Security Awareness Training: Strengthening Your First Line of Defense

Here’s the thing; you could have the most robust security system, implement all the proper security controls and pass your security audits with flying colors; however, these measures can fall short if you neglect the human factor – your first line of defense. Even the most advanced security systems can be compromised due to human error or lack of awareness. 

Regarding effective risk management, pretty much all compliance frameworks include regular security awareness training (SAT) programs as a basic requirement. Frameworks like ISO 27001, GDPR, and HIPAA explicitly require regular SAT to ensure staff are aware of and can respond to cybersecurity threats.

Considering the changing workforce dynamics, including remote and hybrid work models, their preferred learning methods, and their ability to retain knowledge are vital in designing effective SAT programs. Sure, you may get away with implementing a SAT program that ticks off the right boxes in obtaining a certification. Still, you don’t have a fighting chance without influencing the day-to-day security culture of operating securely or without implementing a behavioral change.

But how do you know whether or not you’re choosing the right SAT for a younger, growing workforce that is more connected than ever?

Join us as we dive into the top factors to consider to ensure your staff become your greatest asset in terms of security and not your most significant liability. Let me pause here for a second. Can your people truly be your most significant liability? Here’s a look at the stats. In 2024, 66% of Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs) in the United States identified human error as their organization’s biggest cyber vulnerability. This includes mistakes like falling for phishing scams, misconfiguring systems, or inadvertently sharing sensitive information. But before we go any further, it’s important to note that this isn’t a reflection on your employees.

Most people don’t have the proper knowledge, tools or support to protect themselves or their organization. Let’s face it – not everyone is a specialized cybersecurity expert. This is where SAT comes into play. 

What is Security Awareness Training and Why Is It Important?

Security awareness training (SAT) is all about helping your employees understand common cyber threats and, more importantly, how to avoid them. It’s not about turning everyone into cybersecurity pros – it’s about giving them the tools and know-how to make safer decisions in their day-to-day work.

So, why is security awareness training important? Because it’s likely your organization has a new requirement for annual security training, and beyond that, the reality is that human error is still the biggest threat to your security posture. A solid SAT program makes your team part of the solution, not the risk.

Key Benefits of Security Awareness Training:

• Reducing the risk of breaches and data loss
• Meeting compliance needs like ISO 27001 training requirements
• Building a culture of accountability and safe behavior
• Improving your incident response time

And remember – carrying out regular security awareness training doesn’t just help you knock your compliance requirements out of the park, it also helps protect your business, your people, and your reputation.

Why Do Your Employees Need Security Awareness Training?

Every employee, no matter their role, is a potential entry point for cyber threats and malicious actors. Clicking a phishing link, reusing passwords, or sharing sensitive info without thinking – it happens more often than you’d expect, which is exactly why your organization needs SAT.

Security awareness training effectiveness lies in how well it prepares people for real-world scenarios. It needs to be interactive, easy to follow, and tailored to the kind of risks your teams actually face. The right program will empower everyone – from interns to execs – to spot risks and respond the right way.

Here’s a quick comparison of SAT approaches, using ISO 27001 compliance as an example:

Training Type	Frequency	Effectiveness Level	Meets ISO 27001 Requirements
Traditional (yearly videos)	Once a year	Low	Bare minimum
Modern SAT (interactive)	Ongoing, monthly	High	Fully compliant

So, if your security awareness training still feels like a boring checkbox task, it’s time to rethink it. Your people deserve better – and your security depends on it.

Effective Security Awareness Training: Your Workforce Doesn’t Want to Learn the Hard Way

With the overwhelming frequency of cybersecurity attacks, employees are constantly faced with new threats (whether they’re aware of them or not). Fortunately, the modern workforce has a baseline understanding of cybersecurity, but without the right SAT program, cybersecurity knowledge can only go so far.

This is reflected in a recent Statista report, which showed 45% of employees worldwide participated in computer-based training, 37% took part in in-person cybersecurity training, and 34% engaged in online training sessions. This indicates a significant interest among employees in security awareness training, regardless of whether their company provides it or not. The willingness is clearly there, but that can only get a company so far if they’re unsure which SAT is suitable for their organization.

