4 Tips for Better Cyber Security Training for Employees

One of the biggest threats facing businesses across the nation are those that come from the Internet of Things (IoT). With hackers becoming increasingly intelligent and able to capitalize on even the smallest margin of error, it’s vital that you take every precaution to keep your business safe. One of the leading cyber liabilities for businesses are its employees. To ensure your employees aren’t engaging in any negligent behavior, follow these 4 tips for better cyber security training for employees.

1. Familiarize them with Examples of Phishing Attacks

Phishing schemes are a classic trick used by many hackers to try and get your employees to give confidential information by posing as a reliable source. Some key identifiers for phishing emails:

• Requesting sensitive information via email
• Calling you by “account holder”, “valued member”, etc. instead of your real name
• Not using a domain email address
• Forcing you to their website
• Sending unsolicited attachments 

2. Enforce Good Password Habits

Weak passwords are a hacker’s best friend. According to a Google Survey, 2/3 users recycle the same password across multiple accounts. This means if your employee uses a personal password for their work files, the chances of sensitive information being obtained increases significantly. Make sure they follow these best practices for creating passwords:

• Use multifactor authentication
• Do NOT share your passwords with anyone – even colleagues
• Make passwords or a nonsense phrase that is not easily guessable
• Use characters, numbers, and symbols

3. Enforce Professional Device Only Policies

When an employee works on the same laptop/PC day in and day out, they begin to forget that the device they are using holds valuable, sensitive data. When the line between professional and personal devices becomes blurred, downloading an application such as a popular music streaming application may seem harmless at the time, but could be costly to the business. Make sure employees run every web application by IT before installing. 

4. Hold Thorough Training for Every New Hire

Regardless of your new employee’s background, be sure to give them thorough training in your company’s specific cyber security practices. This includes (but not limited to) what they can and cannot do on company owned devices, what information is sensitive and what is not, and what the repercussions are for violating any cyber security practices put into place.

When it comes to creating the best cyber security training for employees, there is no such thing as being over prepared. It’s better to treat a cyber attack as a when it happens instead of an if it happens scenario. After ensuring your employees are thoroughly vetted with the cyber knowledge they need, the next best thing you can do to protect your business is cover it with cyber insurance.

If you have any questions regarding cyber insurance, or how your business is currently protected, we’d love to help! Just reach out to us here.