Understanding the True Purpose of Information Security Awareness Programs: What is NOT a Goal
In today’s digital age, businesses are becoming increasingly reliant on technology to function. As digital threats become more complex and targeted, it’s essential to train your employees on information security awareness to protect sensitive data adequately. Information security awareness training programs are designed to educate employees about how to prevent cyber attacks and minimize risks to the organization’s data, reputation, and bottom line.
Introduction
The importance of information security awareness programs cannot be overstated. Most businesses have implemented such training programs to enhance employee security habits and prevent devastating security breaches. However, understanding the true purpose of these programs is equally important.
Some businesses treat information security awareness programs as another “box-ticking” exercise. They see it merely as a mandatory requirement to check off their compliance checklist. Unfortunately, this perception often leads to ineffective training programs that fail to deliver results. In this article, we’ll explore the true purpose of information security awareness programs and what organizations should strive for in their training efforts.
What is NOT a Goal of Information Security Awareness Programs?
Before exploring the real objectives of information security awareness programs, let’s start by acknowledging the goals that they’re not trying to achieve.
1. Complying with Regulations
Compliance with data protection laws and regulations is undoubtedly essential. It’s a way to manage risks and avoid costly penalties. However, compliance should not be the ultimate goal of your information security awareness program. Compliance alone does not guarantee the safety of your business from a cyber attack.
2. Creating a Perfect Cybersecurity Culture
While having a secure digital culture is desirable, the reality is that complete cybersecurity perfection is impossible. Employees are human, and mistakes happen. As such, it is unrealistic to expect them always to comply with security policies. Instead, the aim should be to create a culture of awareness, understanding that users are the first line of defence in data protection.
3. Eliminating all Cybersecurity Threats
Eliminating all potential cybersecurity threats is impossible. Hackers become more sophisticated each day, adapting to new technologies, and exploiting new vulnerabilities. Instead of trying to eliminate every cybersecurity threat, the focus should be on minimizing security risks and creating awareness in the workforce as global experts in the sector suggest.
What is the True Purpose of Information Security Awareness Programs?
Now that we have established what the goals of information security awareness programs are not, let’s explore the real objectives of these programs.
1. Raising Awareness
The primary goal of an information security awareness program is to raise awareness among employees about the importance of data security. It’s essential to educate employees on what data breaches are, how they happen, and the potential consequences. Through awareness, employees become more vigilant about security protocols and policies, reducing their cybersecurity risk.
2. Building a Security Culture
Building a security culture within your organization is a long-term process that requires continuous learning and reinforcement. Information security awareness programs provide a foundation for understanding the importance of security best practices. It also helps employees realize that data protection is every individual’s responsibility.
3. Encouraging Best Practices and Behaviour
A security awareness program should help employees adopt best practices and safe online behavior. It should provide practical guidance on IT security best-practices, such as creating strong passwords, avoiding phishing scams, and keeping software up-to-date. With regular training, employees gain a better understanding of security protocols, with fewer cyber mistakes.
Case studies
Let’s look at two examples of how effective information security awareness programs have helped prevent security breaches.
1. A large healthcare organization implemented a security awareness training program that required employees to take annual tests. In less than a year, the company’s error-related security incidents decreased by an impressive 40%.
2. A global food manufacturer used phishing simulations as part of their information security awareness program. They tested employees by sending fake malicious URLs via email. After the first test, 35% of employees clicked on the links. After several additional tests with training sessions, that percentage decreased to 2%.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the primary purpose of information security awareness programs is not about compliance, creating a perfect culture of cybersecurity, or eliminating all available cyber threat. Instead, organizations need to emphasize creating an information security-aware culture that focuses on employee education, safe behavior, and practical best-practices to built a culture of continuous improvement to protect their digital assets and reputations. Information security awareness programs should be based on continuous learning, testing, and refinement, providing the necessary foundation for building strong defenses against cyber-attacks.
