IT Security Awareness Training
In the Digital Age Companies Must Protect Themselves From Cyber Threats with an IT Security Awareness Training Program
Information security breaches can be very costly for an organization. More and more companies are now adopting proactive measures to prevent such damages from occurring in the first place. Information security awareness training constitutes a series of activities that are carried out to inhibit information security damages. The training program is geared at the workforce of the organization and attempts to make them more informed about the potential dangers and threats that their cyber activities can lead to. Small steps taken by well-informed employees stand a good chance at knocking off most of these threats.
When planning an information security training program, the company's internal and external security policies and guidelines must be kept in mind. Information security awareness training can be carried out in different ways. These include educational websites that inform employees about trojans, viruses, keyloggers, and other threats that lurk in their office PCs, emails on the essentials of protecting information and preventing leakage, and promotional materials that remind the employees of their responsibilities towards fighting this threat. Classroom training sessions are also conducted by information security experts who educate the employees in an interactive learning environment and answer their queries relating to the subject. Training material provides step-by-step instruction on the measures the workforce must take to uphold the security of their data.
Some important aspects of information security training are as follows:
Employees must physically secure the workplace by taking steps such as locking the office doors, drawers and cabinets. Confidential information should never be left unguarded. Office PCs must also be secured and password-protected to prevent anyone from accessing it in the absence of the employees.
Closely linked to physical security, the employee must take every measure to protect data stored in his or her desktop. Setting up password-protected screensavers, locking the desktop when going out for breaks, and turning the PC off when leaving the office are some steps that are very helpful. You must also install necessary protection for your PC, including an updated anti-virus application, firewall, anti-keylogger application and other essentials that safeguard the files on your PC. If you carry your office laptop home with you, don't let your friends and family members use it. You can politely tell them that it's against your office policy to do that.
Avoid accessing office PCs and laptops using a wireless network. With a dedicated third-party firewall by Norton or McAfee, you can prevent access to anyone who tries to sneak into your PC through a wireless network.
Always resort to password-protection, and use passwords that are lengthy, strong and secure. A better option yet is to us a passphrase that has even greater chances of preventing a crack attempt. Never indulge in the habit of sharing your passwords, and avoid including hints in your password. For instance, it should not be your username or a part of your full name.
Avoid clicking links in emails from unknown senders. Always verify the email address of the sender. It may be closely related to someone you know, but with small variations. Even if it comes from someone you know, see if the email is strangely worded. Consider calling the contact in such a case to verify if he has sent you the email. Never provide your banking details and password information via email.
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