How to Raise Your Employees' Security Awareness
Companies can strengthen the security awareness of their employees with targeted measures and give them the skills they need to react correctly to cyber threats or – even better – to prevent them in advance.
In a fast-moving world, cyber threats are also constantly changing. Criminals are developing ever more sophisticated methods to attack companies. The security of company data and systems is of crucial importance. Every year, companies in Germany invest more than nine billion euros in their IT security – and the trend is rising. Companies invest most of this money in professional IT security software. Last year, the figure was 4.3 billion euros. However, even with the best technical possibilities, reliable protection of sensitive data is only possible to a certain extent. Unfortunately, one factor is often neglected: the awareness and behaviour of employees with regard to security practices. Yet it is precisely this behaviour that is often crucial to warding off cyber attacks from the front line. With targeted measures, companies can raise their employees' security awareness when dealing with technologies and security risks. Security awareness training courses train employees on all topics relating to IT security and are an important component of a sound cyber defence strategy.
Security awareness – crucial for corporate security
A company's employees: on the one hand, they are a risk factor – after all, people within the company are often the first target for cyber attacks. A suspicious email, a link to a website: one wrong click can have serious consequences. On the other hand, employees can be a reliable means of defence – if they have the appropriate know-how or security awareness to react correctly in dangerous situations. Raising awareness is a fundamental security measure in day-to-day operations and especially when dealing with IT systems. For companies, this means creating an awareness of cyber security as a first step and approaching the problem from a different perspective. When it comes to IT, people are often seen as a potential source of error. Security awareness training, on the other hand, is also about not viewing employees as a security gap. Rather, they can represent an important first line of defence against cyber attacks.
Security threats in day-to-day operations
In today's digital age, companies are confronted with a variety of security threats. Cybercriminals use various techniques to gain access to sensitive company data or compromise systems. Phishing attacks, in which employees are tricked into revealing confidential information, remain one of the most common threats. Fake emails or manipulated websites often cause employees to unknowingly disclose login details or other sensitive data. Ransomware attacks, in which hackers encrypt a company's data and demand a ransom for its release, are also widespread. In addition, malware infections, social engineering and insider threats can jeopardise the security of the company. It is vital that employees are aware of these threats and take appropriate action to recognise and avoid them.
The rapid development of AI will make it even more challenging to recognise cyber threats in day-to-day operations. It will become increasingly difficult to distinguish between genuine and fraudulent messages. At the same time, threats are spreading faster than ever via more and more digital communication channels.
Raising employee security awareness – important measures
The core principle of security awareness states that if employers train their employees thoroughly and regularly in IT security and data protection, they are promoting a solid information security concept. Every employee should be able to recognise potential threats and know how to react appropriately in an emergency.
It is therefore important that the employer takes appropriate measures to establish a high level of security awareness in the company.
Raising awareness and building skills
The employer should encourage all employees to be aware of potential threats to sensitive data. To this end, employees should be taught the necessary skills in advance through training or similar measures.
Regular updates and device backups
To ensure that the technical devices in the company meet the latest security standards, employees should regularly check the security status of their devices and software and carry out updates if necessary. Regular backups should also be carried out to protect the company's own data.
Secure passwords
All employees should use secure and complex passwords for their devices to protect confidential data. A password manager can be helpful for this. The software can be used to encrypt, store, manage and use access data and codes. In addition, data carriers and the transfer of data should be protected with such passwords to prevent attacks.
Multi-level data encryption
Multi-level authentication is useful wherever data is exchanged within the company – whether between devices or on a single device. This complex protection mechanism makes it more difficult for attackers to access internal company systems and steal sensitive data.
Definition of access rights
By defining clear access rights for certain accounts and access points, potential security breaches within the company can be avoided, as employees can only access the areas they need for their actual work.
Security awareness training: tips for implementation
Employees are often the first target for cyber attacks. Effective security awareness training teaches them to recognise suspicious activities and act correctly. Solid training includes knowledge about phishing, secure passwords and how to handle confidential data. Interactive workshops and regular refresher courses maintain awareness. Investing in security awareness promotes a corporate culture that puts security first. As a result, employees become a robust first line of defence against cyber threats.
Security awareness training can be delivered in-house by knowledgeable staff or by external specialists. In order to raise security awareness effectively and, above all, sustainably, companies should consider a few best practices:
- Regularity: digital technologies are subject to rapid change. The rise of AI in particular means that both opportunities and threats are growing. Security training should therefore take place continuously in order to keep awareness up to date.
- Relevance: The content of security awareness training should be adapted to the specific risks of the company in question.
- Interactive elements: Workshops, simulations of phishing attacks and tests encourage engagement. A good mix of practical applications and theoretical elements promotes sustainable knowledge transfer.
- Comprehensibility: Technical jargon and complicated IT terminology should either be avoided or explained directly. This ensures that all employees understand the information. With security awareness training, it is important that the person conducting the training recognises that not every employee has a sound digital understanding.
- Long-term focus: The goal of security awareness trainings should always be a long-term change in security behaviour rather than simply fulfilling compliance requirements.
Important: Like all security measures, security awareness is not a one-off act. Rather, an increased understanding of security is a continuous process in a rapidly changing digital environment in which cyber threats are constantly increasing. A well-informed employee is often the decisive factor between the secure protection of company data and a potential security incident.
