to internal communication campaigns, our team works to ensure that awareness is a constant priority.
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