MSPs: Enhance security with awareness training programs

Technology alone is no longer enough to protect the clients from cyberattacks. As the cybersecurity landscape continues to become more complex, MSPs need to consider adding security training to their suite of services.

Verizon found that 74% of data breaches involve a human element, underscoring that employees are still one of the weakest links in an organisation’s cybersecurity efforts.

Corporate-owned devices          

The common human-related security vulnerabilities include:

• Phishing attacks: Employees may unknowingly fall victim to phishing emails, such as BEC scams, compromising sensitive information or introducing malware into the organisation’s network.
• Weak passwords: Employees often reuse passwords or choose weak combinations, making it easier for attackers to gain unauthorised access.
• Unsecured devices: Employees accessing corporate networks from personal laptops and phones that lack the same level of security as corporate-owned devices make themselves more susceptible to cyberattacks and other threats.

That’s where cybersecurity awareness training comes in.

Potential human vulnerability

Security awareness training is a strategy used by organisations to educate employees on cybersecurity risks and best practices for keeping networks and data secure. The primary goal is to equip users with the knowledge of recognising and mitigating various cyberthreats.

The primary goal is to equip users with the knowledge of recognising and mitigating various cyberthreats

With this awareness of maintaining cyber hygiene, employees proactively reduce potential human vulnerability. Rather than being the weak link in an organisation’s cybersecurity, properly trained employees can be an asset in fighting against cybersecurity threats. However, SANS found that 70% of security professionals dedicate less than half of their time to training programs.

Recruiting training experts

Investing in cyberawareness training saves businesses from the cost of dealing with potential breaches — a whopping $4.45 million on average in 2023, per IBM.

Keep in mind that the aftermath of a cyber incident often includes:

• Loss of revenue
• Client loss
• Operational disruptions
• Intellectual property (IP) cyber theft
• Loss of sensitive data

Providing training services further reduces clients’ costs for developing in-house security content and recruiting training experts. Some cyber insurance providers also offer reduced premiums for organisations that train employees on how to improve security measures.

Boost employee confidence

Leaving employees to fend for themselves regarding cybersecurity causes a general feeling of distress and uncertainty.

Employees appreciate companies that educate them on cybersecurity, not only for work-related benefits but also for safeguarding their personal data and finances. Falling victim to identity theft or private cyberattacks significantly impacts employee morale and productivity, which a basic security awareness program can avoid.

Meet regulatory compliance

Companies dealing with customers’ personal and sensitive data face stringent industry regulations to train stakeholders on cybersecurity. For instance, to get SOC 2 certification, it is mandatory for companies to provide information security training to employees.

Non-compliance with industry regulations can also impact clients’ revenue. The 2023 Compliance Trends Report found that 41% of the surveyed companies experienced a slower sales cycle because of non-compliance.

Creating human firewall

Security awareness programs generally train on current and real-life cyberthreats

Security awareness programs generally train on current and real-life cyberthreats. With increased awareness of the types of security attacks clients encounter on a regular basis, users can enhance their training content as well as security strategy. 

Trained employees are more likely to report suspicious activities or security incidents promptly, enabling quicker detection and response to potential cyber threats. For instance, when an employee understands what a phishing scam looks like, they will report it to the security team rather than just deleting it. This reporting enables early threat detection and response.

Support from leadership

Secure a clear commitment from the client’s top-level executives, such as CEOs, CFOs or CIOs, to prioritise and support security awareness initiatives. Their support indicates that cybersecurity is recognised as a strategic priority for the organisation.

Strong executive support also ensures the program gets the resources it needs to succeed. To win this support, avoid technical jargon when making the business case. Explain the potential impact of cyber threats and how a well-executed cybersecurity awareness training program can mitigate them.

Customised training content

Tailor training content to the specific business needs and risks of the client. Conducting a thorough risk assessment helps to identify specific threats the clients are vulnerable to. The training content can then address these identified risks directly.

Common topics to include in security awareness training are:

• Password best practices
• Multi-factor authentication (MFA)
• Business email compromise
• Phishing attacks
• Mobile device security
• Users can also use SaaS Alerts for user behaviour analysis to detect insider threats and train employees to handle them.

Interactive and engaging modules

Security awareness training starts with an employee’s onboarding process and continues throughout their tenure at the organisation.

Users can keep training programs interactive and engaging by using elements such as:

• Live training, either in person or via video conferencing
• On-demand video training
• Gamified training modules
• Newsletters on cybersecurity trends and updates
• Community channels on collaboration platforms, such as Slack and Microsoft Teams
• Simulation-based learning, such as phishing simulation tests

Metrics and evaluation

Establish metrics to measure the success and effectiveness of the security awareness program

Establish metrics to measure the success and effectiveness of the security awareness program. If users are using phishing simulations to train, they can evaluate the success levels, both collectively and individually. If a majority of the users click on simulated emails, they need to overhaul the entire cybersecurity awareness training.

If only a small percentage of employees fall for the scam, then the team can address the knowledge gaps individually with the users. This evaluation also helps to track improvements over time.

Security awareness training

SaaS Alerts offers valuable resources to not only scale the security stance but also equip users with the best industry insights to include in the cyber training as a service offering.

Here’s how they can boost users security awareness training:

• With their Saa$y MSP Community, users connect with other MSPs and SaaS security professionals to discuss cybersecurity challenges and ideas for improvement.
• Their Ultimate Guide to SaaS Security gives a crash course on the latest cybersecurity threats and SaaS best practices to defend the clients.
• Their knowledge base answers the queries on security alerts, their security modules, release notes and more.
• Their SASI Report offers users an in-depth analysis of current trends, threats and user behavior related to SaaS application security.