Chicago IT Support Firm Reveals 5 Important Benefits of Cyber Security Training
As a business owner, you know how valuable your data and information are and how it needs to be protected. While you may have the necessary security in place, do you have enough? But then again, what is enough?
An estimated 53.35 million US citizens have been affected by cybercrime in the first half of 2022. The US was the most targeted country for Cyber Attacks, accounting for 46% of attacks globally.
As you can see, everyone is vulnerable and as a business, you need to do whatever it takes to keep your information and people secure from security risks and cyber threats. While there are security technologies you can use, there is definitely no replacement for training your staff.
Your best defense is to educate employees through a security awareness training program.
In this article, we will take a look at five of the benefits of security awareness training and how it can help keep you safe and lessen your risk.
5 Important Benefits of Cyber Security Training According To Top IT Support Firm in Chicago
In any business, training is important, as it not only helps people grow but arms them with the knowledge they need to get their jobs done effectively. The same can be said for the importance of security awareness training.
When you educate your employees, they can be better equipped to identify suspicious online activities and be able to take the necessary steps to keep your business safe.
Let’s take a closer look at the benefits of cybersecurity awareness training for businesses:
1. Avoid Data Breaches and Phishing Attacks
As you may already know, security awareness training is important as it can help to prevent data breaches and educate your employees about phishing and other types of cybersecurity issues.
Phishing scams have become ubiquitous and most people fall for them as they appear to be legitimate and look like they have been sent from a trusted source.
Training your employees on how to identify these scams (such as through phishing simulations ) and showing them real-life instances of data breaches caused by phishing will certainly help them to really understand the enormity of a cyberattack.
2. Enhance Your Security
Security awareness training can bolster your first line of defense. Creating a culture of security will go a long way to keeping you and your employees safe from hackers and various data breaches.
Start by explaining to your teams the numerous threats that exist out there and empower them with the knowledge to respond appropriately. If all your employees are informed and alert and adhering to the same security best practices, the likelihood of a breach is much lower.
3. Save Time and Money
For many organizations, not training their employees leads to data breaches and data loss due to ignorance or carelessness. Data recovery can cost your company a fortune in time and money.
It is estimated that data recovery can take anywhere from 6 months and up. No business wants this or to be a victim of a cyber attack.
Research from IBM shows that the average cost of a data breach is $9.44 million in the United States. That is why cybersecurity awareness training is vital for your business.
The cost you lay out for these training programs is nominal as opposed to being a victim of a cyber attack. This can be avoided by employing the help of the top IT Support Firm In Chicago.
4. Human Error
Unfortunately, human error plays a big part in cyber attacks. But, by providing a security culture and a security awareness training program you can reduce the likelihood of being attacked or having your data breached. Prevention may be better than a cure.
Also, training programs should be ongoing and not just a one-off. In doing so, it reinforces the importance of being vigilant and keeps employees recent on emerging threats.
The better educated your staff are the better they can protect your sensitive information and business from cyber attacks.
5. Cybersecurity Compliance
If your organization deals with sensitive information such as financial records and other customer data, it’s likely you have to comply with information security requirements such as PCI, SOX, and consumer data privacy laws to name a few.
The best way forward is to make sure your employees are familiar with compliance policies and that they know how to manage sensitive data and other classified information.
Mitigate Security Risks With Cyber Awareness Training
A security awareness training program is vital these days, especially since cyber threats are on the rise. Data breaches exposed 22 billion records in 2021. More companies are being exposed to more attacks, and it’s important to ensure yours isn’t one of them.
Moving ahead with training, having a strategy in place, and educating your employees to make safer and wiser decisions will help your business be more resilient and minimize risk.
As a leading Chicago IT Support Firm, XL.net offers comprehensive cybersecurity training services, which can help you prevent intrusion attempts and cyber attacks.
For more information about how we can help you avoid volatile situations and scams, contact us today to schedule a free consultation.
