How to enhance Information Security Awareness Program in your Organization
Awareness among employees about “Information security” is, I believe, a key area of the overall information security program that eventually contributes to the overall business objectives of the organization.
Hello Everyone
Here are a few ideas below on how we can enhance the information security awareness program in an organization.
1) Information Security Training: Mandatory information security training should be conducted every year for all employees of the organization. Training should include common “information security threats” and “practices”.
a) Examples of information security practices can be more focused on the day-to-day activities of the employees so that it is easier for them to understand the information security risks and incidents that can occur.
b) The training should end with an “assessment quiz” and a “feedback form”.
For newly hired employees, a live instructor-led training session on information security should be conducted on a weekly basis.
Also, encourage employees to report security incidents or any suspicious activities to the information security or IT team immediately.
2) Involve senior management: Involving “senior management stakeholders” supports the information security awareness program by allocating resources and emphasizing the importance of information security to the organization.
3) Email infographics on information security practices: Weekly “infographic mailers” can be sent to all employees. Mailers should be engaging and aligned with the organization’s key business activities.
4) Cybersecurity awareness month (October): Conduct various activities related to information security in your organization during “cybersecurity awareness month”, which is held every year in October. Activities can include security awareness games and puzzles, treasure hunts, hanging danglers in the office premises depicting information security practices, making wall posters, conducting CTFs, etc.
5) Security Champion program: Building this program can help in creating more awareness as the employees from various departments contribute to the overall information security program and help in identifying and mitigating the “security risks” (if there are any). Security champions should always be recognized by the information security team for their continuous efforts in improving the information security of the organization.
6) Phishing simulation exercises: Conduct the “phishing simulation exercises” regularly for employees to check the effectiveness of your information security awareness program. And then, conduct a specific training on the prevention of phishing scams for the employees who are phished in the phishing simulation exercise.
In conclusion, information security awareness among employees is a key aspect and metric of the information security program. And enhancing the information security awareness program requires support from every employee in the organization.
Remember to stay informed, vigilant, and safe.
Please do share any other effective ways for enhancing the Information Security Awareness program if I may have missed mentioning here. I would love to hear.
