Top Security Awareness Topics for Security Awareness Training

topics for security awareness training

If you want to protect sensitive data from cybercriminals, your organization must educate end users on a variety of topics. That’s a tall order to fill, especially for those who are not security specialists. However, with the right security awareness training program, you can influence long-term security behaviors and reduce risk of a data breach.

The best topics for security awareness training training programs prioritize key topics that your workforce should understand to minimize the risk of a breach. To help you select the right topics for your security awareness program, we’ve compiled a list of the most important ones below.

Identity Theft Unveiled: A Step-by-Step Guide on What to Do If You Become a Victim

98 percent of cyber-attacks use social engineering to accomplish their goals, according to the security firm PurpleSec. For that reason, this security awareness topic is one of the most essential to cover in your security awareness program. This includes covering the different ways social engineering can be used, such as phishing emails, impersonation, and malware.

2. Payment Security

Whether they work in an accounting department or manage customer credit cards, employees should understand the rules and policies that govern this critical area of your business. This will ensure that the information they handle is secure from hackers and thieves. It will also help them comply with regulations and protect the privacy of consumers.

This is an area of security that’s not well understood by employees, so it’s important to make sure your awareness training program explains the various types of malware, how to identify suspicious files, and how to back up and recover data in the event of a data breach. It’s also a good idea to provide training on avoiding common physical security risks, like locking desk drawers, reporting suspicious activity, and how to connect to wireless networks safely.