Benefits of cyber security training

Training has always been an important process for every team in every business. It helps to ensure that your employees are all on the same page, armed with the knowledge and skills they need in order to do their jobs effectively.

It’s key to have the right type of training for the appropriate teams. This way you know your resources are being used properly and yielding the best results possible. So you may be hesitant at first to equip your entire workforce with cybersecurity training. After all, isn’t doing so with your IT team sufficient?

As it turns out, it isn’t. It’s proven that human error is the biggest threat to cybersecurity, and this can come from any corner of your organization.

Here are just some of the many benefits of cybersecurity training for your entire business.

Increased Security

Beginning with the obvious, cybersecurity training makes your business more secure. Making your team at large aware of the many threats that exist – from data breaches to ransomware – will keep them from making simple mistakes that could threaten the safety of your organization.

If your teams are uninformed about the capabilities of hackers, a moment could cost you. A lot can stem from an employee checking their email on a smartphone while using a public Wi-Fi network, for instance. If everyone in your business is taking the same security measures, a breach is much less likely to happen.

Time and Money Saved

Cybersecurity training for your team is also a wise investment. It is estimated that data breaches and similar attacks cost companies about $400 billion each year. In the United States, a single attack could cost a company $15.4 million. Therefore, the cost of excellent cybersecurity training is well worth it if it prevents even a single attack.

And naturally, the same goes for time spent. If an attack were to occur, your team would spend a significant amount of their energy attempting to plug the holes and repair the damage. That time could be much better spent conducting other functions of business. But, this scramble can be avoided with cybersecurity training.

Empowering Your Workforce

You don’t want your employees second-guessing their actions. If they know what a phishing email looks like, they’re less likely to ponder opening the suspicious message. They’ll instead send it right to the trash bin. This confidence is key.

With employees empowered to act with confidence and awareness of the risks, they’ll be less likely to make the kind of human error that could cause a devastating breach. They will also be less likely to waste time debating their actions or waiting to inquire with IT about a simple, basic problem. Armed with the proper knowledge, they can tackle daily threats and occurrences themselves.

Retain Customers’ Trust

A survey of 2,000 respondents showed that about 86.6% of those asked were hesitant to patron a business that experienced a data breach in which credit or debit card information was compromised. That’s over 1,700 people who would lose faith in an organization as a result of what could be a simple, quick mistake.

Obviously, an attack could seriously damage a company’s credibility. And not only could this result in a loss of customers, but also risk partnerships with other businesses. Such relationships will appear to be more of a risk after an incident.

The benefits far outweigh the losses when it comes to cybersecurity training. So, ensure that your workforce is well equipped with the knowledge that will keep your organization safe.

If you’re looking for more well-rounded and capable people to join your team, reach out to the expert consultants here at Michael Page. Or, browse our job listings. If you choose to apply, one of our recruitment consultants will be in touch with appropriate opportunities.