Why Cybersecurity Training Must Evolve with Digital Transformation
Cybersecurity is an ongoing concern and, with so much digital evolution occurring across the business, ensuring that systems and data are properly protected is a top priority. Software and other tools may already be in place to protect the organization and its systems, but sometimes human factors are the weakest link in the cybersecurity chain.
Frontline Technology Users Often Need More Training
People interacting with technology need a good understanding of cybersecurity and the behaviors and practices that can create risk as well as mitigate it. Project teams can boost cyber efforts by evaluating initiative-related training programs and addressing any gaps that could undermine the enterprise’s security posture.
Weak Focus on Cybersecurity Best Practices Undermines Projects
When users have a broad base of knowledge about security best practices, they’re better positioned to proactively identify risky behaviors and cyber threats. Training should include the basics alongside more advanced concepts. Be sure users know how to choose strong passwords, for example, the preferred way to access the network or platform from remote locations, the approved process for securely sharing data (and when it is and is not appropriate to do so), and the risks of forwarding work emails to their personal address. Ensuring users are competent in cybersecurity best practices provides the solid footing they need to understand and follow more sophisticated protocols.
Security Tip: Embed cybersecurity modules into onboarding and regular training cycles — don’t assume once is enough.
Generic Training Ignores Role-Specific Cyber Risks
Different user populations have different needs and expectations when it comes to understanding cybersecurity threats, identifying vulnerabilities, and adopting preferred behaviors. Generic education that isn’t tailored to specific roles—based on attributes such as reporting level within the organization or a user’s anticipated level of capabilities within the system itself—is likely to miss key security issues that could put the integrity of the platform, the network, and the organization’s data at risk. Role-specific training enables system users to gain a more accurate understanding of where cyber issues may exist within their unique workflows and the optimal ways to maintain security.
Definition: Role-based cybersecurity training adapts educational content to a user’s specific system access level, job duties, and risk exposure.
Social Engineering Is Still Exploiting Good Intentions
Human nature is sometimes an inadvertent barrier to good cybersecurity. Something as simple as trying to be helpful can turn into a security vulnerability and hackers often turn to social engineering to take advantage of potential weaknesses on the human side of things. Bad actors use tactics such as sending emails that stress an urgent need to gain system access or expressing a desire to avoid burdening IT with fixing a feigned problem with credentials. In both cases, well-meaning users might share their own login or set up a guest login without confirming the authenticity of the request. Training should make participants aware of scams that leverage social engineering and give them the skills to maintain good security. Users need to know how to spot bogus links in emails before clicking on them and to push back against urgent requests until they’re verified as valid. The organization should also train workers in the correct process to confirm that communications purporting to come from fellow workers, executives, or vendors are legitimate.
A Strong Cybersecurity Culture Starts at the Top
Employees are more likely to adopt and participate in a security culture when it’s consistently promoted and followed by those at the top of the organization. One way that executives and business leaders can show their support for a strong cybersecurity posture is by recording a brief message that highlights the need for strong security and outlines what’s expected of employees to help maintain that security culture. Senior sponsorship needs too go beyond day-to-day actions and reminders, though. The leadership team must also ensure adequate funding for the overall cybersecurity program, which includes comprehensive user training, effective defensive tools, and robust monitoring solutions.
Best Practice: Make cybersecurity a strategic priority in executive communications and leadership KPIs.
Cybersecurity training is an essential — but often neglected — component of successful tech deployments. To reduce risk, project teams should:
- Prioritize basic and advanced cybersecurity education
- Tailor training to user roles and access levels
- Equip users to recognize and resist social engineering
- Promote a top-down culture of security accountability
FAQ
What is the most common cybersecurity training gap?
Most organizations underemphasize basic best practices like secure passwords, appropriate data sharing, and device access protocols.
Why is role-based training important for cybersecurity?
Different roles face different cyber threats. Tailored training ensures each user knows how to protect their unique workflows and system access.
How can project teams improve cybersecurity awareness?
Integrate training into rollout plans, align it with user tasks, and reinforce concepts with real-world examples of attacks and defenses.
What is social engineering and how can training prevent it?
Social engineering manipulates users into compromising security (e.g., phishing). Training helps users detect and resist these manipulative tactics.
What role should executives play in cybersecurity training?
Leaders must model secure behavior, communicate its importance, and ensure training is prioritized and properly funded.