COMMENT
The recent film The beekeeper begins with a cyber attack against a victim who is unfamiliar with the tactics and techniques used by attackers in today’s technological world. The film’s protagonist, Adam Clay, played by Jason Statham, then embarks on a digital vendetta to find the adversaries responsible and ensure that they cannot continue to extort victims through common cybercrimes.
As much as our security teams would love to hunt threats like Clay, we lack the physical physique and combat capabilities. And we know that spreading awareness is a much more effective approach. Keeping your workforce fully educated can be a monumental task. However, it is that which can completely mitigate threats targeting individuals. Some of the new ways of training involve old techniques.
Adaptable > Repeatable
In cybersecurity, technology works predictably, but humans do not. As safety professionals, we need help remembering this. The distinction highlights the need for human-driven training when onboarding an employee. Interactive training recognizes human complexity, emphasizing the importance of adaptability in response to new threats and individual learning styles. Unlike automated training, human-driven approaches can quickly adapt to address students’ specific challenges and needs, making them more effective at promoting a deep understanding of security practices.
How quickly your organization can adapt AI-based threats? Since human error represents nearly 90% of all data breaches, organizations that prioritize their work and resources over risk will have a hard time finding anything more important than an educated workforce. Train people with people. Use security champions if your team needs more resources or has time zone constraints. But overall, try to do something other than automate the process.
Build narrators
Creating a strong cybersecurity culture involves allowing employees to openly share their personal experiences with security issues. Most people did they learned the most valuable safety lessons based on stories from other people. Sharing safety stories may not come naturally to employees, and we need to teach and promote this behavior. During training, ask employees to discuss how cybersecurity has affected them personally in the past. Ask them if they are familiar with secure password hygiene or social media posts. This open discussion initiative can help them feel comfortable with the topic and understand that the organization encourages it.
Test your answer
Implementing specific tests and monitoring employee behavior are essential to evaluate the effectiveness of a safety program. We know that new employees will receive the fake text message from the CEO requesting the purchase of gift cards. Try a simple one smishing OR phishing simulation with new employees to see if they proactively reach out after detecting the attempt. If employees actively communicate with each other about phishing campaigns, share security-related news, or discuss various security-related topics, it shows that they have a sense of trust and adequate cybersecurity training. This level of commitment and vigilance among staff members highlights the effectiveness of the program in promoting a proactive safety culture. When you see him, hurry to reward him.
Conclusion
Unlike The beekeeper, we won’t be able to hunt down opponents and kick their ass. Instead, developing a strong security culture through awareness is our fight against cybercrime. Encouraging employees to share their safety experiences fosters a sense of community and vigilance. Personalized training plays a vital role in this ecosystem. It’s not just about providing information; it’s about adapting the learning process to meet different needs and respond to emerging threats. We can evaluate how prepared our employees are to identify and counter potential threats through testing.
The benefits of these strategies extend beyond the office walls. We are not simply educating our workforce; we are providing them with knowledge that transcends the professional environment. This empowerment increases their confidence, making them more confident and savvy Internet users, at work and in their personal lives. By investing in their cybersecurity skills, we contribute to a safer digital world for all.