In addition, the wrong SAT program will inevitably dim the initial willingness and feel punitive, time-consuming and irrelevant, costing you valuable time, resources and money. So, what’s the solution? A needed shift away from traditional SAT programs. 

Best Practices for Effective Security Awareness Training in the Workplace

Although SAT may not be anything novel to you or your organization, with the rise of sophisticated cyber attacks and the (very) fast-evolving threat landscape, traditional training programs just won’t cut it anymore. For starters, traditional security awareness training is often done on an annual or six-monthly basis, generally focusing on technical concepts. Although this may suffice from a compliance checklist perspective, it’s the bare minimum in terms of efficacy and due diligence. Traditional timelines perpetuate complacency regarding your security posture. They cannot engage people daily, nor does it teach them how to make security a part of their daily tasks and responsibilities.

You need data-driven training that sparks real behavioral change across the organization – think real-life scenarios, hands-on exercises, and incident response practice. The magic formula? Fostering awareness, but don’t stop there. The real win is turning that awareness into consistent, daily action. Here’s how.

Training that’s built for your workforce

It’s important to remember that your workforce includes people with different comprehension levels regarding cybersecurity, different learning methodologies and different attitudes towards the importance of SAT. To cater for all of the above, the right SAT (at the very least) should include the following: 

Different learner levels

Traditional training programs often focus solely on awareness campaigns. This doesn’t work anymore. In reality, a large majority may be aware of potential threats; they just don’t know what to do about it. Therefore, the right SAT program should accommodate all tech and learner levels within the organization, ranging from the unknowing, unsure, security-conscious, and well-versed in security practices.

Relevant training topics

If the topics are relevant, they will be more beneficial, as simple as that. Be sure that the topics covered within the SAT align with your specific threat landscape, security policies, and the scope of each employee’s job description. Include topics such as GDPR for data privacy, PCI-DSS for payment security, and HIPAA for healthcare information security, aligning with the respective compliance standards your organization must adhere to.

Recognize changing workforce needs

Now that millennials make up a significant portion of today’s workforce – and Gen Z is quickly joining them – SAT programs must adapt to modern learning preferences. What does that mean in practice? Digitization. For a compelling SAT program that brings about real behavioral change, the solution needs to recognize that a digitally inclined workforce learns best through engaging, tech-driven tools that support continuous learning and behavior change.

Promotes learner autonomy

When learners are given more autonomy over the learning process, they may feel more motivated, engaged, and likely to retain information. Therefore, it’s essential to gauge whether or not a training program gives users control over the learning process. That’s why it’s important to consider whether a training program gives users some control over the learning process -like completing it at their own pace or interacting with the content.

How Security Awareness Training Drives Real Change In Your Organization

Ultimately, the way you approach SAT is up to you. However, settling for traditional and irregular training solutions will hurt your organization. It perpetuates a culture of allowing the most critical security risks to slip through the cracks until your compliance slips along with it. Therefore, before tackling SAT head-on, keep the three core takeaways in mind:

• Your people make or break your cybersecurity posture.
• You must ensure you have the right tools and support to boost your security skills and knowledge. 
• The right SAT program isn’t just about awareness anymore; it’s about influencing a behavioral change, ultimately mitigating risk at every opportunity.  

FAQs

What is security awareness training?

Security awareness training (SAT) teaches employees how to recognize and respond to cybersecurity threats. It helps build good security habits, reduce human error, and protect your company’s sensitive data. It’s a key part of staying secure and meeting compliance requirements.

What are the benefits of security awareness training?

SAT helps prevent data breaches, reduces risky behavior, and builds a strong security culture. It empowers employees to handle threats like phishing and keeps your organization compliant with key security and data privacy frameworks like ISO 27001, SOC 2, GDPR, and HIPAA.

Who needs security awareness training?

Everyone in your organization needs it. From new hires to executives, all employees can face security risks. Security awareness training ensures everyone knows how to stay safe, no matter their role or technology skills.

How often should security awareness training be updated to maintain compliance with SOC 2 and ISO 27001?

At a minimum, training should be done annually. But to be truly effective and compliant, it should be ongoing – especially as threats evolve. Regular updates help keep employees informed and alert.