Proudly serving Hertfordshire since 2006
AZTech IT Solutions is your trusted local end user & employee cyber security awareness training provider in the Hertfordshire area. We will educate your employees & end users on the many cyber security threats that can occur both inside and outside of the workplace, and train them on best practices on how to avoid letting themselves and your business fall victim to them. Contact us today to learn more.
End User Cybersecurity Training
Over the years, businesses have become increasingly reliant on technology and digital data. However, this rise in online connectivity has also come with a rise in cybercrime. Organisations must rely on excellent digital infrastructure as well as a dependable IT team, but another key aspect of a robust cybersecurity strategy is end user cyber security training.
We've provided a lot of employee cybersecurity training over the years, and one of the questions that we get most often is "is end user security training really necessary?". The short answer is absolutely, but here's why.
What is employee cyber security awareness training?
Employee (or end user) cybersecurity training is sometimes also called security awareness training. It refers to the process of raising awareness among staff members in an organisation about the various methods of cybercrime and how they can keep their organisation safe.
Educating end users on security principles as well as best practices means that any who have access to their organisation’s systems, data, computers, or devices understands security concepts and can protect the business to the best of their capability.
While technical solutions such as anti-malware and breach detection software are an important part of cybersecurity, other solutions like multi-factor authentication and password managers help to reduce the possibility of human error.
End users that have access to an organisation’s devices and data can expose them to threat actors, whether by accident or social engineering, no matter how many technical solutions are in place.
What kind of cybersecurity threats do end users/employees need to worry about?
Social engineering attacks - such as phishing, baiting, scareware, honey traps, smishing/SMS phishing, etc. these attacks exploit human traits such as kindness, pity, love, and worry. The outcome is often lost data, data breaches, or malware.
- Internet and email use - careless internet and email use can lead to threat actors gaining access to data and/or becoming able to install malware, spyware, and ransomware.
- Passwords and authentication - weak passwords are some of the easiest ways for threat actors to hijack user accounts to gain access to sensitive data and perform attacks.
- Removable media - such as USBs that can be lost, copied, or ransomed.
- Physical security - devices and removable media can be lost, copied or ransomed, passwords can be accessed if recorded physically, and if devices that provide multi-factor authentication are stored (and lost) together, the security that they provide is rendered null.
- Mobile device security - mobile devices are some of the most vulnerable parts of an organisation (for all the reasons above and more), especially with the advent of bring-your-own-device solutions and working remotely.
- Working remotely - working remotely is risky for all the above reasons as well as the possibility of insecure Wi-Fi, lack of technological security solutions, and physical security.
- Public Wi-Fi - hackers can use unsecured Wi-Fi to distribute malware, plant infected software on a device, and even see people’s data.
- Cloud security - the cloud provider will be responsible for some security responsibilities, but others that are always the customers’ would be things like managing users and their access privileges, safeguarding cloud accounts from unauthorised access, and compliance.
- Social media use - social media is another method for social engineering attacks as well as a place where employees might overshare information such as when they’re on holiday or (indirectly) what their password might be.
- Security at home - it's common for employees to be lax about security when they’re at home, and therefore neglect taking necessary security measures.
Benefits of security awareness training
An organisation’s cybersecurity is more dependent on its end users than is often realised. Sometimes, an organisation’s security can depend entirely upon a single employee having the ability to recognise and report a security threat to their IT team.
If an organisation suffers a cyber attack, then the damage that they suffer might not just affect them in the short-term, but permanently damage their reputation as well.
As the dependence on IT solutions increases, so too must the employee security awareness training. Without it, internal threats can only grow over time.
With end user security training, your organisation can rest assured that its security and future success are safeguarded by every person in it.
When you get your security awareness training from an expert, your employees will be able to not only recognise threats, but understand them and the risks that they pose. As a result, your entire cybersecurity strategy will be a lot simpler and more cost-effective.
Contact Us Today
Our team of experts at AZTech IT Solutions provide security awareness training that’s simple and straightforward while still being comprehensive and in-depth. So, contact us today to let us know how we can best boost your organisation’s cybersecurity.
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