One clear advantage of working with an MSP such as Exigent is access to IT expertise. Not only do...
10 Security Awareness Training Tips for Your Business
As with many aspects of cybersecurity, simple, non-technical steps can have a positive impact on your organization. At Exigent, we focus on many of these same employee cybersecurity tips, pairing education with ongoing security awareness training to continuously improve our security posture.
Key Takeaways
- These 10 essential security awareness training best practices can be simple steps toward improving your cybersecurity posture.
- Learn how simple, non-technical actions—from locking devices to recognizing and reporting phishing attempts—can reduce risk and strengthen business resilience.
- Understand how the See Something, Say Something approach can be a solid first step in improving cybersecurity.
Enhance Security Awareness Training With Ongoing Reminders
Looking for some basic security awareness best practices to share with your employees to keep cybersecurity engagement high? Try these:
1. Update your Apps and OS
New vulnerabilities are constantly being found in applications and operating systems. That's why it's important to regularly update apps and the operating systems installed on any device that you use for work, even more so if you use a mobile phone or personal device to access work systems.
2. Use a VPN or SASE
If you're using a Wi-Fi connection that isn't your home network, such as public Wi-Fi, be extra careful. To protect yourself on any unsecured Wi-Fi network, use a virtual private network (VPN) or Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) connection. When you're connected through a VPN or SASE, data is protected regardless of the network settings or security gaps.
Learn more about safely charging and using mobile devices
3. Lock Your Devices
We're all guilty of dashing off to grab a food order or use the restroom, leaving our laptop open to a work document or network without locking it. If you are working on a mobile device and step away even for a few minutes, be sure to lock your screen. Your password doesn't help if someone can simply walk up and access an active document or open an email app.
4. Be Aware of Vishing Scams
A vishing attack is a specific type of cyber attack that uses a phone to steal your personal confidential information. While this may sound like a good old-fashioned spam call, vishing is much more high-tech. Most vishing calls leapfrog from already secured personal information. While many cybersecurity awareness training programs focus on phishing, don't overlook vishing.
5. Be Aware of Physical Threats
Lackluster physical security can put your personal information and your company's data at risk just as much as a cyber attack. When it comes to access control in today's technology-fueled world, the two are often interconnected. For example, one common threat when it comes to physical control access is "shoulder surfing" – you never know who is peering over your shoulder while you are entering sensitive information on your device or at your building's secure pad.
6. Use Strong, Unique Passwords
We get it – you likely never want to hear this advice again. But the fact remains that many people underestimate the impact of lax password hygiene on a personal level. Not only should you take to heart the risks of weak or reused passwords in the workplace, but we highly recommend applying best practices to personal devices and accounts as well – even annoying but effective multifactor authentication (MFA). This is an instance where applying business IT security best practices in your personal life is a must-do.
7. Verify Requests for Sensitive Information
One of the easiest ways to protect yourself from phishing, vishing – all the sneaky little attacks – is to take control of information requests. Example: if you receive a request with a URL, rather than clicking the link, physically type in the link for the agency or contact – you'll often find they are different. The same goes for a request for information from a known contact. Rather than replying, create a new email string to a verified contact at the same organization and ask for information on the request.
8. See Something, Say Something
If your instincts tell you something isn't right – an email, phone call, glitch in an app – quickly notifying IT experts can play a huge role in stopping or limiting the impact of a security breach. Trust us, your MSP or in-house technical team will never be angry if you over-report suspected attacks. And taking this simple step can help prevent phishing attacks, if for no other reason than it reminds you to look more closely at incoming emails and other messages.
9. Trust Your MSP
Follow the instructions your MSP provides when it comes to accessing a new app or launching a new process. They have your best interests in mind and are giving you the best business cybersecurity solutions and tools to stay connected and secure. That includes understanding your organization's IT security policies (and asking questions if you don't) and engaging in ongoing cybersecurity awareness training that can help you understand your unique role when it comes to protecting business data from cyber threats.
10. Learn More About Exigent's Vigilant Security Awareness Training
Effective security awareness training improves your company's cybersecurity culture and reduces phishing email clicks by your employees by as much as 70%. Our training focuses on four main themes: Train Everyone, Expect Mistakes, Set Goals, and Don't Punish Mistakes. Unlike traditional security training, our approach is engaging, empowering, and personalized. By inspiring your employees to step into their critical role as key defenders in safeguarding your company, you create a culture of engagement that strengthens security across the entire organization.
